Shadow Labyrinth is at its best when it lets you explore: its maze-like world, navigation puzzles, platforming challenges, and optional secrets form a solid Metroidvania core. Its dark PAC-MAN premise is distinctive, but a linear opening, limited enemy variety, repetitive-looking industrial areas, and a sharp difficulty rise near the climax keep the action from matching the exploration.
Is Shadow Labyrinth a good Metroidvania?
Yes, if exploration and platforming matter more to you than constant combat novelty. In its July 17, 2025 review, PC Gamer describes an initially overly linear opening that gives way to a stronger Metroidvania structure: the world opens up, routes and navigation puzzles reward attention, and the map helps guide searches for secrets and optional areas. The review is based on the PC Gamer reviewer’s time with the game on an Asus ROG Ally, not independent testing for this article. PC Gamer’s review.
That structure is the game’s clearest strength. Progress depends on exploring a maze-like planet, solving environmental puzzles, and taking on platforming challenges, rather than simply moving through a sequence of combat rooms. The optional areas and map-led secret hunting give exploration a purpose beyond reaching the next objective.
What is Shadow Labyrinth?
Shadow Labyrinth is a single-player 2D action platformer from Bandai Namco. You play as Swordsman No. 8, who awakens on a mysterious planet alongside PUCK, a floating orb. The setup reimagines PAC-MAN as a dark science-fiction adventure: pursuit and consumption are part of the premise, and familiar ghosts return as G-HOSTS. The game also nods to other Bandai Namco arcade properties. Bandai Namco’s game page and Nintendo’s listing describe its action-platforming, exploration, puzzles, and single-player format.
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#1 Best Overall
- Includes Base Game
- Search the remnants of an age-old intergalactic conflict, started long before your arrival, and discover new powers and abilities
- Master the fluid combat and combine powerful skills to create a playstyle of your own
- Team up with PUCK, and dive deeper into the maze of a mysterious alien world
Bandai Namco says the game includes new abilities and weapons, environmental puzzles, and a GAIA mech transformation. The publisher’s July 18, 2025 launch announcement characterizes it as a blend of “classic 2D action-platforming” and “deep exploration.” Bandai Namco’s launch announcement.
How are the combat and difficulty?
PC Gamer describes combat built on familiar melee conventions: a three-strike combo, a stun attack, and an interrupt strike that uses stamina. That gives fights a basic tactical rhythm, but the review finds much of the moment-to-moment action less unusual than the game’s PAC-MAN-inspired premise.
Rank #2
- Includes: Base Game, Deluxe Content, Enamel Pin Set, Map/Poster, Stickers, & Booklet Case
- Search the remnants of an age-old intergalactic conflict, started long before your arrival, and discover new powers and abilities
- Master the fluid combat and combine powerful skills to create a playstyle of your own
- Team up with PUCK, and dive deeper into the maze of a mysterious alien world
The same review flags recurring surprise combat arenas and a limited bestiary, which can make encounters feel repetitive. Some industrial areas also look too similar, and the difficulty rises sharply during the climax. These are the main reasons the game’s strong exploration does not make it an unqualified recommendation. PC Gamer’s review.
How long is Shadow Labyrinth?
PC Gamer’s reviewer estimates there is “easily forty hours of game here.” Treat that as one reviewer’s estimate, not an official completion-time figure or a measured average; the time any player spends will depend on how much optional content and secret hunting they pursue. PC Gamer’s review.
Rank #3
![Shadow Labyrinth Nintendo Switch 2 Edition - Nintendo Switch 2 [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41TJt5lwdLL._SL160_.jpg)
- This is the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. Please note that there is also the Standard Edition and Deluxe Edition available, so please be careful of duplicate purchases.
- A Nintendo Switch Online membership may be required for online play. Please check the game detail page on Nintendo.com for membership requirements.
What platforms is Shadow Labyrinth on?
Bandai Namco lists the game for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. Steam lists the PC release date as July 17, 2025; Bandai Namco and Nintendo list July 18, 2025. The listings therefore differ by platform or region, so the date depends on which storefront you consult. Steam’s listing, Bandai Namco’s game page, and Nintendo’s listing.
Nintendo says owners of the Switch version can upgrade to the Switch 2 version at no additional cost. The publisher confirms physical standard editions for PS5 and Nintendo Switch, alongside digital standard and deluxe editions. The deluxe edition includes the game, a digital artbook, and a soundtrack. Bandai Namco describes the physical Collector’s Edition, which adds collectibles and an art journal, as exclusive to the Bandai Namco Entertainment America store; availability may change. Bandai Namco’s game page and Nintendo’s listing.
Rank #4
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
What changed in the latest documented update?
Bandai Namco lists Patch 1.1.0 as available on all platforms from November 11, 2025. The publisher says it added Explorer Mode, adjusted the balance of existing modes, and improved Mini-PUCK controls. Its page also lists a one-year anniversary Q&A dated July 18, 2026; that listing does not establish whether a later patch has since been released. Check the publisher’s game page for current update information.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should you play Shadow Labyrinth?
Choose Shadow Labyrinth for exploration, map-based discovery, puzzles, and platforming wrapped in a strikingly dark PAC-MAN reinterpretation. Go in with more modest expectations for enemy variety and combat freshness, and be prepared for a substantial difficulty jump late in the game. Its strengths are real, but they are concentrated in the world and how you move through it.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Explore each stage and then find even more secrets by making your way through the stage backwards on the flip side
- Overcome varied enemies and obstacles, like Zombie Guys, Skelesaurus, Ukiki, and Monty Mole as you seek out hidden collectables; ESRB Content: Mild Cartoon Violence; Genre: Action, Platformer
- Pass a Joy Con controller to a friend for 2 player cooperative exploration
- Clad Yoshi in collectable, protective, handicraft costumes as he makes his way through each stage
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