Shadow Labyrinth: A Dark Pac-Man Reimagining
Shadow Labyrinth is a new action-adventure game that reimaginationg the legendary Pac-Man franchise in darker, edgier terms. It was created by Bandai Namco Studios and will be distributed by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Shadow Labyrinth will be released on July 18, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.
In Shadow Labyrinth, the player assumes the role of “The Swordsman,” a character guided by an orb named “Puck,” a remake of Pac-Man. The game is a Metroidvania-style 2D action platformer, an enormous maze-filled world filled with monsters and dangers. The player must make his way through the labyrinthine world, fight monsters, and master new abilities and items in an effort to progress.
The game employs core elements of the original Pac-Man, such as eating and evasion, but with a twist. Puck can transform into a larger size, opening up closed areas, and can also eat enemies to access new powers, which is apt for the Metroidvania genre. The level design is maze-like, and players can navigate through by using Puck’s powers and experimenting with different routes.
Shadow Labyrinth’s background is also interconnected with the Secret Level episode “Circle,” and it is an actual prequel to the game. In its dark tale, Puck summons the Swordsman into a world where they must survive and break out of a deadly labyrinth. The game environment is horror-inspired, a strong contrast to what one would get from the usual Pac-Man experience.
The team aimed to recreate the Pac-Man franchise by incorporating its basic principles into another type of game. By uniting the classic maze and eat-or-be-eaten mechanics with a darker, mature setting, they sought to reach a new generation while still remaining respectful towards the original’s character. The gameplay has about 30 unique bosses, and every one requires special strategies and powers to kill.
Shadow Labyrinth has been generating quite a buzz with its genre mashup and departure from the traditional Pac-Man formula. Even hard critics and reviewers are waiting to see how this new iteration will get recognized in the over-saturated Metroidvania category. Shadow Labyrinth will come out and be a new and thrilling experience for both veteran and new Pac-Man enthusiasts on July 18, 2025.
