Shadow Labyrinth
| Shadow Labyrinth | |
|---|---|
 The game's Steam key art | |
| Developer(s) | Bandai Namco Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Bandai Namco Entertainment |
| Series | Pac-Man |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | 2025 |
Shadow Labyrinth is an upcoming action-adventure video game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Part of the Pac-Man franchise and a continuation of the Secret Level episode "Circle", it is set to be released in 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and Windows via Steam.
Gameplay
[edit]Shadow Labyrinth will be a 2D action-adventure game.[1] The game's player character will be a figure known as "The Swordsman", as he is guided around a giant "maze" by an orb known as "Puck".[1] Throughout the game, the player will explore the "maze" while fighting against monsters. The player will also be able to acquire new abilities and items.[1][2] Several journalists upon its announcement considered the game to be a metroidvania.[3][1][2]
Development
[edit]Shadow Labyrinth began development in 2020.[1] Bandai Namco Studios began creating the game with the goal of expanding the audience of the Pac-Man series, which was a predominantly family friendly franchise, wanting to create a more "dark" entry in the series.[1] They went back to the original concepts for the first Pac-Man game, and boiled it down to "the maze concept, the eat concept, and how the table can flip all of a sudden". Using that basis, the team began creating Shadow Labyrinth.[1] The game's development team is joined by Katsuhiro Harada, the producer of the Tekken series. The game is being developed using the Unity engine.[3]
Marketing and release
[edit]During the development of Shadow Labyrinth, an episode of Secret Level based on the title, was created to promote the game and serve as its prequel. During development of that episode, series creator Tim Miller was shown a sneak peek of the game and commented on its differences from a traditional Pac-Man game.[4] The game was announced at The Game Awards 2024,[3][5] and is set to be released in 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.[5] The game will be a part of the 45th anniversary celebration of the Pac-Man series.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h "Shadow Labyrinth is Pac-Man's shocking take on Hollow Knight". Digital Trends. December 12, 2024. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
- ^ a b Chalk, Andy (December 13, 2024). "Pac-Man becomes an apex predator on a world shattered by intergalactic warfare in this very strange new metroidvania coming in 2025". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
- ^ a b c Bailey, Kat (December 13, 2024). "Secret Level Pac-Man Episode Is Getting Turned Into a Metroidvania With Katsuhiro Harada Producing - The Game Awards 2024". IGN. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
- ^ "Secret, dark 'Pac-Man' reimagining revealed as next game: 'It was so f---ed up'". EW.com. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
- ^ a b "Shadow Labyrinth is a Pac-Man Metroidvania, and I'm being completely serious". Video Games On SI. December 13, 2024. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024.
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