PAC-MAN

About

PAC-MAN is a classic arcade game known for its enjoyable gameplay, delightful visuals, and catchy soundtrack, despite occasional bugs and excessive advertisements. As the iconic yellow character, players consume power pellets, chase ghosts, and navigate mazes, with the goal of beating each level's unique design. Although there is some grinding involved, the humor and nostalgia make it a worthwhile experience for both new and returning players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

65%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,999 reviews

graphics54 positive mentions

monetization970 negative mentions

monetization
1,048 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
2%
93%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism from users, primarily due to the overwhelming number of ads that interrupt gameplay. Many players report that ads appear after nearly every level, often lasting longer than the gameplay itself, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, even those who have paid for an ad-free version continue to encounter ads, leading to frustration and dissatisfaction with the game's monetization practices.
- “The option to have no ads is good and the mini levels on top of the classic 256 are fun to play in bursts.”
- “This game is the proper way to do microtransactions in games.”
- “I just wish there aren't ads but good game.”
- “The game is fun, but for some reason ads will still play most of the time even if you select the option to not watch them.”
- “It's ridiculous - you spend more time looking at ads than actually playing the game.”
- “This game has gone from bad to worse, always forces multiple ads on you with no double ups, purchases never go through but they take your money and the game stammers so much it's almost unplayable.”
story
279 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
70%
20%
The game's story mode has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing frustration over its forced implementation and the removal of the classic arcade mode. While some enjoy the new levels and casual progression it offers, others find the story mode tedious, filled with ads, and lacking the charm of the original game. Overall, the shift to a story-centric format has alienated a significant portion of the player base who preferred the traditional gameplay experience.
- “The story mode is pretty cool.”
- “It's a great mobile equivalent to a console Pac-Man, from the cute presentation to the nostalgic music; it also has missions, so you never feel bored while playing.”
- “I love the story mode and the original '80s game!”
- “I literally just wanted to play classic Pac-Man and ended up being bloated with ads and a very boring 'story' mode that just features small, uninteresting stages with gimmicky power-ups that add nothing worthwhile to the gameplay before I could even unlock it.”
- “They destroyed the original game with the goddamn 'story mode' and a whole bunch of just ads.”
- “I used to play this game daily but the new story mode makes it downhill honestly I don't like the story mode I used to love the classic mode which I recommend you bring back.”
stability
155 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with users frequently reporting crashes, freezes, and glitches that disrupt gameplay. Many players experience problems with the app freezing during critical moments, such as after completing levels or while attempting to watch ads for rewards. Overall, the game's performance is described as unoptimized and plagued by persistent bugs, leading to a frustrating experience for many users.
- “My favorite game for my Android tablet and no glitches. I love this game!”
- “Still the best old school game ever! Great response and no glitches!”
- “It freezes at the beginning and won't let you pick the options in the beginning.”
- “Riddled with errors, glitches, freezes----- they are constant and endless.”
- “This game crashes and freezes constantly.”
graphics
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
41%
8%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the nostalgic elements and smooth visuals, while others criticize the downgrade from the original style and the presence of distracting ads. Many users express disappointment over the changes made in recent updates, feeling that the graphics have become muddier and less faithful to the classic look. Overall, while some appreciate the modernized graphics, a significant number find them lacking compared to the original game's charm.
- “The graphics and noises are perfect.”
- “Amazing graphics, cool controls, overall a great game!”
- “Kudos to the techs and developers, who develop the unique, fun themes and graphics that keep this game fresh and new.”
- “The graphics are terrible - aside from the visual mess of everything just stacked together and flashy, you've lost the main draw to this game - the classic retro look and feel.”
- “The graphics aren't the same as the original arcade Pac-Man, plus it's extremely slow.”
- “Graphics downgraded and the whole feel is cheap now.”
gameplay
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
The gameplay of the game is generally enjoyable and retains the classic Pac-Man mechanics, but it is often overshadowed by excessive ads and intrusive elements that disrupt the experience. While some players appreciate the nostalgic feel and new levels, many express frustration with the controls, loading times, and the overwhelming presence of ads, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game offers solid core gameplay but suffers from mobile game pitfalls that can lead to a frustrating experience.
- “When I was finally able to play, the gameplay was great.”
- “Excellent touch controls, classic gameplay, and I find the mission system to actually help with pacing (encourages playing for about 15 minutes per day, and changes up the focus of each game for variety).”
- “Very good adaptation of the original, with more interesting levels and smooth gameplay.”
- “The mazes, gameplay, and look are, well, tawdry.”
- “What was once a comprehensive and enjoyable arcade Pac-Man experience is now buried under an exhausting pile of visual noise and typical, tiring gacha mechanics.”
- “The game is really bad; the controls are good, the gameplay is bad and boring. There is no spice, plus the ads are too much, and they stated the game is offline, but when I turn off my Wi-Fi, there's a message saying 'lost network connection' and it would like me to retry. Make up your mind, devs.”
music
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
59%
10%
The music in the game receives mixed feedback from users, with many praising its nostalgic quality and catchy tunes that enhance the gaming experience. However, several players report technical issues, such as music cutting off during gameplay or continuing to play after closing the app, which detracts from their enjoyment. Overall, while the music is often highlighted as a strong point, its implementation suffers from bugs and interruptions that frustrate players.
- “It's a great mobile equivalent to a console Pac-Man, from the cute presentation to the nostalgic music. It also has missions, so you never feel bored while playing.”
- “Nostalgic music, the game mechanics are the same as the original game in original mode, and easy/normal game modes are a nice touch. Oh, and the extra levels make it perfect!”
- “The music in the game is very funny and makes me wanna dance.”
- “Every time my recording is finished or watching an ad break, the music and the sound keeps going away and I can't have fun sometimes without it because I need the music and the sound to be fixed after either if I'm done recording or watching an ad break.”
- “The music is annoying.”
- “After I close the application, the music didn't stop and it started bugging.”
humor
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
12%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it both funny and entertaining, often highlighting specific elements like the music and character interactions that elicit laughter. Many reviews mention the game's lightheartedness and its ability to provide a fun experience for players of all ages, making it a delightful choice for family gaming. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's charm and addictiveness.
- “Love it especially the Red Bull had me laughing so hard I almost wet myself!!”
- “It's a funny yet simple and exciting game.”
- “Funny and entertaining game.”
- “Pacman is not funny; this game is great, but the humor falls flat.”
- “The jokes in this game feel forced and often miss the mark.”
- “I expected more clever humor, but it mostly relies on tired clichés.”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
22%
44%
Overall, the game's optimization is inconsistent; while it generally runs smoothly during gameplay, users report significant issues with menu navigation, loading bugs, and performance on certain devices. Many players express frustration over the lack of flexibility in settings and poor overall performance, detracting from an otherwise enjoyable experience.
- “The game usually runs smoothly, and the classic game mode is well-executed.”
- “But once you do get a chance to play it, it runs smoothly and is a great game.”
- “The menus are awkward to navigate and poorly optimized.”
- “The game is fun, but why is it so badly optimized?”
- “Poor performance app and not flexible on settings.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express a mix of frustration and nostalgia regarding the emotional aspect of the game. While some are annoyed by the control issues that lead to unexpected deaths, others find joy and a sense of childhood wonder in the gameplay, highlighting its addictive nature. Overall, the emotional experience is characterized by a blend of laughter, nostalgia, and occasional disappointment.
- “I laughed, I cried, I ate Blinkey.”
- “Emotional, exhilarating, very addictive.”
- “Made me feel like a kid again!”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, citing issues such as losing hard-earned credits, tedious and slow gameplay, and a lack of engaging content. Many feel that the grinding detracts from the core experience, making it feel more like a chore than enjoyable gameplay. Overall, the consensus is a strong desire for a more streamlined and engaging experience without excessive grinding.
- “Don't bother spending hours grinding out credits because the game will periodically steal these from you, wiping out everything you have worked for.”
- “I think I speak for all of us when I say that I don't want grinding in my Pac-Man.”
- “The update is rubbish and the sequential levels are both tedious and boring.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Overall, the game offers enhanced replayability compared to the classic version, thanks to new features and content. However, players express a desire for a maze editor to further increase replay value, and some mention that ads detract from the experience.
- “A good version of the evergreen classic; it would be great if there was a maze editor included for infinite replay value.”
- “Really fun! There are loads of new features that make it more replayable than regular Pac-Man, though it can be a little laggy.”
- “It's a really good game, but the ads can be distracting. Removing them would enhance the overall playability!”
- “Good version of the evergreen classic; it would be great if there was a maze editor included for infinite replay value.”
- “Really fun! There are loads of new things in it that allow it to be more replayable than regular Pac-Man, but it's just a little laggy.”
- “It's a really good game, but there are ads, so please remove them to make it more playable!”