Pac-Man
Iconic ARCADE MAZE game — Toru Iwatani, Namco 1980. Yellow character eats DOTS through maze while avoiding 4 GHOSTS (Blinky, Pinky, Inky, Clyde). Power pellets let Pac-Man temporarily eat ghosts. First video game character in popular culture. Best-selling arcade game of all time (~400,000 units, $2.5B+ 1980-2010). Speedrunning/high-score competitive scene ('perfect game' = 3,333,360 pts).
What is Pac-Man?
Pac-Man is ICONIC ARCADE MAZE game — created by TORU IWATANI for NAMCO, released MAY 22, 1980 in JAPAN (original title 'PUCK MAN'); AMERICAN release OCTOBER 1980 (renamed 'PAC-MAN'). GAMEPLAY: player controls YELLOW PAC-MAN character eating 244 DOTS through symmetric MAZE while avoiding 4 GHOSTS (BLINKY red, PINKY pink, INKY blue, CLYDE orange). Each ghost has DISTINCT AI PERSONALITY — Blinky chases directly, Pinky ambushes ahead, Inky patrols with Blinky reference, Clyde random. 4 POWER PELLETS in corners temporarily reverse dynamic — Pac-Man can EAT ghosts for bonus points (ghosts flee blue then respawn). BONUS FRUIT items appear giving extra points. LEVELS increase difficulty as speeds increase + power pellet duration shortens. AT LEVEL 256, GAME BREAKS ('kill screen') due to 8-bit overflow bug — half screen corrupts; game essentially ends. 'PERFECT GAME' = 3,333,360 pts (max possible before kill screen, eating every dot + fruit + all ghosts on each level). First achieved 1999 by BILLY MITCHELL (later disputed + reversed rulings). MULTIPLE VERIFIED PERFECT GAMERS since. CULTURAL IMPACT: first video game character to enter popular culture (before Mario). PAC-MAN FEVER hit song 1982. Cereal, TV cartoon, merchandising. BEST-SELLING ARCADE GAME EVER (~400,000 units, $2.5B+ 1980-2010, considered greatest arcade game ever made). Direct sequels: MS. PAC-MAN 1982, JR. PAC-MAN, PAC-LAND. Still played today: PAC-MAN 99, PAC-MAN CE DX, esports scene.
Quick facts
Category
Video Games
Type
Individual
Players
1–2
Duration
~20 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
arcade cabinet or emulator
Country of origin
🇯🇵 Japan
Estimated origin
May 22, 1980 (Japan release); October 1980 (US release); Iwatani design based on pizza-with-slice-missing inspiration
Olympic
No
Popularity
global
How it works
Objective
Eat all dots to clear each level; maximize score across many levels.
Rules
Basic rules
Move Pac-Man through maze eating DOTS (10 pts each)
244 dots per level.
AVOID 4 GHOSTS or lose life
Each ghost has distinct AI.
Eat POWER PELLET (50 pts) to temporarily eat ghosts for bonus
200/400/800/1600 pts per ghost eaten in sequence.
Eat BONUS FRUIT for extra points (100-5000 pts)
Fruit type + points scale with level.
Level complete when all dots eaten
Next level starts with new maze layout (same size).
Game over at 3 (or 5) lives lost
Extra life at 10,000 pts typical.
LEVEL 256 = KILL SCREEN (8-bit overflow bug)
Game essentially ends here; 'PERFECT GAME' scoring caps at 3,333,360 pts.
Scoring
Maximize score across levels; perfect game = 3,333,360 pts.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Dot | 10 pts |
| Power pellet | 50 pts |
| Ghost eaten (during power pellet, sequence) | 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 pts |
| Cherry (level 1 fruit) | 100 pts |
| Strawberry | 300 pts |
| Orange | 500 pts |
| Apple | 700 pts |
| Melon | 1000 pts |
| Galaxian ship | 2000 pts |
| Bell | 3000 pts |
| Key (level 13+ all fruit) | 5000 pts |
| Perfect game (max possible) | 3,333,360 pts |
Win condition · No natural end — maximize score before losing all lives; kill screen at level 256.
Playing area
Called
arcade cabinet or emulator
Dimensions
1 maze screen (28 × 36 tiles)
Symmetric 4-quadrant maze with warp tunnels + center ghost home.
Equipment
Original arcade cabinet (collectible: $500-5000)
Nostalgic hardware; still available refurbished.
Home port versions (Atari 2600 1982, NES, home consoles, mobile)
€0-40 various platforms
Emulators (MAME) allow modern PC play
Free
Strategies
Learn PATTERNS — Pac-Man's ghost AI is deterministic in early levels
Memorize routes for perfect scores.
Power pellet timing — save for ghost clusters
Chain ghost eating (200+400+800+1600 = 3000 pts single pellet).
Corner CLYDE (random AI) predictable at boundaries
Understand each ghost personality.
Fruit timing — appear at specific dot count thresholds
Snag valuable late-level fruit (bell, key = 3000-5000 pts).
Terminology
- Pac-Man
- Yellow protagonist; originally Puck Man in Japan.
- Blinky, Pinky, Inky, Clyde
- The 4 ghosts (Shadow, Speedy, Bashful, Pokey).
- Power pellet
- Corner dot that temporarily makes ghosts edible.
- Kill screen
- Level 256 game-ending bug.
- Perfect game
- 3,333,360 pts — maximum possible score before kill screen.
- Twin Galaxies
- Video game record verification organization.
Major competitions
Twin Galaxies-verified world record submissions
ongoing · worldwide · since 1981
Various vintage arcade tournaments
annual · worldwide · since 2000
Pac-Man 40th anniversary celebration events
special · worldwide · since 2020
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Twin Galaxies (video game record verification)
Founded 1981 · USA
Official site ↗Guinness World Records (video game categories)
Founded 1955 · UK
Namco Bandai (game publisher + tournaments)
Founded 1955 · Japan
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Billy Mitchell (US) — First claimed perfect game 1999 (later disputed, reinstated by Guinness 2020)
- Rick Fothergill (Canada) — Verified perfect game 1999
- David Race (US) — Perfect games; fastest verified perfect time
- Toru Iwatani (Japan) — Original designer
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Play Pac-Man on any platform — arcade emulator, mobile app, home console
Easily accessible; 45+ years of ports.
- 2
Learn ghost personalities
Understanding AI = better survival.
intermediate
- 1
Study pattern videos on YouTube
Optimal routes documented.
- 2
Practice consistent 500,000+ pt games
Solid intermediate performance.
advanced
- 1
Attempt PERFECT GAME (3,333,360 pts)
Hours-long attempt; requires precision on every level.
- 2
Submit verified performance to Twin Galaxies
Official world record ratification.
Frequently asked
What is Pac-Man?+
ICONIC ARCADE MAZE game — Toru Iwatani, NAMCO 1980. Player controls YELLOW PAC-MAN eating DOTS through maze while avoiding 4 GHOSTS (Blinky, Pinky, Inky, Clyde). Power pellets temporarily reverse dynamic — Pac-Man eats ghosts. FIRST video game character in popular culture (before Mario). BEST-SELLING ARCADE GAME EVER (~$2.5B). Cultural touchstone of 1980s. 'PERFECT GAME' = 3,333,360 pts (max possible before level 256 kill screen). Still played today via arcade, home consoles, mobile, esports (Pac-Man 99, CE DX).
What is a 'Perfect Game' in Pac-Man?+
3,333,360 POINTS — maximum possible score in original Pac-Man. Requires: (1) Eating ALL 244 dots + 4 power pellets on every level 1-255. (2) Eating ALL 4 GHOSTS during each power pellet (200+400+800+1600 = 3000 pts per pellet). (3) Getting maximum FRUIT bonus every level. (4) Reaching LEVEL 256 without dying — where 8-bit overflow bug ends game (half screen corrupts). First achieved 1999 by BILLY MITCHELL (later disputed + reinstated). Takes ~3.5 HOURS of perfect play. Only handful of verified performers throughout history.
Who created Pac-Man?+
TORU IWATANI (岩谷 徹) at NAMCO in Japan, released May 22, 1980. Design inspired by seeing PIZZA WITH SLICE MISSING (Pac-Man's shape). Iwatani wanted friendlier game than era's aggressive shooters (Space Invaders, Asteroids); designed for FEMALE + FAMILY audience. Original title 'PUCK MAN' (from Japanese 'paku-paku' onomatopoeia for eating). American publisher renamed 'PAC-MAN' fearing vandalism of 'PUCK MAN' to 'FUCK MAN' cabinets. Massive global success surprised Namco + revolutionized video game marketing.
Sources & provenance
- Wikipedia — Pac-Man— Wikipedia
- Twin Galaxies — Pac-Man records— Twin Galaxies