Pac-Man 256

Pac-Man 256 is an updated version of the mobile game Pac-Man 256, for PC and consoles. The concept is identical to the original game: it is a 3D endless maze game that combines the maze mechanics of the classic Pac-Man with the endless environments while being chased by a persistent threat. Pac-Man needs to be guided through a maze with a fixed width and an endless vertical distance with a lay-out randomized for each session. The game is shown from a slightly diagonal view instead of top-down and the camera sometimes zoom in, making the gameplay resemble a 2D game more. The goal is to score points and survive as long as possible while being chased by a glitch that eats up the maze. The glitch is shown as a garble of code and moves at a consistent speed at the bottom of the screen or out of sight as Pac-Man attempts to outrun it. There are sometimes also small glitches in the regular playfield. The title refers to the map 256 glitch of the original arcade game where upon reaching level 256 the right side of the screen turns into a mess of letters and numbers while the left side remains normal. It is referred to as the kill screen or the split-screen level and it is impossible to beat.

The game uses many elements of the classic Pac-Man gameplay. He can move in any direction where there is a passage and eats dots for points. There are also some exits to the left and the right of the maze to appear on the other side. By eating many dots in succession, without halting or following a broken trail, a combo can be built up and Pac-Man's speed increases. Fruits can be eaten for score multipliers. There are different types of ghosts with different behaviour in the maze and these need to be avoided, sometimes also by returning when the glitch is not too close. Some ghosts are asleep and only wake up when Pac-Man is nearby. At certain sections the colour of the game environment changes. Regularly there are power pellets that turn the ghosts blue and allow Pac-Man to eat them. There are also many other types of power-ups such as a tornado that advances and removes ghosts, a laser that toasts them, a cherry bomb, a freeze ray, a stealth mode, turning Pac-Man into a giant that eats everything etc. These are picked up in the levels. A single collision is immediately fatal and ends the game, unless certain power-ups are used.

Just like the original version power-ups are unlocked gradually and can then be added to a loadout so a maximum of three per game. Coins collected during runs can be used to upgrade the power-ups multiple times, enhancing their effects. While the original title was a free-to-play version with in-app purchases, this is a commercial title. That means there is no longer a second, premium currency to upgrade power-ups, advertisements, waiting times or paid power-ups such as coin doublers. By completing tasks additional coins can be earned next to finding them in the levels. These missions include using certain power-ups, getting a long combo, eating certain fruits and so on. Additional coins are also provided every now and then.

There are now different environments acting as skins for the levels, Pac-Man and the enemies, which is entirely new for this version. The included variants are Classic 80's (original Pac-Man look), The Grid, Crossy Road (based on Crossy Road), Robotz, CEDX (based on Pac-Man: Championship Edition DX), The Office, Go Karts, Garden, Pac-Mania (based on Pac-Mania) and Shuffle. This edition of the game supports a new multiplayer game mode with up to four local players working cooperatively on the same field.