Pac-Man Championship Edition 2

64%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,171 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Game Cover
Familiar Pac-Man gameplay with an added twist, offering near endless fun.
Starting at $3.44Buy now
Get on Steam Get on Xbox Games Store

Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 is a maze arcade game and the sequel to the 2007 Pac-Man Championship Edition. The game features new mazes, improved graphics, and fast-paced gameplay with the goal of eating as many pellets and ghosts as possible while achieving the highest score. Additional features include time attacks, adventure mode, and online multiplayer.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

64%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,171 reviews
gameplay71 positive mentions
story4 negative mentions
  • Fast-paced gameplay that keeps players engaged and on their toes.
  • Visually appealing with vibrant graphics and a great soundtrack.
  • New mechanics like ghost trains and power pellets add a fresh twist to the classic Pac-Man formula.
  • Mandatory tutorial is lengthy and cannot be skipped, frustrating experienced players.
  • Controls can feel unresponsive and imprecise, leading to accidental deaths.
  • The game lacks basic options such as windowed mode and key remapping, limiting customization.
  • gameplay286 mentions

    The gameplay of "Pac-Man Championship Edition 2" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the fast-paced and visually engaging experience, while others criticize the significant changes to core mechanics that deviate from the classic Pac-Man formula. New features like the ghost train and bump mechanics introduce fresh strategies but can also lead to frustration and confusion, particularly for fans of previous titles. Overall, while the game offers a unique take on the franchise with varied modes and challenges, it may not satisfy purists seeking the traditional gameplay of earlier installments.

    • “The gameplay has been fundamentally changed, giving you a whole new game in front of you.”
    • “The new additions to the pac-man gameplay strike the right balance between preserving what it means to be a pac-man game, and offering the players something new and exciting.”
    • “Incredibly frantic gameplay (especially when you get really fast), thumping music that just works brilliantly with your dot-munching craze, and the new gameplay mechanics (breaking, bomb-jumping) top off a game that will make chasing for the high-score that much more satisfying.”
    • “There's an inch more depth as ghosts will only kill you if they're 'angry', and different 'levels' you can progress through by picking up enough score, but this all feels tacked on to the core gameplay, which, needless to say, is ridiculously, 44 years old and totally obsolete.”
    • “The gameplay simply cannot hold for the amount of time and patience needed to get even the simple S ranks in score attack, never mind clearing the adventure mode.”
    • “The devs really tried with this one but some of the new game mechanics feel completely forced, and eventually backfire, making it a really frustrating experience.”
  • music211 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and engaging soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience. However, some players have noted issues with the music not looping properly, leading to moments of silence during gameplay, which detracts from the overall immersion. Despite these concerns, the soundtrack is often described as a standout feature, with a mix of new tracks and beloved classics that contribute to the game's fast-paced and vibrant atmosphere.

    • “The soundtrack is amazing, too.”
    • “This game has such a banger soundtrack.”
    • “The music is fantastic and fits the speed of the game perfectly.”
    • “Also the music is hopelessly bugged and goes dead with like a minute or two left in score attack.”
    • “The music doesn't loop, so near you'll be finishing games in complete silence and no epic music.”
    • “But the one thing that I highly dislike is how the music ends before the 5 minutes are up in time attack.”
  • graphics128 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some praising the vibrant, psychedelic visuals and modern 3D effects that enhance the gameplay experience, while others criticize the lack of customization options and the unoptimized performance. Many users noted that the minimalist and retro aesthetic feels dated, reminiscent of early 90s games, and some found the flashy graphics distracting rather than enhancing. Overall, while the visuals are often described as impressive and colorful, the absence of graphical settings and optimization issues detract from the overall experience for many players.

    • “The visuals are gorgeous, the music is exciting, the gameplay has more depth than ever before.”
    • “It's great fun, the aesthetics and music steal the show though.”
    • “The graphics are perfect.”
    • “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
    • “The lack of textures is a method that lazy devs often use to disguise their lack of talent/interest in doing the graphics properly and trying to disguise it under the name of 'art', or 'we made it look bad on purpose', which really isn't something gamers should have to put up with.”
    • “The graphics are certainly colorful, exciting, and fresh, but occasionally a little too much.”
  • story32 mentions

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many users noting that it features no real narrative and relies on repetitive mission structures. While some appreciate the fun gameplay mechanics and the inclusion of a campaign mode with boss fights, they feel that the overall experience is marred by a tedious tutorial and a lack of meaningful story progression. Overall, players express disappointment in the absence of a compelling storyline, describing the game as primarily focused on gameplay rather than narrative.

    • “It's incredibly satisfying and fun to play with a fun story mode and high replay value.”
    • “Overall it's a well-made game, the music is great, the maps are good enough and there's a ton of them as well as a story mode that involves eating a giant boss-ghost on some levels which admittedly was pretty cool.”
    • “I wanted to see how they'd do a story or an adventure in the game.”
    • “This game has no story.”
    • “No story, just constant grinding to get better at a game that plays too fast to actually control it properly.”
    • “After the boss level is completed, the map moves on to the next section of 10+ levels (I use the word 'map' loosely, there is no story or additional graphics, it’s just a set of 10 squares labeled 1-1 through 1-10 to choose from, and a box labeled 'boss').”
  • optimization20 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including lag spikes and high system requirements, particularly on PC. While some users experienced smooth gameplay without bugs, others noted a lack of graphical and performance settings, leading to frustration. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game is poorly optimized, especially for PC, despite being enjoyable in its own right.

    • “Things get up to speed way quicker, the ghost bouncing mechanic is frankly a lifesaver and makes for far more interesting and fun strategies. The visuals are gorgeous and other new mechanics such as the bounce pads allow for levels with wilder optimized paths through them.”
    • “I have zero idea what others are going on about with respect to the game's performance as it runs butter smooth with no loading issues nor crashes.”
    • “Luckily, while I don't understand why the requirements are so high for Pac-Man (and apparently you need them), if you can run it, it generally runs smoothly with no real hiccups, which is vital for a twitchy game like this.”
    • “It's unoptimized, lacks any sort of graphical or performance settings, and does not support cloud saves.”
    • “The only main problem I have with it is that it's poorly optimized; even though this game is locked to only 60 fps, I get lag spikes, even on my gaming PC.”
    • “Its poorly optimized; it was running at like half speed for me, which is insane for a Pac-Man game, especially since I can run the original Championship DX no problem.”
  • grinding18 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, with players needing to complete numerous challenging tasks to unlock content, often leading to boredom and frustration. Many reviewers express that the grind feels mind-numbing and detracts from the overall enjoyment, making the game feel more like a chore than a fun experience. Overall, the grinding mechanics are seen as a significant drawback, overshadowing the game's potential for enjoyment.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A lot of grinding.”
    • “The requirements for unlocking the final level for adventure mode are so grindy and difficult, I don't see how anyone with any self-respect could attempt it.”
    • “You need to collect every single star, and to do that you need to play all levels on pro (the hardest difficulty) and it's super grindy and not fun.”
    • “No story, just constant grinding to get better at a game that plays too fast to actually control it properly.”
  • stability10 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting numerous bugs, frequent freezes, and issues with AI behavior, making it difficult to progress. While a few users have not experienced glitches, the overall consensus highlights significant stability problems, including infinite loading screens and compatibility issues with certain controllers.

    • “This is probably the worst Pac-Man game I have played. I haven't even mentioned the countless bugs and buggy AI this game has, the pointless changes, and things they removed from the first game. Just... just bad.”
    • “This mode in particular is very buggy (the ghosts don't respect the game's rules), on top of being hard as nails.”
    • “This game is buggy; I can't even play 2 levels without restarting the game because of an infinite loading screen.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability through multiple maze formats, unlockable modes, and new boss battles, making it enjoyable for speedrunners and casual players alike. While some users feel it lacks the depth of similar titles, its fun story mode and additional content contribute to a satisfying experience that encourages repeated play. Overall, it is considered a worthwhile investment for its replay value.

    • “Infinitely replayable with multiplayer options.”
    • “It's incredibly satisfying and fun to play with a fun story mode and high replay value.”
    • “Also, while there are multiple modes to unlock (once you finish the very easy tutorial) and new boss battles, the game doesn't seem as deep as DX+ nor does it have the same replay value.”
    • “The price wasn't steep, especially for a continuation of new levels, music, and overall replay value.”
    • “Multiple maze formats increased replay value.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it amusing and lighthearted, particularly in its quirky animations and playful references to classic games like Pac-Man. However, some users caution that while the humor adds charm, it may not be enough to elevate the overall experience beyond a simple, entertaining game.

    • “Funny pizza man goes fast and eats dots, good game.”
    • “Enjoy it as the little funny game this is, but don't hope for more.”
    • “The animation transitions are funny but not needed.”
  • emotional7 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a surprising shift from traditional mechanics, where players can interact with ghosts in various ways without immediate death, creating a more hectic and engaging experience. The introduction of new techniques and objectives, such as the ghost train mechanic, adds layers of strategy and excitement, enhancing the emotional stakes as players navigate the tension between evasion and confrontation. Overall, the game evokes a sense of thrill and unpredictability, challenging players to adapt to its evolving dynamics.

    • “This game took me by surprise with all of the new techniques and objectives it threw my way: you don't die from touching a ghost, sleeping ghosts, gobble chains, and even full-on boss battles.”
    • “It feels more hectic and the new ghost train mechanic, where you eat the whole train by touching the leader as it tries to escape, is inspired.”
    • “The core of the game is running away from ghosts, not touching them, and then eating a powerup and turning the tables.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is criticized as a blatant cash grab, with users noting its simplistic design and broken mechanics. While some find it addictive and reminiscent of mobile games without intrusive ads, others feel that in-game features, like "jump pads," serve more as promotional elements than meaningful gameplay enhancements.

    • “This is the most barebones cash grab of a broken game I have played (for a total of 4 minutes before I got the loading bug).”
    • “This one is very addictive and plays more like a mobile game without all the ads.”
    • “[*] Linked 'jump pads' are new to CE2 (something repeated in-game wherever possible, as if an advertisement) which function like screen-edge paths scattered around the maze, but do little more than add confusion to pathing.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its exceptional music and visuals, creating an immersive experience that enhances gameplay.

    • “The game features great music, stunning visuals, and an immersive atmosphere.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

Buy Pac-Man Championship Edition 2

Play time

27hMedian play time
55hAverage play time
25-166hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games