Genre: Maze / Puzzle
Developer: Philips
Publisher: Philips
Year: 1981
Platform: Philips Videopac G7000
“Munchkin” is a maze puzzle game for the Philips Videopac G7000, inspired by Namco’s arcade classic Pac-Man but with distinct gameplay elements. The player controls the character called the Munchkin, whose goal is to eat all of the “munchies” scattered around the maze while avoiding being caught by three enemies known as Munchers.
A notable difference in Munchkin is that the munchies move independently and speed up as they are eaten, culminating in the last munchie moving as fast as the player, turning the final stage into a chase. The game features four preset maze designs, including invisible maze variants where walls only become visible upon contact. Additionally, players can create custom mazes using a programming mode, adding depth and replayability.
Power-ups come in the form of glowing munchies that temporarily turn the Munchers purple and vulnerable, allowing the player to hunt and score bonus points. When a Muncher is “munched out,” it temporarily returns to a regeneration box in the maze center before resuming pursuit. These elements create dynamic interactions that distinguish the game from its predecessor while maintaining the core chase-and-collect gameplay.
The game was involved in a landmark legal dispute with Atari, which held the exclusive rights to produce home versions of Pac-Man. Despite this, Munchkin made an impact for its gameplay innovations and remains a notable part of the Videopac library.
