Pac-Man Game
Browser-based Pac-Man recreation in vanilla JavaScript with a custom game loop, grid-based movement, collision detection, real-time scoring, and pathfinding-driven ghost AI.
Overview
A browser-based recreation of the classic arcade game Pac-Man built with JavaScript. Features grid-based movement, collision detection, real-time score tracking, and ghost AI behavior. Demonstrates game development fundamentals including game loop implementation, coordinate systems, and basic AI pathfinding for ghost characters.
Problem Statement & Approach
Recreate the classic arcade game to learn game-development fundamentals — the game loop, coordinate systems, collision detection, and simple AI.
Approach: Build the board as a grid, drive movement and collisions off grid coordinates, run a continuous game loop for rendering and scoring, and give ghosts basic pathfinding behavior.
Key Features
- Grid-based movement and collision detection
- Custom game loop with real-time score tracking
- Ghost AI with basic pathfinding behavior
- Rendered with the HTML Canvas API
Improvements
- Power pellets and a ghost fright mode
- Multiple levels with increasing difficulty
- Mobile touch controls