Bandai Namco has announced that free-to-play Pac-Man 99 is going live this evening, 6 pm Pacific/9 pm Eastern, on Nintendo Switch.
Pac-Man 99 is a multiplayer version of Pac-Man in which 99 players compete against each other until only one remains. Everyone plays their own game of Pac-Man, but by gobbling power pellets and defeating ghosts, you can affect other players’ games. Jammer Pac-Man will show up as a result, slowing down Pac-Man and making it harder to avoid ghosts and clear the maze.
If you’re thinking this sounds a lot like Tetris 99 (or Mario 35), you’re not wrong.
“Pac-Man 99 delivers a frantic and fun multiplayer take on the storied Pac-Man gameplay,” said Pearl Lai, Brand Manager, Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. “The quick pick-up-and-play structure of the game coupled with the play anywhere nature of Nintendo Switch makes it the perfect experience for anyone looking for a bit of good-natured competition Pac-Man has always been known for.”
Pac-Man 99 will be free to download and play online. However, the Pac-Man 99 DLC bundle ($29.99) will unlock a suite of other gameplay options and modes, including offline CPU battles, private matches, time-attack challenges, and 20 alternate skins from other classic games including Galaga. The Classic skins can also be purchased separately for $1.99.
Note that while the base version of Pac-Man 99 is free, playing online on the Nintendo Switch requires a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Pac-Man 99 is rated E for Everyone, and has effectively replaced the now discontinued Mario 35 on the Nintendo eShop.
