Computer games, board games, tabletop games and pixel art all have a habit of borrowing from each other. Sometimes that inspiration is obvious. Sometimes it is delightfully cheeky. And sometimes it results in a board game that is absolutely, definitely, legally not Pac-Man. Honest.
In our first video on the UKAG channel, I takes a look at three tabletop games that scratch that retro gaming itch when plugging in things feels like a bit too much faff. There is a physical version of Pac-Man, the cooperative card game Level Ten, and the wonderfully presented 8Bit Box, which looks and feels like a board game console.
Same but different
It is all about that familiar retro feeling, but in a slightly different form. No loading screens. No tape errors. No fiddly cables. Just cards, cubes, pixels and a table full of nostalgia.
The video starts with Pac-Man, complete with the familiar ghostly gang of Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde. There is a nice strategy-game twist to it too, with shades of Quoridor-style play as players use the board and barriers to outwit each other.
In the game I played with Simon, he took on the role of Pac-Man, trying to grab all four power pellets, while I controlled the ghosts and attempts to stop him. You move one or two spaces trying to catch each other and use up Pac-Man’s lives.
Next up is Level Ten, a cooperative card game where players help Izzy work through ten levels across five different video game worlds. It is full of cute pixel art, simple rules, limited communication and a proper “one more go” feel.
Finally, there is 8Bit Box, a clever board game system styled like a retro console. The base set includes three games: Pixoid, which is absolutely not Pac-Man, Out Speed, a space racing game, and a sports-style game that works much better than taking long turns each. The whole concept is great fun, especially the controllers with multiple uses.
Come and have a go
The best bit? These games will not just be on screen.
I will be bringing them along to the UKAG meet on Sunday 21st June 2026, where you will be able to sit down, have a play and get hands-on with some retro-inspired tabletop gaming.
So, alongside the Amstrads, chats, demos, community atmosphere and general retro goodness, there will be a chance to try something a bit different. These games are a lovely reminder that retro gaming is not only about the hardware. It is also about the ideas, the design, the artwork, the competition, the cooperation and the memories they spark.
Whether you are a long-time Amstrad fan, a board gamer, a pixel art appreciator, or someone who just likes shouting at a wooden Pac-Man, come and have a go.
Watch the video
Written by:
Jo Cook