It was in December 2024 when the world was introduced to a dark take on Pac-Man, with Bandai Namco unveiling what was eventually known as Shadow Labyrinth. Now, the team behind the action-packed 2D platformer is ready to share more. Together with a new trailer, we have also gotten the release date of July 17.
The game will be an epic journey through a hostile planet where dangers both new and familiar challenge players. You must explore, hunt, and consume the dark creatures in this new frontier in a bid to become the planet’s apex predator.
Part of that endeavour will see the use of a massive robotic mecha called GAIA. GAIA inflicts devastating damage on enemies and levels the playing field for battles with some of the game’s biggest bosses. In other times, you will be using the quick and agile melee combat or go into Mini PUCK mode for that more classic Pac-Man experience.
As a departure from any previous Pac-Man game, Shadow Labyrinth puts players in the role of another character as the protagonist, a warrior known only as Swordsman No. 8, but with the mysterious yet familiar yellow companion PUCK at their side. PUCK’s role is that of guide and guardian, teaching players that their aim in this treacherous world is to escape it, and to achieve that they must consume everything that waits in the darkness to survive and grow more powerful.
Along the way, they encounter increasingly challenging enemies and puzzles with gameplay that weaves 2D action platformer mechanics with inspired modern game design. Shadow Labyrinth offers a vast maze-filled world to explore as players uncover secrets about the planet and meet its various inhabitants, some friendly and others dangerous.
All of these will unfold against the backdrop of an intriguing narrative, where venturing deeper into this maze of a world begins to unravel the mystery of the planet and PUCK’s role in it. The rich story draws wider inspiration than just Pac-Man, tapping into Bandai Namco’s broader library to delight fans with unexpected connections to the company’s legacy of arcade and space-themed games.
Shadow Labyrinth will launch on July 17 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
