Daily Pacman Challenge - July 17, 2026
One maze run, shared by everyone. New challenge at midnight UTC.Today's Ghost Rush run
Every player in the world is chasing the exact same Ghost Rush run today (July 17, 2026). Ghost Rush answers a question the arcade never dared ask: what if there were six of them? Two extra hunters join the classic four, scatter phases are shorter, and the maze's comfortable corridors suddenly feel very narrow. This mode is rated Hard, and ~20% of runs clear the maze - so a good daily result is as much about ghost chains and fruit as it is about survival.
Today's tip: Think in regions, not tiles: clear one quadrant completely while the swarm mills elsewhere, then relocate decisively. For the full playbook, see the Ghost Rush strategy guide.
Today's Ghost Rush results
No one has cleared today's Ghost Rush run yet - Be the first name on the board.
How the daily challenge works
The daily challenge turns a solo game into a shared one. Everyone in the world gets the exact same run, built from today's date - so your score isn't just big, it's big on the same maze everyone else is playing. Here's the short version:
- A fresh run is generated at midnight UTC and is identical for every player.
- Clear the maze and your score is ranked against everyone who beat the same challenge.
- Come back tomorrow for a brand-new run - miss a day and that maze is gone for good.
- Signed-in players keep a permanent name and build a streak; guests can post a display name too.
Tips for a big daily score
- Herd before you feast. Since scores decide the board, full ghost chains (200-400-800-1,600) are worth more than fast pellets.
- Take every fruit - the bonus points routinely separate the top three from the pack.
- Don't burn power pellets on empty corridors - a fright window with no ghosts nearby scores nothing.
- Warm up on a regular game first: try Ghost Rush or read the rules.
Where to go next
Cleared today's run? Test yourself against a friend in real-time multiplayer, chase lifetime bests on the leaderboard, or pick another mode from the full list. New to this mode? The Pacman FAQ answers the most common questions.
Daily challenge FAQ
How is the daily run chosen?
It is generated automatically from today's date, so every player in the world gets the exact same maze and ghost behavior seed. Nobody gets an easier run.
When does the daily challenge reset?
A brand-new run appears at midnight UTC. Once a day passes, that run is gone for good, which is what makes a streak worth protecting.
Do I need an account for the daily challenge?
No. You can play and post a score as a guest. Signing in with a free account keeps a permanent name and builds your streak across devices.
How are daily runs ranked?
Only cleared mazes count, and results are ranked by score - so full ghost chains and fruit matter as much as survival. A clean, greedy run beats a timid one.