Shadow Labyrinth, a different take on Pac-Man, gets release date on Nintendo Switch

Bandai Namco just shared the release date for Shadow Labyrinth. The game launches on July 18, 2025.

Shadow Labyrinth was originally revealed at The Game Awards 2024 in December. Today’s update gives a look at never-before-seen gameplay including the first glimpse of a powerful mode players unlock as they progress through the game, where they take on the form of a massive robotic mech called Gaia. This inflicts heavy damage to enemies and levels the playing field for battles with some of the game’s most epically huge bosses. The game also features the quick and agile Swordsman No.8 melee combat and Mini Puck mode that lets players ride rails and explore small areas in classic Pac-Man style.

Here’s some additional information about the game:

As a departure from any previous Pac-Man game, Shadow Labyrinth puts players in the role of another character as protagonist, a warrior named Swordsman No. 8, but with the mysterious yet familiar yellow companion Puck at their side. Puck’s role is that of guide and guardian, teaching players that their aim in this treacherous world is to escape it, and to achieve that they must consume everything that waits in the darkness to survive and grow more powerful.

Along the way, they encounter increasingly challenging enemies, and puzzles with gameplay that weaves fluid tried and true 2D action platformer mechanics with inspired modern game design. Shadow Labyrinth offers a vast maze-filled world to explore as players uncover terrifying secrets about the planet and its inhabitants. The game features an engaging narrative, where venturing deeper into this maze of a world begins to unravel the mystery of the planet and Puck’s role in it. The rich story draws wider inspiration than just Pac-Man, tapping into Bandai Namco’s broader library of beloved classic games, and promising to delight fans with familiarity and nostalgia for classic arcade games.

A new trailer celebrating the Shadow Labyrinth release date news can be found below.

Release Date Trailer

All news from today’s Nintendo Direct can be found here.