Namco/Nintendo asymmetric party game. One Pac-Man player on the GameCube/TV, three ghost players on GBA screens. Brilliant concept using the GBA link, refreshing gameplay. Bundled with several Nintendo Premium Packs. Original multiplayer gem.
Your verdict
Category
Party / Minigame4 players3+
Description
Asymmetric multiplayer Pac-Man game on GameCube.
Pac-Man Vs. review
3/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Polished"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
One player is Pac-Man on the Game Boy Advance screen, the others play the ghosts on the TV: this brilliant asymmetry creates a frantic, hilarious chase. Laying a trap, fleeing, flipping the game around: every round keeps you on edge. Simple, clever and fiercely convivial, it reinvents a classic into a pure party game.
A Japanese limited edition of the asymmetric multiplayer game designed by Nintendo and Namco, distributed through Club Nintendo rather than stores. The game relies on the GameCube and Game Boy Advance link, a brilliant idea that made it a cult object. This Genteiban version, not sold freely and pressed for members, is far harder to obtain than the Western bundled editions, sustaining strong demand among Nintendo collectors.
Is Pac-Man Vs. still worth playing in 2026?
Pac-Man Vs. is a small multiplayer design gem from Nintendo, where one player controls Pac-Man while the others drive the ghosts on the TV screen. The asymmetric idea, using the Game Boy Advance as a controller, was brilliant and stays wildly fun on party nights. The catch lies mainly in the hardware requirements, which are awkward to assemble today. For anyone who can gather them, it is a delightful party experience and a sought-after item among Nintendo collectors.
