How to play Chomper
Here’s how to play Chomper, a Pac-Man-style maze game: steer your chomper round a maze, eat every dot to clear the level, and keep away from the four ghosts that hunt you. Grab a power pellet and the ghosts turn blue for a few seconds, so you can chase them down for bonus points. It’s free to play online in your browser, on a phone or a computer.
Every level is a little faster than the last, and your best score goes on the Beat Pete leaderboard. Below you’ll find the rules, some strategy tips and answers to common questions.
The basics
Steer your chomper round the maze and eat every dot before the four ghosts catch you. Clear the maze and the next level starts, a little faster.
Steering
- Phone or tablet: swipe anywhere on the maze, or tap Show pad for an on-screen pad. Both work at once.
- Keyboard: the ← ↑ → ↓ arrow keys or W A S D.
- Press your next turn early — it’s taken at the next gap, so you don’t have to be pixel-perfect.
Scoring
- A dot is worth 10 points and a power pellet 50.
- After a power pellet the ghosts turn blue and run away. Eat them for 200, 400, 800 and 1,600 points in a row.
- Fruit appears twice on every level for a bonus. You earn an extra life at 10,000 points.
Lives and levels
- You start with three lives. Touch a normal ghost and you lose one; lose them all and the game is over.
- Each level the ghosts and you get a little faster, and the blue time gets shorter. From level 11 power pellets no longer turn the ghosts blue.
Pausing
- Press P or Esc, or tap Pause. The game also pauses by itself if you switch to another tab or app.
The leaderboard
- When a game ends your score is saved to your profile and ranked against everyone else. Guests can play; sign up free to put your score on the board.
Beginner tips
- Learn how the ghosts behave. Each one chases you differently: one follows you directly, another aims ahead of you, so don’t just run in a straight line.
- Save your power pellets for when the ghosts are bunched up behind you. Eating all four in a row is worth 200, 400, 800 and then 1,600 points.
- Use the side tunnels. A ghost slows down in the tunnel, so it’s a good way to shake one off. Press your next turn early — it’ll be taken at the next gap.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Chomper on a phone?
Swipe anywhere on the maze to steer, or switch on the on-screen pad (the Show pad button) and tap the arrows. Both work together, so use whichever feels better.
How do you score in Chomper?
A dot is worth 10 points and a power pellet 50. Blue ghosts score 200, 400, 800 and 1,600 in a row, and the fruit that appears twice a level scores a bonus. You earn an extra life at 10,000 points.
How many lives do you get?
Three, plus an extra one when you reach 10,000 points. Touch a normal ghost and you lose a life; touch a blue one and you eat it.
Is there a leaderboard?
Yes. Your best score is saved to your profile and ranked against everyone else on the Beat Pete leaderboard. Guests can play too — sign up free to put your score on the board.
Is it free to play Chomper?
Yes. Chomper is free to play in your browser, with nothing to download.
Ready to play Chomper?
It’s free and works in your browser — no download. Start against Trevor, the friendliest opponent, and sign up free to climb the ladder of ten computer players all the way to Pete.
Play Chomper now