Pac-Man
Eat dots and dodge the ghosts.
↑ This is Pac-Man running right here in your browser — no download needed.
About the game
Pac-Man is an arcade legend: navigate a maze, gobble dots, and avoid four ghosts - until you grab a power pellet and can chase them down.
How to play
Use the arrow keys to move Pac-Man through the maze. Eat all the dots to clear the level. Power pellets let you briefly eat ghosts for bonus points.
Tips & strategy
["Learn the ghosts' patrol patterns to evade them.", 'Use tunnels to escape when cornered.', 'Time power pellets to clear clustered ghosts.']
Advanced guide
Pac-Man is about pattern mastery. Study how each ghost moves so you can predict and avoid them, and use the tunnels as emergency escapes. Grab power pellets when two or more ghosts cluster so one eating spree clears several at once.
History & origins
Released by Namco in 1980, Pac-Man was among the first games with a recognizable character and mass appeal beyond arcades.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do the different ghosts do?
Each follows a distinct behavior - one chases, one ambushes, one scatters.
How long does a power pellet last?
About a few seconds, shown by the ghosts turning blue.
What are the bonus fruits?
They appear in the maze center for extra points.
Why do ghosts sometimes turn blue?
That is the vulnerable window after a power pellet.
How do I clear a level?
Eat every dot and pellet in the maze.
Any escape trick?
The side tunnels teleport you across the maze.
Where can I play Pac-Man for free?
Right on this page — Pac-Man is embedded above, free, legal, and with no download or sign-up. Play with your keyboard on desktop or touch controls on mobile. Your best score is saved in your browser, so it's still there next time. Every game here is original or open-source, with links that stay valid.