Editing Ghosts

|caption=[[File:PacManSymbol.svg|50px|class=invert-dark]]

In-game sprites of Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde (clockwise from top-left) from ''Pac-Man''.

|lastappearance= ''{{s|wikipedia|Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle: Chomp Champs}}'' (2024)

'''Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde''' ({{ja|アカベエ|Akabee}}, ''Akabei'', {{ja|ピンキー|Pinkī}}, ''Pinky'', {{ja|アオスケ|Aosuke}}, ''Aosuke'', and {{ja|グズタ|Guzuta}}, ''Guzuta''),  collectively referred to as the '''Ghosts''' ({{ja|モンスターズ|Monsutāzu}}, ''Monsters''), are recurring enemies in the {{uv|Pac-Man}} series. They are red, pink, cyan, and orange, respectively.

The four ghosts are prominent recurring elements in the ''Pac-Man'' series. Starting from the original arcade game, they are persistent enemies that [[Pac-Man]] must avoid while eating dots in each maze. However, if Pac-Man consumes a [[Power Pellet]], the ghosts will become scared, turn blue, and run away; in this state, Pac-Man can eat them for additional points, which causes them to turn into eyeballs and retreat. The ghosts cannot be permanently defeated, as they will return to normal after being eaten, or otherwise after the Power Pellet's duration expires. A set of cutscenes, known as "Coffee Breaks", depict the conflict between Pac-Man and the Ghosts, eventually showing Blinky's "clothes" ripping off, unveiling a bizarre pale-skinned creature with two feet and no legs, arms, or hands beneath. While additional ghosts have been introduced in subsequent ''Pac-Man'' titles, the four introduced in the original game have remained the most iconic, and thus have made the most appearances.

The ghosts were originally envisioned as more generic "monsters", but most players — particularly outside of Japan — interpreted them as being ghosts. Starting with early home ports such as the Atari 2600 version, American-made ''Pac-Man'' installments more concretely establish them to be ghosts; the 1982 Hanna-Barbera cartoon would refer to them as "ghost monsters" to help bridge the gap. The ghosts are still referred to as "monsters" in Japanese material, even in localizations of American-developed games like ''Pac-Man World'' which lean much more heavily into their ghostly nature (for example, originating from "Ghost Island" and appearing to inhabit graveyards and haunted houses).

 

*Blinky is the red leader of the ghosts, otherwise known as Shadow. His movement pattern involves chasing Pac-Man aggressively, often trailing directly behind him; he also receives a speed boost twice per round. As a result, his later appearances are often characterized as hot-headed, determined, and conceited. His name is occasionally switched with Clyde, making Blinky the cowardly orange ghost.

*Pinky is the pink ghost, otherwise known as Speedy. Her movement pattern involves getting ahead of Pac-Man and ambushing him in collaboration with Blinky. She is generally shown to be sly and cunning, and she harbors an unrequited crush on Pac-Man. In the Hanna-Barbera cartoon, Pinky is male and portrayed as the strongest but least intelligent of the ghosts.

*Inky is the cyan ghost, otherwise known as Bashful. His movement pattern involves aiming for a location based on Blinky's distance from Pac-Man, generally resulting in him shying away from the two. In later appearances, he is often portrayed as clumsy and timid.

*Clyde is the orange ghost, otherwise known as Pokey. His movement pattern involves mimicking Blinky's movement until reaching a certain distance from Pac-Man, then retreating to the bottom-left corner of the stage. In later appearances, he is generally depicted as an easygoing, cowardly ghost. His name is occasionally switched with Blinky, making Clyde the aggressive red ghost.

 

The original four, known collectively as the "Ghost Gang", have been depicted in varying roles within subsequent ''Pac-Man'' media, wavering between villains, allies, or harmless tricksters — they are typically portrayed as underlings to a greater threat, a role first established for them (like many other elements of the modern ''Pac-Man'' universe) in the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series.

{{clr}}

|gamelist-ntsc={{Trophy games|console1=Arcade|game1=PAC-MAN|release1=1980|console2=Arcade|game2=SUPER PAC-MAN|release2=1982}}

|gamelist-pal={{Trophy games|console1=Arcade|game1=PAC-MAN|release1=1980 (JP)|console2=Arcade|game2=Super PAC-MAN|release2=1982 (JP)}}

|desc-3ds-ntsc=A red ghost that chases after PAC-MAN in the PAC-MAN series. The way he incessantly follows PAC-MAN earned him the nickname Shadow. When you get further in the stage, he also gets a terrifying speed boost! In Smash Bros., he appears in the PAC-MAZE stage and in PAC-MAN's side smash.

|desc-wiiu-ntsc=A red ghost that chases after PAC-MAN in the PAC-MAN series. The way he incessantly follows PAC-MAN earned him the nickname Shadow. When you get further in the stage, he also gets a terrifying speed boost! In Smash Bros., he appears in PAC-MAN's side smash.

|desc-3ds-pal=A red ghost that chases after PAC-MAN in the PAC-MAN series, noted for the way he incessantly follows PAC-MAN. When you get further in the stage, he also gets a speed boost, which can be quite terrifying! In this game, he appears in the PAC-MAZE stage and in PAC-MAN's side smash.

|gamelist-ntsc={{Trophy games|console1=Arcade|game1=PAC-MAN|release1=1980|console2=Arcade|game2=SUPER PAC-MAN|release2=1982}}

|gamelist-pal={{Trophy games|console1=Arcade|game1=PAC-MAN|release1=1980 (JP)|console2=Arcade|game2=Super PAC-MAN|release2=1982 (JP)}}

|desc-3ds-ntsc=A blue ghost that chases after PAC-MAN in the PAC-MAN series...sometimes. He's also known as Bashful, since he moves around indecisively depending on whether PAC-MAN is nearby. In Smash Bros., he appears in the PAC-MAZE stage and in PAC-MAN's up smash.

|desc-wiiu-ntsc=A blue ghost that chases after PAC-MAN in the PAC-MAN series...sometimes. He's also known as Bashful, since he moves around indecisively depending on whether PAC-MAN is nearby. In Smash Bros., he appears as an assist trophy and in PAC-MAN's up smash.

|desc-3ds-pal=A blue ghost that chases after PAC-MAN in the PAC-MAN series...some of the time. He has a tendency to move around indecisively depending on whether or not PAC-MAN is nearby. In this game, he appears in the PAC-MAZE stage and in PAC-MAN's up smash.

|gamelist-ntsc={{Trophy games|console1=Arcade|game1=PAC-MAN|release1=1980|console2=Arcade|game2=SUPER PAC-MAN|release2=1982}}

|gamelist-pal={{Trophy games|console1=Arcade|game1=PAC-MAN|release1=1980 (JP)|console2=Arcade|game2=Super PAC-MAN|release2=1982 (JP)}}

|desc-3ds-ntsc=A pink ghost that strategically targets PAC-MAN in the PAC-MAN series. She's also known as Speedy, as she can anticipate PAC-MAN's moves and get ahead of him quick enough to ambush him. In Smash Bros., she appears in the PAC-MAZE stage and in PAC-MAN's down smash.

|desc-wiiu-ntsc=A pink ghost that strategically targets PAC-MAN in the PAC-MAN series. She's also known as Speedy, as she can anticipate PAC-MAN's moves and get ahead of him quick enough to ambush him. In Smash Bros., she appears as an assist trophy and in PAC-MAN's down smash.

|desc-3ds-pal=A pink ghost that strategically targets PAC-MAN in the PAC-MAN series. She can anticipate PAC-MAN's moves and get ahead of him quick enough to ambush him with a pincer attack. In this game, she appears in the PAC-MAZE stage and in PAC-MAN's down smash.

|gamelist-ntsc={{Trophy games|console1=Arcade|game1=PAC-MAN|release1=1980|console2=Arcade|game2=SUPER PAC-MAN|release2=1982}}

|gamelist-pal={{Trophy games|console1=Arcade|game1=PAC-MAN|release1=1980 (JP)|console2=Arcade|game2=Super PAC-MAN|release2=1982 (JP)}}

|desc-3ds-ntsc=An orange ghost that doesn't really chase after PAC-MAN all that much in the PAC-MAN series. Instead, he likes to just wander around, doing his own thing. He's also known as Pokey, and in PAC-LAND he appears as a tough and speedy enemy. In Smash Bros., he shows up in the PAC-MAZE stage and in PAC-MAN's down smash.

|desc-wiiu-ntsc=An orange ghost that doesn't really chase after PAC-MAN all that much in the PAC-MAN series. Instead, he likes to just wander around, doing his own thing. He's also known as Pokey, and in PAC-LAND he appears as a tough and speedy enemy. In Smash Bros., he shows up in{{sic}} as an assist trophy and in PAC-MAN's down smash.

|desc-3ds-pal=An orange ghost that doesn't really chase after PAC-MAN all that much in the PAC-MAN series. Instead, he chooses to just wander around, doing his own thing. In PAC-LAND he appears as a tough and speedy enemy. In this game, he shows up in the PAC-MAZE stage and in PAC-MAN's down smash.

|gamelist-ntsc={{Trophy games|console1=Arcade|game1=PAC-MAN|release1=1980|console2=Arcade|game2=SUPER PAC-MAN|release2=1982}}

|gamelist-pal={{Trophy games|console1=Arcade|game1=PAC-MAN|release1=1980 (JP)|console2=Arcade|game2=Super PAC-MAN|release2=1982 (JP)}}

PacManForwardSmash.PNG|Pac-Man using his [[forward smash]] on [[Kalos Pokémon League]].