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PAC-MAN 256

Review · Action · Xbox One · PlayStation 4 · Linux

PAC-MAN 256

Reviewed: 01 Jun 2026

Xbox One · PlayStation 4 · Linux · macOS · PC · iOS · Android

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America · 2015

Ludograph rating

A

Recommended

71 /100

Automated review
06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 57 · R 7
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

57

Risk (RIS)

7

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

7+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.54
B2Social-emotional
0.57
B3Motor
0.65

PAC-MAN 256 offers engaging cognitive challenges in spatial awareness, problem-solving, and strategic thinking through its endless maze and power-up mechanics. The local co-op mode fosters teamwork and communication, providing positive social interaction. It also enhances hand-eye coordination and reaction time.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.13
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.06

The game has minimal risks. While the endless nature might encourage extended play, it lacks manipulative compulsion-loop mechanics, monetization pressures, or significant social/content risks. The Glitch provides a mild sense of urgency but is not overly fear-inducing.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.33
R4.2Sexual Content
0.00
R4.3Language
0.00
R4.4Substance References
0.00
R4.5Fear / Horror
0.33

Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.

Regulatory design checks · DSA — Assessed: meets criteria·GDPR-K — Assessed: meets criteria·ODDS — Assessed: meets criteria

  • DSA:What Ludograph checks: whether the game's design gives minors the transparency the EU Digital Services Act expects: plain terms, honest defaults, and clear reporting routes.: Estimated from review data. No dark pattern or child-targeting concerns found.
  • GDPR-K:What Ludograph checks: whether age assurance and consent flows are designed for under-16s, in the spirit of GDPR Article 8.: Estimated from review data. No privacy or child-targeting concerns found.
  • ODDS:What Ludograph checks: whether paid random-reward drop rates are disclosed, as required in China, Japan and South Korea.: Estimated from review data. No paid random-reward mechanics found, so drop-rate disclosure requirements do not apply.

These reflect Ludograph's assessment of the game's design practices against each framework's criteria, not a legal compliance determination.

Avg playtime~2 hReviewedJun 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is PAC-MAN 256 safe for kids?

Ludograph gives PAC-MAN 256 a rating of 71/100, recommended for ages 7 and up. It scores well on developmental benefits with manageable risks.

What age is PAC-MAN 256 appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 7+ for PAC-MAN 256, based on benefits, risks, and content review. That is more lenient than ESRB E10+: industry ratings reflect content intensity, while ours also weighs how the game is designed to be played.

How long should kids play PAC-MAN 256?

Our session recommendation for PAC-MAN 256 is up to 120 minutes per day. It is derived from the game's own structure (natural stopping points, compulsion-loop design, monetization pressure, and social dynamics), not from a universal screen-time dose.

Session recommendations are design-based heuristics. Evidence linking specific daily durations to child outcomes is limited, and context matters as much as time; treat this as a starting point for household rules, not a clinical threshold.

What are the main risks of PAC-MAN 256?

The game has minimal risks. While the endless nature might encourage extended play, it lacks manipulative compulsion-loop mechanics, monetization pressures, or significant social/content risks. The Glitch provides a mild sense of urgency but is not overly fear-inducing.