Shadow Labyrinth Brings Its Pac-Man Metroidvania To Xbox Next Week

“A genre-twisting alternate take on the iconic PAC-MAN”

We wouldn’t blame you for having overlooked this one, but it should probably be on your radar! Shadow Labyrinth is coming to Xbox next week, and it’s a metroidvania Pac-Man game that’s been getting plenty of praise ahead of release.

It’s not actually advertised as a metroidvania though, being described as a “2D action platformer and a genre-twisting alternate take on the iconic PAC-MAN”. In it, you play as “Swordsman No. 8” in a quest to battle “dangerous creatures and evolved monstrosities” amidst an alien world, accompanied by a floating yellow orb called “PUCK”.

The reviews aren’t live yet, but here’s what some of the previews have said so far:

IGN

“Whether it is the fluidity of Puck’s grappling hook and wall traversal combined with Swordsman No. 8’s raw power and durability, or the fact that Pac-Man can turn into a mech that shoots lasers out of its mouth, everything about this Metroidvania is absurdly fun. The game features something for everyone here, as the platforming, combat, and puzzles each stand out on their own as enjoyable experiences.”

TheGamer

“Shadow Labyrinth already had me at ‘horror Metroidvania’, but it seems there’s a lot more to this wacky Pac-Man multiverse/Amazon animated series tie-in than I ever thought there’d be. Launching one day after Donkey Kong Bananza isn’t ideal, but I expect the buzz around Shadow Labyrinth is going to be much louder than anyone is expecting.”

Sounds very promising, then! Shadow Labyrinth has a release date of July 18th for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, and pre-orders are available on the Xbox Store starting at the low price of just £24.99 / $29.99.

We’ll leave you with more details about the game below, along with a few official screenshots.

“Shadow Labyrinth is a 2D action platformer and a genre-twisting alternate take on the iconic Pac-Man. As Swordsman No. 8, awoken by a floating yellow orb, PUCK, on a mysterious planet where relics from past wars remain, you are chosen to become the instrument of its will. To survive you will discover many secrets, start preying on your enemies, and become the apex predator as embrace your true purpose.”

Excited for Shadow Labyrinth on Xbox? Let us know down in the comments section below.

Fraser is the News Editor at Pure Xbox, where he spends his time reporting on the biggest stories in the world of Xbox and beyond.

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