Shadow Labyrinth Reviews
A good Metroidvania trapped in the shadow of too many better ones.
I’m old enough to have grown up with unforgiving games, and so I can appreciate a project that goes against the grain at the risk of alienating modern audiences. Even coming in as a genre appreciator, I felt alienated by Shadow Labyrinth.
A dark twist on a classic game, as Swordsman No. 8 and PUCK enter uncharted territory in Shadow Labyrinth.
If you're intrigued by Shadow Labyrinth's fresh approach to Pac-Man, I recommend giving it a shot on Switch 2. It provides an intriguing narrative in a foreboding world with varied environments throughout, and PUCK proves to be a compelling character. The short bursts of Pac-Man-style gameplay help mix up the experience, and this is very welcome since the game never really delivers a 'wow' moment. Much of it has been done better elsewhere, but this is nevertheless a promising new direction for an ageing franchise; one I hope to see continue in the future.
Although Pac-Man has starred in games across a wide variety of genres, in 2025 he adds another notch to his revolver: his first Metroidvania succeeds in combining the foundations of the genre with ideas from Toru Iwatani's creation and souls-like touches. The result is an entertaining, enjoyable game that's hard to put down. And it also comes with a free upgrade to Switch 2.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
This is an utterly fascinating experience, and a wonderful exercise in a team taking something mundane and being relentlessly creative. Tons of people will probably hate it. But folks who gel with this particular brand of crazy have a potential new cult classic in their libraries.
Shadow Labyrinth takes Pac-Man in some strange places, but often too poorly designed to really enjoy the brilliant idea behind an anyway good metroidvania.
Review in Italian | Read full review
All in all, Shadow Labyrinth is an ambitious reimagining of a classic franchise that works much better than it has any right to to. That said, the presentation is still a bit rusty, and it’s really difficult at times. I hope you’re prepared to spend six tries to get past almost every boss and nasty platforming section.
Shadow Labyrinth is an admirable big swing that places Pac-Man in a strange new space. Unfortunately, while there are some fun elements taken from the arcade classic and a few neat ideas sprinkled in, the majority of the game is a by-the-numbers Metroidvania that doesn't quite come together. It feels like a game built to please Pac-fans and hardcore players that lap up the likes of Hollow Knight, but the end result is something that underserves both. It's not bad, but with so many incredible 2D Metroidvanias these days, this one doesn't quite do enough to measure up.
Shadow Labyrinth is undoubtedly an interesting experiment, starting from an idea we'd like to see explored more often: thoughtfully modernizing a past title, reviving the key ideas that led to its creation but incorporating them into a modern framework. It's a shame the execution isn't the best: beneath the pleasant nods to Bandai Namco's history lies a derivative Metroidvania, reminiscent of a bygone era. Navigating the labyrinths is simple, the combat lacks creative flair, the protagonist's power-ups lack impact, and even the original ideas haven't been perfectly implemented.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Shadow Labyrinth has a few interesting ideas, but this dark interpretation of PAC-MAN fails to deliver on the fundamentals of a Metroid-like experience.
A bold metroidvania that places Pac-Man in a dark, narrative-driven world. Strong concept and solid fanservice, but held back by unpolished mechanics, uneven difficulty, and imprecise controls. Still, a unique and entertaining entry point for newcomers to the genre.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Shadow Labyrinth is a decent Metroidvania experience that doesn't go beyond that. The biggest attraction of this experience is the darker twist it has implemented on the Pac-Man franchise and has been able to create a captivating and mysterious world and story in line with it. On the other hand, the creators' efforts to meaningfully connect this experience with the classic Pac-Man gameplay structure are admirable, and perhaps their creativity in this area can be considered one of the strengths of the experience. The game's combat system, despite various perks, suffers from a lack of variety in weapons and how to interact with this system. Also, the game's sinusoidal performance in implementing some bosses and environments prevents Shadow Labyrinth from standing alongside some of the outstanding works of this genre, but nevertheless, it is still a decent experience that is especially recommended to Pac-Man fans.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Overall, while Shadow Labyrinth doesn’t quite rank among the top-tier Metroidvania games of recent years, it’s definitely worth experiencing at least once. The game offers a good variety of core mechanics, fun character-switching between different creatures, some well-designed boss fights, and diverse environments. However, these strengths are somewhat overshadowed by flaws like inconsistent difficulty balancing, occasionally stiff and clunky combat, and graphics that fall short of expectations.
Review in Persian | Read full review
I had a blast exploring this dark corner of the Namco multiverse that is essentially Pac-Man's mid-life crisis. Shadow Labyrinth is assuredly the most interesting Pac-Man evolution since the hero's 20s. Sometimes the biggest series left turns wind up being a hell of a good time.
Shadow Labyrinth innovated within the Pac-Man games by boldly venturing into a dark and gritty direction no one expected. However, in terms of art style and substance, the game offers little that sets it apart in an already crowded market
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Shadow Labyrinth is a bold experiment that only partially succeeds: a compelling and demanding metroidvania, held back by frustrating design choices and an underwhelming narrative.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Shadow Labyrinth is a tremendously interesting reimagining of Pac-Man, adapting its mythology and gameplay to the standards of a fun and addictive metroidvania.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Shadow Labyrinth is one of the weirdest and most unexpected games that I've ever played. Despite everything, the formula just works and the sense of satisfaction from completing its brutally tough segments and exploring its variety-filled world is superb. 🟡
Shadow Labyrinth is often experimental, surprisingly expansive, and intriguingly designed with easter eggs and secrets deeply buried and coded into its DNA. The game is often at its best when it takes a more linear approach and does come a bit unstuck by its ambition when it tries to take on too much. Despite its challenging difficulty, and some control frustration, there’s a lot to unpack and enjoy with Shadow Labyrinth that makes it a must if you’ve been a long-term fan of the yellow dot and Bandai Namco games, or you’re just looking for an interesting new Metroidvania that tries to do things a little bit differently.