Pac-Man is undoubtedly one of the most iconic arcade video games of all time. Come on—who hasn’t played it at least once? Chances are, you have too. This beloved game has been passed down from generation to generation and remains a fan favorite. But did you know it even has its own dedicated day? Here’s everything you need to know about Pac-Man Day.
When is Pac-Man Day?
Pac-Man Day is celebrated annually on May 22.
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Why is Pac-Man Day celebrated?
This date commemorates the game’s U.S. release on May 22, 1980, marking a milestone in video game history. Its impact was immediate—it became a massive hit and a global phenomenon in the industry.
How is Pac-Man Day celebrated?
On May 22, Pac-Man fans come together to honor the history and evolution of this legendary arcade game. Celebrations and themed events take place around the world, bringing together fans of all ages.
Who created Pac-Man?
The iconic game was created by Japanese designer Toru Iwatani and programmer Shigeo Funaki.
How was the Pac-Man character born?
According to Toru Iwatani, the inspiration came while eating pizza. After taking one slice, the remaining shape looked like a simple figure that inspired Pac-Man. With a team of nine people, Iwatani designed a game intended to be bright, nonviolent, and appealing to children and casual players alike.
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What does Pac-Man mean?
The name comes from the Japanese onomatopoeia “paku”, which mimics the sound of eating quickly. The original title was “Puck-Man,” but it was changed to Pac-Man for international markets.
How do you play Pac-Man?
In the game, players guide the yellow character through a blue maze, eating all the small dots (Pac-Dots) while avoiding ghosts. Once all the dots are cleared, the player advances to the next level. Occasionally, short animated intermissions appear between stages, showcasing humorous scenes with Pac-Man and the ghosts.
The maze is patrolled by four ghosts—Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde—who try to catch Pac-Man. If a ghost touches him, the player loses a life. The game ends when all lives are lost, although one bonus life is awarded at 10,000 points, depending on the arcade machine’s DIP switch settings.
At the maze’s corners are larger flashing dots called Power Pellets, which allow Pac-Man to temporarily eat the ghosts. When eaten, the ghosts turn blue, move slower, and reverse direction. If Pac-Man catches them, they return to the center of the maze to regenerate. In later levels, the ghosts remain vulnerable for shorter periods—or not at all—although they still briefly reverse direction.
In addition to Pac-Dots and Power Pellets, bonus items such as fruit (and other objects) appear occasionally near the center of the maze, giving extra points. These items change and increase in value as the game progresses. The game also features humorous cutscenes, like the memorable moment when a giant Pac-Man chases a terrified Blinky.
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How many levels does Pac-Man have?
In theory, the game has 255 levels. Upon reaching level 256, the game crashes due to a programming bug.
Pac-Man’s Guinness World Records
Pac-Man earned a Guinness World Record as the most successful coin-operated arcade game of all time, selling 293,822 cabinets in its first seven years. The highest score ever recorded in Pac-Man also holds a Guinness World Record: in 1999, Billy Mitchell achieved a perfect score of 3,333,360 points, completing every level without losing a single life.
