In this project, I'm developing a custom 2D game engine, built with C++, CMake, and SDL3.
And to validate the engine, I'm recreating a classic of the old arcade era: Pac-Man.
This game not only provides an ideal balance of scope and depth, but moreover serves as one of the earliest examples of distinct and expressive NPC behaviors in a video game.
With some subtle and elegant differences in their navigation logic, the ghosts Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde each demonstrate their own personality, with aggression, cunning, whimsy, and shyness exhibited respectively. Together, these behaviors often combine to form the impression of coordinated tactics, resulting in a game that continues to present a compelling challenge to modern players.
Researching and implementing these behaviors has been a fulfilling exercise, reinforcing both the design principles and the practical implementation of NPC behaviors. And meanwhile, building the engine itself increasingly deepens my appreciation of game engine architecture.
Stay tuned for the completed game build to be posted on my itch.io profile, along with documentation outlining the engine's architecture to be posted here.