The Game Awards are happening right now and, in the early going, they did not disappoint. In one of the first major surprises of the night, a trailer for a new Bandai Namco game was revealed. Titled Shadow Labyrinth, it looks like a very dark, fantastical, 2D horror-influenced platformer. The real twist? It appears to be a wildly unexpected take on Pac-Man. Yes, that Pac-Man. Check it out.
So yeah, there’s a lot to process there. First and foremost, divorced of any franchise connections here, this looks like a rad modern 2D platformer. It’s stunning, dark, fantastical and loaded with impressive visuals. The Pac-Man of it all puts it over the top and makes one raise an eyebrow. The classic arcade game is not one we typically associate with horror, such as Resident Evil, for example.
But hey, why not do something cool and weird with a video game series that is more than 40 years old? The original arcade classic that is Pac-Man first hit the scene in 1980 and we've had quite a few takes that, in some way, resemble that orignal game. Something new is warranted. The synopsis for the game reads as follows:
“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.”
For now, not a whole lot is known about the game, but many were quick to point out that the visuals in the game very much look like the Pac-Man inspired episode from the upcoming anthology series Secret Level. Perhaps this is going to be a bit of cross-promotion? Either way, this is instantly intriguing.
So far as the night’s big winners are concerned, Silent Hill 2 is repping horror in some of the major categories. That seems appropriate, given that the Silent Hill 2 remake made our list of the best horror games of 2024. There will surely be more big horror announcements coming our way as the show rolls on, so keep your eyes on our homepage as we’ll be sure to keep up with all of the big news as it comes.
Look for Shadow Labyrinth in 2025. For more, check out our list of the 11 best survival horror games of all time.
