Review – Shadow Labyrinth

Retro but not in a good way.

When Shadow Labyrinth released, it stirred up memories of my childhood. Pac-Man is a game that holds a special place in my heart. As a young kid, it was one of the first games I ever saw played on a computer—and one of the first I could try myself. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t particularly good at it, but I kept trying to collect every single pac-dot.

The simplicity of the game, paired with the constant challenge of avoiding or outsmarting the ghosts at just the right moment, was oddly addictive. Maybe it’s the nostalgia speaking, but somehow that now-retro game design really worked for me. “Just one more try and then I’ll quit”, I kept telling myself…

No-stalgic Spark

Unfortunately, Shadow Labyrinth didn’t evoke any of those warm retro feelings for me—quite the opposite, in fact. When I think of retro games, I often think of janky gameplay, rough-looking graphics, and stories that dropped you into a world without much explanation of what you were supposed to be doing.

These are all areas the gaming industry has significantly improved on in recent years, and frankly, you’d expect a game released in 2025 to have mastered them.

A Promising Setup Through “Pac-Man: Circle”

The setting and worldbuilding of Shadow Labyrinth initially seemed to have an interesting hook, thanks to the Secret Level episode “Pac-Man: Circle” on Amazon Prime. When the episode aired on December 10, 2024, Shadow Labyrinth hadn’t yet been officially announced. However, Bandai Namco Studios had already shown the concept to the Secret Level producers and asked them to base the episode on the game. In the episode, one of the most iconic gaming characters of all time is given a dystopian twist, leaving many fans—including myself—intrigued.

So when I was asked to review Shadow Labyrinth, I was cautiously optimistic, given my appreciation for the Secret Level episode. Sadly, that optimism was short-lived. The worldbuilding, in the time I played, failed to get me invested in the characters—Puck (Pac-Man) and the protagonist you control, Swordsman 8. Ironically, the Secret Level episode had managed to do this in just twelve minutes, while the game could not.

Disappointing Graphics and Level Design

I have to admit, I was immediately let down by the graphics. This might sound harsh, but the retro feeling they gave me was less charming nostalgia and more cheap flash game—like the ones I used to play on Miniclip.com or Newgrounds.com.

When you defeat enemies, they awkwardly fall to the ground and sometimes “float” in midair if the terrain isn’t perfectly flat. Sadly, it all feels a bit generic. The level design, visually speaking, didn’t work for me either.

Uninspired Combat and Gameplay

Combat — and even the overall gameplay — felt uninspired as well. There are attempts to make it more varied and engaging—for example, occasionally playing as Puck to navigate certain areas, or equipping a mech suit to deal extra damage in boss fights or traverse dangerous terrain without taking hits. Unfortunately, the different attacks available still left me wanting more.

The fast travel system also felt poorly implemented, though to be fair, this is a Metroidvania-style game where physical backtracking is a core feature. Every so often, you’re dropped into a “classic” Pac-Man level, which does help break up the monotony somewhat.

The Soundtrack: A Bright Spot

If I had to highlight one positive, it would be the original soundtrack. During boss fights in particular, the music really shines, giving you that extra push to go all-out and secure the win. Each level also features a unique musical theme, which does help keep things fresh.

Final Thoughts

Sadly, Shadow Labyrinth is a game I’ll quickly forget. I often found myself forcing my way through it, with little motivation to keep playing. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend it—unless you’re a die-hard Pac-Man fan who also enjoys Metroidvania games set in a dystopian world.

Additional Information

Release Date: July 18, 2025
Reviewed On: PS5. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency.
Developer: Bandai Namco Studios Inc.
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
Website: Shadow Labyrinth
Relevant links: Shadow Labyrinth on PlayStation Store