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Prepare for a grim dark Pac-Man reboot where eating solves all your problems
2025 will see the launch of Shadow Labyrinth, a reboot of Pac-Man spinning out of Prime Video's Secret Level animated series
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Turns out, Amazon Prime Video’s Secret Level isn’t just a chance to see some killer animation based on your favorite games — although it’s definitely killing it at that, as anyone who’s watched the Warhammer 40K episode can attest. It’s also the launch pad for some new games, as well, with Bandai Namco announcing Shadow Labyrinth, a brand-new game spinning out of the Pac-Man episode of the animated series.
Described as “a broad departure from any previous Pac-Man game,” Shadow Labyrinth sees the player taking the role of Swordsman No. 8, a figure on an alien planet destroyed by war and monsters… as seen in the Secret Level Pac-Man episode. (The new game is explicitly building on the mythology of the episode, according to the announcement.) The players will encounter Puck, whom Bandai Namco says is a “mysterious yet recognizable figure who teaches them that their aim in this treacherous world is to escape it.” Hrm… “mysterious yet recognizable,” and called Puck, huh? It’s worth noting that Pac-Man’s original name was Puck-Man…
The announcement of the new game — and the grim dark Pac-Man reboot — was accompanied by a trailer, which you can see below, showing what the 2D side-scroller will look like in action and introducing the fun tagline for the new game: “To escape the maze… you must eat.” As a tease, the company teases that Pac-Man isn’t the only classic arcade game tying into the new game, with hints for others in the trailer. Take a look and see what you can find.
The announcement of Shadow Labyrinth, which will be available in 2025 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam, comes ahead of Pac-Man’s 45th anniversary next year. The backstory for the game is available now in Prime Video’s Secret Level episode 6, ‘Circle,’ which is currently available to stream. What goes around comes around, it seems. Stay hungry.
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