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How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (Metacritic) | – | 80 | 20 |
| All-time Steam reviews | – | – | 0 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 72 | 25 |
| Backloggd ratings | – | 74 | 75 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 5h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (33)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 90
“Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus is everything that fans of the classic arcade game could want out of a legacy sequel, focusing on delivering a pure, high-speed realization of the concept that was introduced way back in 1980. Between the single player and multiplayer modes, there’s enough content here for hours of play, and it’s all endlessly replayable. We would give this game a strong recommendation to anyone that enjoys the easy to learn, difficult to master gameplay that you typically find in an arcade game; PCE2 has it in spades. For 20 bucks, this one is a no-brainer.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“PAC-MAN Championship Edition 2 PLUS could have been the definitive version of an already almost perfect game. The damming frame-rate drops are bad enough to affect the game's playability and oftentimes lead to unfair losses. In spite of the technical shortcomings, though, those who manage to adapt or compensate for this unyieldingly flaw will still find that this is a wonderful version of an already beloved arcade classic. The music and sound effects are all distinctively very Pac-Man, but with a techno flair to it that gives it a bit of extra synth-crunch. Anyone who loves the arcade original will love this new take on it, but be warned that it does have some pretty bad chop and would be best to wait till it gets patched.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The core of Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus is good, especially with the Score Attack mode and the novel new local two-player mode. Unfortunately, the botched offline score uploading, minor technical issues, and disappointing Adventure mode drag the entire experience down. If you have friends locally to play the two-player mode or friends online to score chase with, this is a fine game, at least as long you’re always near WiFi when you get high scores. Without the well-implemented high score chases, it’s still fun, just maybe more fleeting than it could have been.”
read full review ↗ - 91
“PMCE2+ is an excellent addition to the Switch eShop, not to mention a spectacular evolution of the Pac-Man franchise. A lot of games have legacies, as Nintendo fans know very well, but some of the older titles that pioneered the industry are either stuck in re-releases or not as engaging to today’s players. If PMCE2+ is proof of anything, it’s that with a little ingenuity, the core mechanics of these classics can easily appeal to a contemporary audience.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus is an enhanced porting of the game released in 2016 on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. Game modes and gameplay are the same but this Switch version adds a brand new local two players co-op that bring some new cool mechanics and increases the fun. And it can be played with a single Joy-Con too. You can also play in tandem with the CPU if you do not have friends to team up, but it is not the same thing. After more than 35 years, Pac-Man is still here to entertain everyone.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 feels perfectly at home on the portable system. It retains all the same game modes, features, and good looks of the previous console versions, but smartly adds a two-player mode, where the sense of teamwork is more palpable and there’s a distinct sense of accomplishment when two players work together to trap a whole string of delicious frightened ghosts for big points.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus is essentially an expanded version of its predecessor and one which does a very competent job at bringing the Pac-Man experience back, with all its frantically addictive gameplay that made the very first game an immortal classic, now with a cooperative multiplayer experience. While some more additions would be appreciated, this edition is certainly very welcome to the Nintendo Switch catalog, where it will find its place among the fans.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“An unexpectedly brave attempt to once again rewrite the rules on Pac-Man, resulting in another near-classic arcade experience.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus offers a fun twist on a classic gaming formula along with some great two-player action on the go or on the big screen, it just seems oddly rigid in how it lets you play.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus is a fantastic evolution of the core Pac-Man formula, delivering addictive gameplay at blistering speeds. With such a sharp focus on high scores, I guarantee you'll be coming back to this one again and again.”
read full review ↗ - 82
“Pac-Man CE2+ is a frantic experience that every good on-the-go gamer should have. But the new 2P mode could and should have been way better.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The gameplay changes that run counter to the original arcade game don’t always work, but overall, the elements synergize to form a worthy and thrilling deviation of the classic formula. It takes time to learn this new playstyle, but it’s a worthy and thrilling deviation of the classic formula.”
read full review ↗
Nintendo Life
Cubed3
NintendoWorldReport
Nintendojo
Eurogamer
GameSpot
FNintendo
Metro GameCentral
Switch Player
IGN
Darkstation…and 21 more tracked reviews.