Chomp is a tribute to Pac-Man, one of the most iconic arcade games ever made. The original was designed by Toru Iwatani at Namco and released in Japanese arcades in May 1980 under the name Puck-Man — renamed Pac-Man for its Western release to prevent graffiti on the coin slots. Iwatani's inspiration was simple: a pizza with a slice missing. The concept of a maze-chase game where the player eats rather than shoots was revolutionary, attracting a new demographic of players who had never previously engaged with arcade games. Pac-Man generated over $1 billion in quarters within 15 months of its US release. The four ghosts — Blinky (Shadow), Pinky (Speedy), Inky (Bashful), and Clyde (Pokey) — each use distinct AI pursuit algorithms that became the subject of academic study. Classic Arcade's Chomp honours this legacy with four unique maze layouts, power pellets, and a ghost-shooting mechanic that adds a modern twist.
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| Arrow Keys or WASD | Move Chomp in four directions |
| P | Pause / resume |
| Swipe in any direction | Move (mobile) |
Small dots award 10 points each, and power pellets award 50 points. When a power pellet is active, eating a ghost scores 200 points for the first, 400 for the second, 800 for the third, and 1,600 for the fourth in a single power-up window. Bonus fruit items appear in the centre of the maze and award varying point values — the higher the maze number, the higher the fruit bonus. Clearing a maze entirely advances you to the next layout and adds a speed bonus.
The ghost AI can be exploited with repeatable safe paths near corners. Master the ghost retreat patterns after eating a power pellet — timing your chase of all four ghosts in one pellet window is worth over 3,000 points.
Q: What are the four ghost behaviours?
Each ghost has a unique chase strategy. One always targets your current tile directly, one targets four tiles ahead of you, one uses a complex flanking calculation, and one alternates between chasing and retreating to its corner. Learning their patterns is key to surviving higher mazes.
Q: How many mazes are there in Chomp?
Chomp features four unique maze designs that cycle as you progress. Each maze has a distinct layout, different tunnel positions, and slightly altered ghost spawn timing.
Q: Can I shoot back at the ghosts?
Yes — the ammo crate mechanic in Chomp lets you collect ammo boxes scattered in the maze. When you have ammo, you can fire at ghosts directly even when a power pellet is not active.
Fan-made tribute · Not affiliated with or endorsed by any original game publisher