Pac-Chef

Navigate intricate mazes in Pac-Chef as an ambitious cook, collecting coins and culinary treasures while dodging hostile chefs. Unlock special abilities from gathered ingredients to fend off foes. With retro pixel art and strategic skill-based gameplay, every level presents a unique recipe challenge. Can you perfect the culinary quest?

Solitaire on a lunch break. A game of chess before bed. A round of snake while waiting for a download. Classic games fit into life because they have been doing it for decades. The sessions are unhurried and the rules are already in your head. You might play one hand or ten. There is usually a score or a timer, but the real appeal is the ritual.

• Tap, hold and swipe on phones and tablets
• Mouse or trackpad on a computer; arrow keys or WASD where the game asks for movement
• Press Escape or the exit button to leave the full-screen player

1. 1Open the game and check for a rules or options button if you want to confirm the version being played.
2. 2Click or tap to select a piece, card or tile, then click where it should go. Drag also works in most games.
3. 3Plan a few moves ahead, especially in card and board games where early choices limit later ones.
4. 4Use the new game button whenever a round is lost. Classic games reward many quick attempts.

• Free to play, nothing to install, no account needed
• Loads in the browser tab and opens full screen when you press Play
• Designed for a phone held upright
• Touch controls on phones and tablets, mouse and keyboard on a computer
• Listed under Classics

Pac-Chef needs no introduction. It runs free in your browser with no download or account, and you already know the rules. That makes it one of the fastest routes from an idle moment to actually playing something, on a phone or a desktop, with no learning curve to get through.

Suits adults who want a familiar, low-stress game, older players who like the ritual of a daily round, and children picking up timeless games for the first time with a little guidance.

How long is a round of Pac-Chef?

It depends on the game, but most classics finish in five to fifteen minutes. Some, like chess or long card games, can run longer if you take your time.

Is there a difficulty setting?

Board games against the computer often have one. Card and tile games usually do not, since the challenge is in the deal or layout.

Do I need to download anything?

No. Press Play and the game opens in a full-screen player in your browser. There is nothing to install and no account to make.