For those who grew up in the 1990s and early 2000s, Pac-Man was a big part of childhood. I have fond memories of playing it on the PC with my sister, visiting arcades with friends, and even downloading it on my first smartphone. So, you can imagine my excitement when I got to experience Pac-Man in real life at the Pac-Man Carnival in Sentosa on Thursday, Dec 11.

The carnival features a life-sized maze modeled after the iconic arcade game, and it holds the record for Singapore’s largest human Pac-Man game. The blackout tent comes alive with game-like lights and sounds, and there’s an elevated spectator area where family and friends can watch participants make their way through the maze.

Playing as Pac-Man, I had to collect all the “Pac-Dots” — represented by blinking floor pellets that turn off when stepped on — while avoiding life-sized ghosts patrolling the pathways. Even with my years of gaming experience, I quickly realized that real-life Pac-Man requires more running than I’m used to. The maze walls also made it tricky to see which pellets were still lit, making it hard to strategize like I would in the digital game. During the three-minute game, a large screen showed my name, a countdown timer, and a leaderboard of the fastest players, along with live footage of me navigating the maze. I completed it in about two minutes — far from the 42-second record set just a few rounds earlier.

Beyond the maze, the Pac-Man Carnival offers a variety of nostalgic arcade games, including mini basketball, racing simulators, and even the original Pac-Man. I also tried classic carnival games like ring toss and a giant version of pong. There’s a PC gaming area featuring Pac-Man titles such as Shadow Labyrinth and Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac, as well as a Challenge Arena where players can attempt to beat the high score in the Championship version of Pac-Man.

Visitors can also enjoy a wide selection of food, from doner kebabs and specialty drinks to snacks like nachos, jacket potatoes, and takoyaki. Celebrating Pac-Man’s 45th anniversary, the carnival is Southeast Asia’s first and largest. Its official opening on Thursday was attended by Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community, and Youth, Low Yen Ling. The carnival runs until Jan 11 at Palawan Green, Sentosa, with opening hours from 3pm to 10pm on weekdays and 12pm to 10pm on weekends. During the event, visitors will be greeted by a Pac-Man-themed Sentosa Express train. On Dec 31, a special New Year’s Eve countdown will feature Pac-Man-inspired fireworks and interactive programs from noon to after midnight. Standard admission starts at $2.90.