Pareidolia (or, Why I Saw Pac-Man Everywhere In 2020)

About

Pareidolia is a short, text-based game built with the Bitsy engine that draws unexpected parallels between the pandemic year of 2020 and the classic arcade title Pac-Man. Played through simple navigation and sparse dialogue, it reflects on isolation, routine, and the surreal repetition of daily life during lockdowns. The game leans into the idea of seeing patterns where there are none, using Pac-Man’s maze-chomping as a metaphor for the year’s strange rhythm. It’s a quiet, reflective piece that uses minimal mechanics to make a point about perspective. The game’s standout trait is its technical experimentation. The developer altered Bitsy’s JavaScript code to stretch the engine’s limits, creating visual and interactive quirks that feel organic to the theme. While brief, it’s a thoughtful exercise in using game design to process real-world events. Players who appreciate abstract storytelling and indie creativity might find its approach resonant. Its web-based format keeps it accessible, though the message is subtle, easy to miss if you’re not paying attention.