Shadow Labyrinth Preview: The Novel New Blend of Pac-Man and Metroidvania
Shadow Labyrinth is a game that spawned from a secret level in Pac-Man, Circle, that Namco insisted was not an ad until we all realized it was. Still, bringing Pac-Man into the world of horror and darkness was a highly intriguing concept, and fans have been talking all about it since the reveal on Nintendo’s Switch 2 Direct in April. Namco has found a way to master the genre in a way that feels fresh and exciting, and in the end, fans may be ready to experience an instant classic if everything falls right.
Shadow Labyrinth Brings Atmosphere, Style, And Great Gameplay
Shadow Labyrinth is an upcoming Namco game, but PAX East allowed members of the gaming community to play a demo of the upcoming Metroidvania. And, judging from the reaction of those who took the time to try it, the game is well worth the wait. Do not take my word for it, though. Check out the initial reaction of The Gamer.
“The word that kept coming to mind during my time with Shadow Labyrinth was “tight”. Tight combat, tight platforming, tight monster (in the ‘90s skater “that’s tight” sense of the word). It reminded me a lot of last year’s Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown – a Metroidvania for Metroidvania lovers that throws some pretty technical abilities at you right from the start and keeps building on them throughout the whole game.
Shadow Labyrinth has those same qualities. Like The Lost Crown, it shows the appropriate amount of respect for the series it was born from through homage and reference, but doesn’t rely on nostalgia or fan service to pull you in. First and foremost, it’s a really solid Metroidvania.”
First off, Shadow Labyrinth benefits from, but does not necessarily rely on, the short on which it was originally based. It does build upon the atmosphere of fear and foreboding, but the game can also stand on its own if needed. The game brings plenty of twists and turns, though, that players will not be prepared for. There are a plethora of available abilities for Swordsman and Puck, while offering a great deal of challenge for a platformer. And while Metroidvanias can often have a very linear feel, it appears Shadow Labyrinth is going to lean on more open, clever levels that require thought and adventure.
It is not just the levels that go hard, though. Shadow Labyrinth is bringing strong action and combat that feels challenging and engaging at the same time, and rewards players for their success. It is smooth, and although it borrows from modern gaming, the techniques and mechanics offer a level of strategy and creativity that mark it all its own.
There is some rich lore that Namco has built into Shadow Labyrinth as well, building upon the entire studio. According to The Gamer, “Pac-Man isn’t the only old-school Namco flavor in Shadow Labyrinth. To my surprise, the area following the first boss is Dig Dug themed, with ghosts that need to be inflated and blown up to defeat. Shadow Labyrinth is canonically in the UGSF timeline now, so you’ll find a lot of connections in it to other space-themed Namco games like Bosconian and Xevious. There’s even a connection to an unreleased Namco RTS called New Space Order. Yes, the lore goes that deep.”
It is clear that Shadow Labyrinth has a great deal to offer. If the full game is as good as the short demo indicates, fans are going to love the game. Not just for being a metroidvania that somehow melds both horror and Pac-Man platforming, but because it melds them seamlessly and masters the elements it needs to master, and builds upon the elements it needs to build upon.
Final Thoughts
The game is highly anticipated by fans, and it appears the hype is for good reason. The combat, the atmosphere, the game mechanics, and the storyline all seem to offer exactly what gamers are looking for. Hopefully, the full game holds up to the hype, but we will not have to wait much longer to find out. Shadow Labyrinth will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC on July 18, 2025.
