The Top 10 Greatest Pac-Man Games

Pac-Man turned forty-five last year. The yellow circle who endlessly munches dots through mazes while avoiding ghosts changed the world of video games forever. He has starred in countless games, a cartoon show, and even a hit song. So, which Pac-Man games are the best? Here are the ten greatest games that star either the dot muncher himself or one of his family members. You definitely need to check out all of them.

1. Ms. Pac-Man

Yes, you read that right. The greatest dot-munching game ever stars Pac-Man’s wife instead of the original dot muncher himself. Namco (now Bandai Namco Entertainment) had little to do with this game’s development, and it actually started life as a Pac-Man mod called Crazy Otto. Crazy development story aside, this game polished up the already-stellar gameplay with new mazes, more complex ghost behavior, and moving fruit. Simply put, it brought maze games to perfection.

2. Pac-Man

The original game is a masterpiece, plain and simple. The simple gameplay, bright colors, and appealing designs drew people to those big yellow arcade machines. The dot muncher brought in players of all ages and genders, showing that video games weren’t just a passing fad. Even if you overlook the game’s massive influence, it’s still so much fun to play. Trying to eat all the dots without the ghosts eating you lets you release your worries.

3. Super Pac-Man

Super Pac-Man was the first sequel that was actually developed by Namco, and it took a new turn with the gameplay. Instead of eating dots, you eat keys to open doors that will give you access to fruit. The main gimmick is that in addition to the familiar power pellets that turn ghosts blue and edible, there are also super pellets that turn you huge and make you invulnerable. It’s a thrill to turn huge and realize that you can squish the ghosts.

4. Pac-Man 256

This modern reimagining of the Pac-Man formula puts the dot muncher in an endless isometric maze that is slowly being eaten by a glitch. You still have to eat dots and dodge ghosts, but the glitch means you have to keep moving forward, adding a new dimension to the familiar gameplay. In addition, there is multiplayer mode and a plethora of new powerups, which let you take out ghosts in many different ways. It’s a super addictive game.

5. Pac-Mania

In this highly underrated 1987 arcade game, Pac-Man finds himself in a series of colorful isometric mazes that scroll through more than one screen. The gameplay consists of familiar dot eating and ghost dodging – except that now you can jump. This means you’ve got an extra means of escaping the ghosts. Mastering the jump is incredibly fun, and it makes the gameplay feel both familiar and fresh. In addition, the mazes have different aesthetics, making you want to progress in order to see what’s out there.

6. Pac-Man Championship Edition DX

This is another modern reimagining of the familiar game. This one douses the mazes in a neon coat of paint and gives the player catchy techno music to listen to while playing. In addition, this game ditches the three life system for a time-based system, challenging the player to score as many points as possible before the time runs out. All this makes for a fast-paced, trippy experience that is perfect for when you just have a little bit of time. Of course, you’ll still want to keep trying.

7. Jr. Pac-Man

This little-known arcade game tells the story of Pac-Man’s son, who sports a cute little beanie cap. Junior eats his way through large mazes that scroll past the edge of the screen. In addition, he chases toys like tricycles through the maze, and he’d better catch them quickly, because when the toys run over the dots, eating those dots will make Junior slower. There are also cutscenes that tell something like a story between levels. It’s an experience that feels both fresh and familiar. 

8. Pac-Land

Yes, side-scrolling platformers did exist before Super Mario Bros. One such example is Pac-Land. Based on the Pac-Man cartoon, this time the dot muncher dons a feathered cap and needs to escort fairies through a colorful land. Of course, the ghosts don’t want his journey to go well. Is the gameplay as smooth and polished as a Mario game? No, but it’s still a whole lot of fun, with cartoony graphics and cheery music.

9. Pac-Man 99

The only reason this game is ranked so low is that it’s no longer available for the Nintendo Switch. Fortunately, if you purchased the offline modes before the game got delisted, you can still play it against the computer, but it’s not the same as playing it online. This game pitted ninety-nine players in a battle royale Pac-Man game where the last one standing won. The game got faster and faster with each maze cleared, and doing well meant you could send extra ghosts to the other players. Please, bring this game back!

10. Baby Pac-Man

This rarity needs to be experienced in its original arcade machine in order to get the full experience. Why? Because the game combined a traditional maze arcade experience with a small pinball machine, providing a melding of two genres that was rarely seen in the arcades. This was a visceral experience, letting you enjoy both virtually eating through the maze and whacking a pinball around. 

The Dot Muncher is Forever!

Our favorite yellow circle and his family have starred in a plethora of games over the last four and a half decades, meaning that it will take you a while to get through them all. With a few exceptions, many of these games can be played on Steam and most modern consoles, meaning that you can easily take yourself back to the days when a little yellow circle could take over the world. Have fun!