Despite growing up obsessed with platformer game franchises like Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, and many others, I somehow never played the Pac-Man World series. Thankfully, I saw the error of my ways and can happily report that Bandai Namco’s Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is an excellent 3D platformer worth playing for any fan of the genre.
You can’t really put a value on the level of impact Pac-Man has had in terms of cultural significance at large. “Pac-Man Fever” was a very real thing beyond the hit song at the height of the ‘80s arcade craze and Pac-Man was at the center of it all.
Naturally, his popularity eventually faded, but the little yellow circle is still one of the most popular and recognizable video game characters on the planet. You can look at his history in gaming as a great example of finding ways to consistently innovate and maintain relevancy. From ports, remakes, and ambitious spin-offs of the classic maze-based pellet-eating formula, to bold new games, movies, animations, books, and more, Pac-Man has never stayed still for long.
Back in 1999 Pac-Man made his initial transition to the 3D platformer universe for the original PlayStation (which already got its own remake in 2022) with Pac-Man World, and just three years later its sequel, Pac-Man World 2, debuted on PlayStation 2 with eventual ports also coming to the GameCube and Xbox. And now, Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac, developed by Now Production, goes far above and beyond what you’d typically expect from a seemingly simple remake.
Waka-waka
In Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac, you must earn back the golden fruit from the dastardly ghosts who stole them all. Naturally, that means progressing through collections of themed levels that each culminate in a boss fight. You’ll spend your time running around and collecting bits and bobs, fighting enemies, and carefully jumping across platforms and over obstacles on your way through the game.
There are leaderboards and time attack modes to try and clear levels as fast as possible, with separate rankings for each platform. Plus, each stage also now has a list of side objectives, or missions, to give you extra things to do for more rewards.
Admittedly, it’s all very standard platformer fare. The levels, while charming and vibrant, bursting with color and personality, are never overly challenging or shockingly creative. The story is barebones, the characters are simple-minded and one-dimensional, and there is little growth in your skillset or capabilities across the game. At its core, this is still just a remake of an over 20-year-old game that was, arguably, viewed as relatively simple even at the time of its original release.
However, all of that being said, Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is much more than just the sum of its parts.
For example, what the levels may lack in mind-bending creativity, they make up for in excellent pacing and satisfying collectibles. Even though the narrative is about as basic as you’d expect, the characters are cute and fun to talk to. Pac-Village was expanded and refined so much that it’s actually worth the time to explore and customize your statues to make it feel cozy.
In other words, Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is a bit like 3D platformer comfort food. The developers know the tropes of the genre, and they skirted the line very well between feeling derivative and totally missing the mark.
Threading that needle is especially important for remakes of classic games like this because you need to appeal to both existing fans and newcomers alike.
Ghosts of games past
Crucially, though, the correct lesson to take away from Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is that it’s just a very good remake. There are brand-new gameplay mechanics, like being able to perfectly time Pac-Man’s Butt Bounce to achieve a more powerful Super Butt Bounce. You can throw the collectible pac-dots as projectiles at enemies and even charge them up for a more powerful version. Pac-Man also now has a flutter jump, letting you add a bit of hangtime at the end of a jump to get a little extra distance. There’s also a landing guide circle below Pac-Man so you can clearly see where you’re landing at all times in 3D space.
And now, cutscenes and key dialogue moments are all fully voiced, which is no small addition. Touches like that add a tremendous amount of personality to the characters, and it really helps bring things to life in a way that modern gamers expect.
Finally, there are even more difficulty options to make the game even more accessible for young gamers, as well as a two-player local co-op mode, so a helper can join you on the journey.
If those all sound like no-brainer mechanics for a 3D platformer based on Pac-Man, that’s because they’re supposed to sound that way. The fact that they don’t seem out of place and feel like they were always there is how you know they’re perfect additions for a remake.
The biggest addition, though, is the fact that, after you complete all the levels in the base game and roll credits, it’s not over. I won’t spoil exactly what happens, but there is a hidden second campaign to unlock that adds multiple hours of new content. Basically, it’s like an entire expansion DLC that’s entirely new, even for fans of the original.
Re-pac and re-invest
Looking back, even just a generation ago, 3D platformers were considerably rare in the market. But now, they’re having a bit of a renaissance. Last year, Astro Bot won Game of the Year for 202,4 and just three years prio,r fellow 3D platformer, It Takes Two, took home the Game of the Year for 2021 honors. Not to mention 2025’s Donkey Kong Bananza, which is making a convincing argument to be in the same Game of the Year conversations later this year, with its strong 91 on Metacritic after over 140 critic reviews.
Does all this mean every publisher should have a 3D platformer in their portfolio? Well, selfishly, I want to say yes, because I love the genre, but realistically, no. Gamers are savvy consumers who can sense trend-chasing a mile away.
But for publishers with the right IP in their portfolio, investing in remasters, remakes, and revivals of classic franchises can absolutely be an excellent strategy. Publishers like Capcom are reaping those rewards with collections of Mega Man games and ground-up remakes of its most successful Resident Evil titles. Recently, Konami has also followed that same process with the excellent Silent Hill 2 remake last year and this year’s Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.
For a character like Pac-Man, it makes a ton of sense. Everyone already knows who he is. Cross-over collaborations with newer games, such as Sonic Racing CrossWorlds and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, have maintained his relevancy, and fans are hungry for more high-quality games in this specific genre.
Conclusion
I didn’t expect to enjoy this game as much as I have. Maybe that’s an indictment of my lack of awareness for just how special the Pac–Man World series is, or maybe that’s an enthusiastic endorsement of the work that went into this remake. We’re living in an era where 3D platformers are beating out massive AAA blockbusters at The Game Awards, and it feels poetic, in a way, that Pac-Man finds himself once again worthy of praise all these years later.
I spent about five or six hours playing through the main campaign of 25 levels spread across six worlds, completing each level once. I missed lots of side objectives and collectibles along the way. During that time, I also went back and played lots of optional bonus maze levels, classic unlockable arcade games, and spent time customizing and hanging out back at Pac-Village.
Once you finish the game, you’ll unlock an all-new supplementary campaign of extra levels that are more difficult to complete. I spent another couple of hours exploring the new content. I still have plenty left to collect and complete at my own pace, so I’d estimate probably around 15+ total hours of content if you’re a real completionist.
Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is a testament to the staying power of Bandai Namco’s oldest properties and the immortality you can achieve when you create something simple, iconic, and purely fun. The original Pac-Man arcade game is one of the most timeless, recognizable, and beloved video games of all time, and I adore seeing how those original ideas evolved and expanded in games like this.
When Pac-Man World 2 was first released back on PlayStation 2, it was well-regarded and commercially successful, but this new Re-Pac version is a textbook example of how to do remakes properly. Visuals are entirely overhauled across the board; everything from the hub village to each level is expanded, gameplay is rebuilt with more abilities and more interactivity, there’s new content around every corner, and the litany of other overall enhancements all add up to a fantastic package. This isn’t the bare minimum, and the developers deserve praise for the effort here.
Just to be perfectly clear, I absolutely recommend this game wholeheartedly to anyone who enjoys great 3D platformers or has kids starting to get more into gaming. Don’t let this one fly under your radar.
Rating:
4 / 5
Disclosure: A representative on behalf of Bandai Namco sent me a digital download code for this review. The game will be available for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2 on September 26, 2025. I played the game on Switch 2 for this review.