Halloween Edition Pac-Man Game Launched as Google Doodle

The beloved arcade game characters Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde have found a house to haunt this Halloween. The latest surprise from Google comes in the form of a new edition of the Pac-Man game, themed for the spooky season and launched as a playful Google Doodle.nnThis version of Pac-Man puts an adorable yet spine-chilling spin on the game’s traditional arcade aesthetic. The titular character himself adorns a pixelated purple witch hat, with an alternative array of costumes to choose from. His ghostly adversaries are hot on his heels as they navigate through various Halloween-inspired levels adorned with cobwebs, pumpkins, and even a haunted house. This variation of the game, termed as ‘PAC-MAN: Halloween 2025 Edition’, boasts of eight challenging levels, growing progressively harder as the game advances.nnThe standard Power Pellets integral to the game have been imaginatively replaced with eyeballs. In an exciting twist, when Pac-Man consumes these, the screen transmogrifies into a purple and black arena, allowing Pac-Man to finally turn the tables and gobble up the pursuing ghosts. One outstanding aspect of this Google Doodle rendition is the retention of the same sound effects and music as the original game, retaining the nostalgic essence of the 1980’s game.nnUsers have the flexibility to direct Pac-Man’s movements through different input devices including a mouse, trackpad, or arrow keys. However, a word of caution to those intending to use a MacBook or a similar laptop with downsized arrow keys – the experience might be frustrating. Given a normal-sized keyboard or a handy mouse though, this Halloween themed doodle could serve as an engaging pastime during a short break.nnThis is not the first time Google has integrated Pac-Man into a Doodle. Back in 2010, Google collaborated with Bandai Namco to create a Google Doodle for Pac-Man’s 30th anniversary celebration. This was the first-ever Doodle to introduce sound and interactivity. Though Google’s homepage won’t feature this charming throwback to arcade gaming indefinitely, it will join the collection of Google’s Doodle archive, ensuring its availability for play even after the Halloween season concludes.