Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
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 (OpenCritic) | – | 69 | 129 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 56% | 57 | 172 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 72 | 20 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 60% | 60 | 67 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Nov 12, 2025) · 67 reviews sampled · 56 total reviews in window · weighted 28.8 up / 19.1 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (120)
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.
- 50
“If we judged games solely on their tone and premise, then Shadow Labyrinth would be one of my favorite games of 2025. Unfortunately, once you peel back the novelty of “dark and edgy Pac-Man,” all you’re left with is a sloppy-yet-servicable Metroidvania. It’s a concept I love enough that I hope Bandai Namco gives it another shot, but for now, this one’s for enthusiasts of the genre only.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Shadow Labyrinth moves Pac-Man from his traditional mazes to the caverns of a dying planet, and will likely lose classic arcade fans along the way. But although it makes some gameplay and design mistakes that should have been avoidable, it's weird enough to provide some fun for fans of 2D platformers.”
read full review ↗ - 70
- 60
“Shadow Labyrinth is a mid-tier metroidvania featuring a few interesting concepts, but it quickly fades from memory after completion.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Shadow Labyrinth is a great combination of two genres, but still just an average Metroidvania. It's not a bad game per se, and if you enjoy a good challenge, you'll likely enjoy it, but it won't offer any life-changing experiences either.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Shadow Labyrinth stands out as a bold experiment, fusing the arcade style of Pac-Man with the complexity of a metroidvania. Its hybrid mechanics, polished visuals, and adrenaline-pumping moments guarantee a satisfying experience, but it's ultimately hampered by confusing level design and unbalanced difficulty. Still, for fans of the genre, it's a worthwhile journey, albeit one that isn't memorable.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“If you're intrigued by Shadow Labyrinth's fresh approach to Pac-Man, I recommend giving it a shot on Switch 2. It provides an intriguing narrative in a foreboding world with varied environments throughout, and PUCK proves to be a compelling character. The short bursts of Pac-Man-style gameplay help mix up the experience, and this is very welcome since the game never really delivers a 'wow' moment. Much of it has been done better elsewhere, but this is nevertheless a promising new direction for an ageing franchise; one I hope to see continue in the future.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“The Secret Level episode blew my mind when it came out and I couldn't wait to play a dark version of Pac-Man in a metroidvania setting. In the end, it’s a bog-standard metroidvania with a Pac-Man gimmick that does nothing new for the genre. The style was also not my cup of tea, as the contrasts between the background and the animation were too overwhelming and not very well implemented. Unfortunately, the show was much better than the game. ”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Shadow Labyrinth is weird, bold, and incredibly compelling. It takes one of gaming’s most iconic franchises and reimagines it into something brooding, mysterious, and challenging, and somehow, it works. The moment-to-moment gameplay is satisfying, the world design is smart, and the mix of lore, mechanics, and visual storytelling is impressive.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Who wants to go through all of that in hopes of maybe getting some weird sci-fi reference to Mappy? There needs to be something more than an Easter egg at the end of that labyrinth, especially when there’s a regular stream of Easter eggs on the way there.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Shadow Labyrinth is at least worth a rental or an afternoon or two of your search actioning time, provided you're fine with mediocrity. If you need a transcendent search action game though, this ain't it.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“When all is taken into account, you're in for an exceptional adventure - one that strays far from the classic Pac-Man formula. It’s bound to thrill many players, though it might leave some old-school fans a bit disappointed or at least confused.”
read full review ↗
Maximum Utmost
Pure Nintendo
Fintendo
GameMAG
INDIANTVCZ
GameFM
Nintendo Life
PLAY Zine
ani-game.com
The A.V. Club
Kakuchopurei
EmuGlx.org…and 108 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Explore Patch 1.1.0Nov 21, 2025
- Notice Regarding Release of Official Update File "Ver.1.1.0"Nov 12, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Shadow Labyrinth - Future Patch Update 1.1.0Oct 29, 2025
- Shadow Labyrinth Patch News (Ver. 1.0.4)Aug 27, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Shadow Labyrinth – Patch NewsAug 7, 2025significant · resets scoring window