Shadow Labyrinth might draw the attention of those familiar with Amazon's Secret Level TV show, which features an episode that explores the grim, science-fiction origins of the beloved Pac-Man universe. That's because the game is meant to continue the narrative introduced in that Secret Level episode, following its sober, self-serious take on Pac-Man and his sword-swinging companion.
The Best War Games recently went hands-on with Shadow Labyrinth, digging into some of its combat, exploration, and platforming particulars. It's a game that undoubtedly has its roots in the metroidvania subgenre, though developer Bandai Namco Studios has shied away from this label so far, describing Shadow Labyrinth as a 2D action-platformer, which is arguably more accurate. Indeed, this game is a touch more Blasphemous than Hollow Knight, ostensibly prioritizing combat and tense platforming gauntlets over thoughtful puzzle-solving or non-linear progression.
For what it's worth, this straightforward recipe manages to produce a fairly enjoyable dish. Shadow Labyrinth is a fun hack-and-slash experience with a few interesting ideas here and there, though the final product may need to demonstrate greater ingenuity to stand out against its contemporaries. Put another way, Shadow Labyrinth is thus far the definition of a serviceable game: it seems to check all the right boxes, but it's not exactly surprising.
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Shadow Labyrinth: Grimdark Pac-Man
Shadow Labyrinth Boasts Solid, but Not Incredible, Combat and Platforming
Two distinct chapters of Shadow Labyrinth were accessible during the preview: an exploration-and-platforming-centric stretch about a third of the way through the campaign, and a much later boss battle. The platforming and environmental puzzle-solving are decent, but a bit dull, which may be attributed to the lack of satisfying movement controls for Swordsman No. 8, the game's protagonist. He feels both slippery and stiff, and with no nuanced physics systems to provide a sense of weight or momentum, moving through the more straightforward environments can be a bit bland. The game's platforming isn't necessarily bad, but it feels held back at this stage—hopefully, other abilities or interesting level designs will deepen this side of the gameplay loop in the final product.
Shadow Labyrinth's most unique platforming mechanic is bittersweet. Players can switch to Puck—the game's name for Pac-Man—to grind on certain rails. These were the only times that Puck was playable during the preview, and they did a good job of conveying the smooth, sliding sensation of controlling Pac-Man in the classic arcade game. The game's platforming was at its tightest and most interesting during these challenges, as the inability to fully stop Puck at any given moment lent such gauntlets a sense of intensity.
Then there's the combat, which took up the majority of the preview. This was a bit unexpected and slightly disappointing, as 2D sword-swinging, parrying, and crowd control don't leverage the Pac-Man IP's strengths. When one thinks of Pac-Man, a very specific gaming experience comes to mind, and it would have been interesting to see whether Bandai Namco Studios attempted to translate this experience into Shadow Labyrinth's combat, like it did with the aforementioned Puck platforming sections. Unfortunately, that's not quite the case, as the game's combat is pedestrian. It can be enjoyable, but it's not particularly inventive.
The question remains how Shadow Labyrinth will distinguish itself once it achieves its final form. It has a pretty fantastic opportunity via the Pac-Man license, but how it uses this opportunity could be what defines its legacy, as it's otherwise a fairly boilerplate action-platformer. Barring the reveal of more engaging gameplay systems or a powerful, intriguing story (very little of Shadow Labyrinth's narrative was illuminated during the preview), Shadow Labyrinth might still be worth a playthrough, but it's unlikely to be very memorable.
- Released
- July 18, 2025
- ESRB
- Teen // Blood, Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bandai Namco Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Engine
- Unity
WHERE TO PLAY
Shadow Labyrinth is a 2D action platformer and a genre-twisting alternate take on the iconic PAC-MAN.
As Swordsman No. 8, awoken by a floating yellow orb, PUCK, on a mysterious planet amidst relics of wars past, you are chosen to become the instrument of its will.
To survive you will discover many secrets, consume your enemies, and grow from prey to the apex predator as you embrace your true purpose.
- Franchise
- Pac-Man
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- July 18, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- July 18, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- July 18, 2025
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- July 18, 2025
- Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
- July 18, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
Shadow Labyrinth launches on July 18, 2025 for all platforms. The Best War Games was provided a Steam code for this preview.