ArchPacman

ArchPacman is an open-source arcade game project inspired by the classic Pac-Man, designed to run on Arch Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. The project emphasizes portability, minimal dependencies, and straightforward build procedures, making it accessible to both newcomers and experienced developers.

Origins and development: ArchPacman began as a community-driven experiment in the early 2020s. Source code and release binaries are distributed under an open-source license. The project has undergone several forks and code refinements, with contributors focusing on clean architecture, cross-platform compatibility, and simple packaging for Arch via the Arch User Repository (AUR).

Gameplay and design: The game preserves the core maze-chase mechanics of Pac-Man, including pellet collection, ghost evasion, and power pellets. It supports keyboard controls and optional gamepad input, with multiple difficulty levels and the ability to pause and resume. The visuals favor a retro aesthetic with modern rendering, and the codebase aims to be approachable for learning game development.

Packaging and deployment: ArchPacman is commonly packaged for Arch Linux through the AUR and can be installed with pacman-based tools. Building from source is supported on other Linux distributions and can be extended to Windows or macOS using common portability layers, though official support is focused on Linux.

Reception and status: ArchPacman has a niche but persistent presence among Arch Linux users and open-source game developers. It serves as a case study in small, hobbyist game projects aligned with a specific distribution ecosystem.