Pac-Man Secret Level Episode Becomes A Real Game

In one of the most bizarre reveals at The Game Awards 2024, Bandai Namco Entertainment announced Shadow Labyrinth, a 2D sci-fi fantasy side-scroller that transforms Pac-Man into something straight out of a fever dream. Inspired by the Secret Level anthology series on Amazon, this game is taking the “beloved yellow dot” down a much darker—and far stranger—path.

If you’re not familiar, Secret Level reimagines classic gaming franchises in wildly unexpected ways. While it’s already delivered intriguing twists on titles like Armored Core and Warhammer 40k, the Pac-Man episode blindsided everyone with its unsettling, horror-infused reimagining. Picture Pac-Man not as a cheerful pellet-muncher but as “Puck,” a menacing sentient orb forcing an alien protagonist to navigate deadly mazes, eat or be eaten, and evade spectral threats.

Fast-forward to The Game Awards: Bandai Namco is taking that creepy premise and expanding it into Shadow Labyrinth, a Metroidvania where players assume the role of The Swordsman, accompanied by a shadowy, Pac-like entity. The gameplay trailer showcased haunting labyrinths, eerie ghosts, and intense combat where defeating spirits grants you their unique abilities. The maze-like environments and power-stealing mechanics scream Metroid meets Castlevania, but with a Secret Level spin that’s as bizarre as it is intriguing.

Scheduled for release in 2025, Shadow Labyrinth represents a bold pivot for Pac-Man—far removed from his arcade origins, yet undeniably fascinating. While fans initially speculated the announcement was a tease for Pac-Man Re-World 2, Bandai Namco’s nod to “Secret” hinted at its connection to the anthology series.

Love it or fear it, one thing’s clear: Pac-Man’s shadowy new adventure is bound to be a-maze-ing.