Shadow Labyrinth: A Pac-Man Twist at PAX East 2025

You ever think about Pac-Man in a totally different light? Seriously, it’s like taking the yellow guy and putting him in a whole new world. Could go wrong, could be genius. There’s this new thing — Shadow Labyrinth. Anyway, quick detour about Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures. Ever tried it? Yeah, you throw rocks at him to tell him where to go. Weird, right? But then, imagine if he’s just chilling in a Metroidvania game. Yep, that’s Shadow Labyrinth.

PAX East 2025, I’m there — hands-on with the game on my Nintendo Switch. Meanwhile, someone’s on a PC nearby, big screen and all. Here’s a thing, though, the Switch version’s running at 30 FPS. Kinda meh, thanks to Nintendo’s old clunker, but the PC’s smoother at 60 FPS. Heard it’ll be back to 60 on the next-gen Switch. Fingers crossed.

Why am I even mentioning this? Well, the game’s vibe at PAX was platforming mixed with combat. I’m thinking, “Hey, this feels familiar.” You swing, you jump, and even gobble stuff as Pac-Man — dodging buzz saws and all that jazz. Tried this platforming gauntlet, but gave up quick. Crowded venues throw me off — I need my peace to nail these moves.

Combat’s another story. The game’s got a list of moves in case you forget the buttons — perfect for someone like me who forgets the controls mid-fight. Attack, dodge, and even turn Pac-Man into a giant to munch on enemies. And there’s this parry thing which I totally forgot about till now. Felt like that boss from Metroid Dread gave me a nod of approval.

Post-boss, boom! I’m shooting lasers to clear paths. The next bit? Total Dig Dug nostalgia. You literally inflate enemies till they pop. It’s wild. Some Bandai Namco shoutouts hidden around too. Someone at the con even hinted about more Easter eggs from Galaga and Rolling Thunder — I’m keeping my eyes peeled.

Mark your calendars: July 18. On Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. Three editions. The one with a secret map for 60 bucks? Not bad. Less than a hundred, and you get all sorts of goodies.

Walked away feeling something. Mixing gritty Metroidvania vibes with Pac-Man? Shouldn’t work, but it weirdly does. Plus, if it nods to Hollow Knight, count me in. Player in chaos mode, signing off!