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In the original Pac-Man scoring system, ghosts are worth 200, 400, 800, and 1,600 points when eaten in sequence after one energizer. Clearing all four ghosts from that single Power Pellet is worth 3,000 points in total. The chain is tied to one energizer, and the original arcade game eventually removes frightened-ghost scoring altogether: by level 19, ghosts no longer turn blue and cannot be eaten for these bonuses.
That answer applies to the original arcade rule set. NES releases, modern compilations, Ms. Pac-Man, and other Pac-Man variants can alter frightened timing or scoring, so identify the version before assuming the same rules.
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The first ghost eaten after an energizer is worth 200 points. Each subsequent ghost eaten during that same frightened period doubles the previous award:
| Ghost eaten after one energizer | Points |
|---|---|
| First | 200 |
| Second | 400 |
| Third | 800 |
| Fourth | 1,600 |
The Nintendo Pac-Man manual describes the rule directly: “Each ghost eaten in succession doubles in point value!” Its table gives the four awards as 200, 400, 800, and 1,600 points. You can read the figures in the Nintendo Pac-Man game manual.
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The doubling is not an unlimited multiplier. There are four ghosts, so the sequence ends at 1,600 points for the fourth ghost. Eating another ghost requires another energizer, which starts a new first-through-fourth sequence.
What starts the ghost-point sequence?
An energizer is the large Power Pellet in a maze corner. Pac-Man must eat one before frightened-ghost scoring becomes possible. The ghosts turn blue for a limited period, and Pac-Man can eat them while that frightened state lasts.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe Nintendo manual explains that ghosts can be eaten only after Pac-Man eats an energizer. Bandai Namco’s official ARCADE GAME SERIES: PAC-MAN how-to-play guide gives the same basic rule: eating a Power Pellet turns the ghosts blue and lets Pac-Man eat them for a short time.
“After one energizer” is therefore the important qualification. The game counts the first ghost eaten after that pellet as 200, the next as 400, then 800 and 1,600. The chain belongs to that single frightened event; it is not a permanent multiplier attached to Pac-Man’s score.
How much do all four ghosts add up to?
Eating every ghost during one frightened period produces a 3,000-point bonus:
200 + 400 + 800 + 1,600 = 3,000 points
The order matters for the individual awards, but the complete four-ghost total is always 3,000 if all four are eaten before that energizer’s frightened opportunity ends. Missing the fourth ghost does not convert the earlier awards into a different value; it simply leaves the 1,600-point part of the possible chain unearned.
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Game Developer’s published Pac-Man analysis also notes that clearing all four ghosts at all four energizers can add 12,000 points on early levels: four complete chains multiplied by 3,000 points each. That is a maximum ghost-bonus calculation for those levels, not a claim that every maze or every later level permits it.
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Do Pac-Man ghost points double every time?
They double only within the four-ghost sequence created by one energizer. The progression is 200 to 400, 400 to 800, and 800 to 1,600. There is no fifth ghost award in the original game, and the fourth award does not become 3,200.
Once the sequence ends, eating another energizer resets the next frightened chain to 200 points for its first ghost. This reset explains why a player can earn 200 points from the first ghost near one corner and then earn 200 again from the first ghost of a later Power Pellet; those are separate attempts.
A useful way to read the table is as a running risk-and-reward ladder. The first capture establishes a modest bonus, while the fourth is worth eight times the first capture. The arithmetic is straightforward, but the game gives the player only a brief frightened window in which to complete the ladder.
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The escalating values reward keeping the ghosts together and reaching more than one target during the same frightened period. If Pac-Man eats only one ghost, the event yields 200 points. Eating all four instead yields 3,000 points, so the final three captures contribute 2,800 additional points beyond the first.
This design also makes the order of capture visible on the score display: the player sees a small award for the first ghost and increasingly large awards for later ghosts. The Nintendo manual’s wording treats the awards as successive values, not as four identical bonuses.
For score planning, compare complete chains rather than isolated captures. One 1,600-point fourth ghost is valuable, but it is available only after the same energizer has already produced the 200-, 400-, and 800-point captures. A strategy that reaches the fourth ghost but fails to collect the earlier targets has not produced a fourth-chain award.
What changes on higher levels?
The original arcade game shortens the frightened period as levels advance. That makes the 800- and 1,600-point captures harder to reach because Pac-Man has less time to contact the remaining ghosts after the Power Pellet.
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There is also a hard rule change. According to Game Developer’s published Pac-Man analysis, by level 19 the ghosts stop turning blue altogether. In the original arcade game, that means Pac-Man can no longer eat frightened ghosts for the 200/400/800/1,600 bonus sequence on level 19 or later.
This late-level behavior is why a statement such as “four ghosts are worth 3,000 points” needs a version and level qualifier. It is accurate for a complete frightened sequence on an early level of the original arcade game, but it is not a promise that the same opportunity remains available throughout an entire arcade run.
Does the same scoring apply to every Pac-Man version?
No. The 200/400/800/1,600 table is the original arcade rule set described in the Nintendo manual and Bandai Namco’s guide. A port or remake may preserve the table, change frightened duration, or handle late-level frightened mode differently.
The NES manual is useful evidence for the Nintendo release, while Bandai Namco describes its arcade-game-series edition as a faithful recreation of the original 1980 arcade game. Those references should not be treated as proof that every later Pac-Man product uses identical timing or scoring.
When checking another release, look for four separate details:
- Ghost values: does the release list 200, 400, 800, and 1,600 in sequence?
- Frightened duration: how long do the ghosts remain blue after each Power Pellet?
- Late-level behavior: do ghosts still turn blue on the release’s highest levels?
- Rule-set identity: is it the original arcade game, a port, a remake, or a different game such as Ms. Pac-Man?
If a guide or in-game manual does not specify these points, do not automatically transfer the arcade answer. The safe conclusion is that the original table is a reference point, not a universal rule for every title carrying the Pac-Man name.
How should you play for the largest ghost bonus?
To pursue the full 3,000-point chain, the player needs a plan before eating the Power Pellet. The following sequence follows directly from the scoring rules and the shrinking frightened window:
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- Choose the energizer deliberately. Move toward a corner Power Pellet when multiple ghosts are positioned where they can be reached quickly. A pellet starts the scoring opportunity, so eating one while the ghosts are scattered can waste valuable frightened time.
- Trigger the pellet when targets are accessible. The ghosts must be blue before they can be eaten. Waiting until the group is close enough to reach in sequence can make the later 800- and 1,600-point captures more realistic.
- Take the first ghost for 200 points. This begins the chain. Do not treat the first capture as the end of the opportunity; the next target is worth twice as much.
- Continue to the 400- and 800-point ghosts. Route choice matters because every detour consumes part of the short frightened period. The score is based on capture order, not on which named ghost is eaten.
- Attempt the 1,600-point fourth capture. If the frightened period is ending, surviving is more important than forcing a dangerous approach. The rules permit partial chains; a player can keep the earlier awards even when the fourth ghost is missed.
- Repeat only with a new energizer. A later Power Pellet starts another first-ghost value of 200, rather than continuing the old chain beyond 1,600.
On early levels, four successful energizers create the 12,000-point ghost-bonus ceiling described by Game Developer’s published Pac-Man analysis. As levels progress and frightened time shrinks, a practical score plan should value safe partial chains instead of assuming that every pellet can produce all four captures.
What are the most common mistakes about ghost values?
“Every ghost is worth 200 points.”
That is only true for the first ghost after each energizer. The second, third, and fourth are worth 400, 800, and 1,600 points respectively.
“The ghosts keep doubling forever.”
They do not. The original game has four ghosts, so the documented sequence stops at 1,600 for the fourth capture.
“The 3,000 points are awarded for eating a Power Pellet.”
The 3,000 figure is the sum of the four ghost awards. It describes a complete ghost-eating sequence; it is not the value of the energizer itself.
“The rule works on every level.”
Not in the original arcade game. Frightened periods shorten as levels advance, and by level 19 the ghosts no longer turn blue, eliminating these additional ghost points.
“A modern Pac-Man port must use the same timing.”
Ports and remakes can differ. Confirm the release’s manual or official documentation before applying the arcade timing or late-level behavior.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Worked scoring examples
Example 1: one ghost. Pac-Man eats a Power Pellet and catches one blue ghost before the effect ends. The ghost bonus is 200 points.
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Example 2: three ghosts. The first three captures from that same pellet are worth 200 + 400 + 800 = 1,400 points. The 1,600-point fourth award is still unavailable unless Pac-Man catches the final ghost during the same opportunity.
Example 3: all four ghosts. The four captures total 3,000 points. This is the complete single-energizer sequence.
Example 4: four complete energizers on an early level. Four separate 3,000-point chains total 12,000 points, matching the early-level figure reported by Game Developer. Each chain begins again at 200 because each one follows a different energizer.
Example 5: level 19 or later in the original arcade game. The ghosts no longer turn blue, so none of these frightened-ghost awards can be earned under that rule set, regardless of how many energizers remain on the board.
What is the shortest answer?
For the original arcade Pac-Man: 200 points for the first ghost, 400 for the second, 800 for the third, and 1,600 for the fourth after one energizer. All four total 3,000 points. The opportunity becomes harder as levels rise and disappears entirely from level 19 onward in the original game because the ghosts stop turning blue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Power Pellets and energizers the same thing in Pac-Man?
Yes. “Energizer” is the terminology used in the classic scoring explanation, while official game instructions commonly call the same large corner item a Power Pellet. Eating it is what starts the temporary blue, edible state.
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The ghost-scoring references here do not specify a separate point value for eating the pellet. The 3,000-point figure refers only to the four ghost awards added together, not to the pellet’s own score.
Do all later Pac-Man games use 200, 400, 800 and 1,600?
You should not assume that they do. The documented sequence is for the original arcade rule set; check the specific release’s manual or official guide for ports, remakes and related games.
Can a version keep the ghost values but change how long they stay blue?
Yes. Ghost values and frightened duration are separate rules, so a release can preserve the four point awards while giving the player a different amount of time to collect them. Late-level behavior can also differ between versions.
