11.03. Arcade Maze

Arcade Maze games restrict player movement to a maze, while requiring players to complete an objective and/or avoid enemies.

While Namco found significant success in shaping the subgenre with Pac-Man (1980) and Dig Dug (1982), it was actually predated by Sega's Head On (1979).

Hudson Soft's Bomberman (1983) set the stage for a super subgenre, the Arcade Puzzle Maze, which served as a slower-paced strategic alternative to the chase games in the style of Pac-Man.

Bomberman II (Hudson Soft, 1991)

The Arcade Maze subgenre would also influence the RC Racer subgenre through games like Rally-X (Namco, 1980).