PAC-MAN Japanese Flip-Phone Version Returns to PC and Nintendo Switch on June 18
G-MODE has confirmed the release date for the Japanese flip-phone version of PAC-MAN, bringing a rare mobile edition of the arcade classic back for modern players. Originally released by Namco in 2001 for Japanese feature phones, this version of PAC-MAN will launch on Windows PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch on June 18.
This re-release gives fans a chance to experience a piece of PAC-MAN history that many players outside Japan may have never had the opportunity to try. While PAC-MAN is best known for its legendary 1980 arcade debut, this edition comes from the era before smartphones, when compact mobile games were designed for flip phones and smaller screens.
PAC-MAN remains one of the most recognizable video games ever created. Its rules are simple: guide PAC-MAN through a maze, eat every Pac-Dot, avoid the Ghosts, and clear the stage. That easy-to-understand formula helped turn the game into a global phenomenon, but its lasting appeal comes from the challenge hidden beneath its simplicity. Every turn matters, every chase can change in an instant, and each round tests the player’s timing, awareness, and strategy.
In this Japanese flip-phone version, players control PAC-MAN as he moves up, down, left, and right through the maze. The goal is to eat all the Cookies while staying one step ahead of the four Ghosts. Each Ghost has its own personality and movement style, making the chase more exciting and unpredictable.
The red Ghost, Oikake, aggressively follows PAC-MAN. The pink Ghost, Machibuse, tries to ambush him. The light-blue Ghost, Kimagure, moves in a more unpredictable way. The orange Ghost, Otoboke, brings its own unique behavior to the maze. Together, they create the familiar tension that has defined PAC-MAN for decades.
Players can also turn the tables by grabbing Power Cookies. Once PAC-MAN eats one, the Ghosts become vulnerable for a short time, giving players the chance to chase them down instead of running away. Using these Power Cookies at the right moment is the key to surviving longer, earning higher scores, and clearing each round.
G-MODE has also made it clear that this release stays faithful to the original Japanese flip-phone app. That means it does not add features that were not included in the original version, such as additional language options or achievements. Rather than modernizing the game with new extras, the focus is on preserving the experience as it was released in 2001.
For longtime fans, this re-release is a nostalgic return to one of gaming’s most iconic characters in a lesser-known format. For newer players, it offers a chance to see how PAC-MAN was adapted for Japanese mobile phones during the early 2000s.
PAC-MAN’s Japanese flip-phone version launches for Windows PC through Steam and Nintendo Switch on June 18.
