PacMan Ghost Light Review: Great Gift, Gentle Glow

TL;DRThe Short Answer: Is the Paladone PacMan Ghost Light Worth It?

Novelty lamps nearly always look brighter in the photos than on the shelf, and this one is no exception. What it gets right is everything else: an officially licensed Pac-Man ghost that phases through 16 colours, flashes to music in party mode and runs from a USB port, and it makes a great gift, especially for children. It suits young fans and retro gamers who want a mood light. Just expect a gentle glow rather than a lamp to read by.

NoFussDeal rates the Paladone PacMan Ghost Light 4.6 out of 5 at $33.07. Last updated September 26, 2026.

Key Facts

Product Dimensions: 7.87"D x 8"W x 8"H
Wattage: 60 watts
Voltage: 36 Volts
Base Material: Plastic
Shade Color: Multicolor
Item Weight: 12.3 ounces

What Stands Out

Officially licensed Pac-Man ghost light from Paladone
16 phasing colours, including purple, red, blue, green, yellow and orange
Party mode flashes through the colours to the beat of music via a built-in microphone
USB powered, with a Micro USB cable in the box
8 inches tall, plastic, and made for indoor tabletop use

Strengths and Drawbacks

What works

Officially licensed Pac-Man ghost design with instant appeal
Popular gift, especially for children aged about 6 to 10
16 phasing colours that change slowly enough to enjoy
Party mode flashes to music through a built-in microphone
USB powered, so it runs from a console, computer or adapter
Sturdy plastic build at a compact 8 inches tall
Keeps running for long periods without fading

What does not

Softer glow than the product photos suggest, especially in a lit room
The white shell shows colour as a tint rather than a deep hue
No USB wall adapter included
Not a light to read or work by

Features in Depth

16 Phasing Colours and Touch Control

Colors 16 Control Method Touch Power USB, Micro USB cable included

Paladone gives the ghost 16 phasing colours, including purple, red, blue, green, yellow, light blue and orange, and in normal use it drifts slowly from one to the next. The pace is well judged: the colours change slowly enough to see each one, which suits a bedroom or game room better than a rapid flicker. Paladone lists touch as the control method, alongside a rotary switch, and there is no remote in the box: it comes with the ghost light, a Micro USB cable and an instruction manual. Power comes from a USB port rather than a battery, so it can run from a computer, a games console or a USB wall adapter. Plugged into a console, it simply stays on while the console does. Appearance is its biggest strength, and the ghost shape reads instantly to anyone who has played the game.

$33.07 4.6/5 Check price

Music-Reactive Party Mode via Built-In Microphone

Sensor Built-in microphone Party Mode Flashes to the music's beat Setup No app or pairing

The lamp has a built-in microphone, and that is what drives party mode: when it is selected, the ghost flashes rapidly through all 16 colours to the beat of the music in the room. Because it listens through a microphone rather than connecting to a phone or speaker, there is nothing to pair or set up; put music on and it responds. Relaxing to music with the lamp in party mode is exactly the kind of use it suits. How lively the effect looks depends on how loud the music is and how close the lamp sits to the speaker, since the microphone is picking up sound from the room. Colour and functionality are mixed points with buyers overall, so think of party mode as a fun extra on a decorative lamp rather than a lighting system.

$33.07 4.6/5 Check price

Plastic Build, 8 Inches Tall and Easy to Store

Material Plastic base and shade Weight 12.3 ounces Height 8 inches

Both the shade and the base are plastic, with a polished finish, and the build is sturdy. At 8 inches tall and 12.3 ounces, it is big enough to be a proper feature on a desk, shelf or bedside table without being bulky, and Paladone points out that it is easy to put away when not in use. It is an indoor lamp and is not water resistant, so keep it away from sinks, drinks and damp windowsills. The size also makes it easy to place near a console or a PC, where a spare USB port can power it. Left running for long periods, it keeps going without fading or dimming, which is reassuring for a lamp that tends to be left on for hours at a time.

$33.07 4.6/5 Check price

Genuine Gift Appeal, but Brightness Is Mixed

Gift appeal Popular for ages 6 to 10 Brightness Mixed theme Recommended age 8 and up

As a gift it succeeds without reservation, and it is especially popular for children aged roughly 6 to 10. Pac-Man fans of any age are hard to buy for, and an officially licensed ghost that changes colour lands well. Paladone recommends it for ages 8 and up and says it is not suitable for children aged 3 and under. Brightness is the main mixed point. The ghost is white plastic, so the chosen colour shows as a tint through the shell rather than a deep, saturated glow, and it can look paler than the product photos. Placed well, it can still put out a good amount of light in a dark room while staying subtle enough to sleep with on. The honest summary is that this is ambient mood lighting: at its best in a dim room, not something to read or work by. Value is mixed for the same reason, so buy it for the character and the colour show.

$33.07 4.6/5 Check price

How We Scored It

Based on: The manufacturer's published specifications and the product's live Amazon listing.
Owner rating: 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon, recorded September 26, 2026
How we score: We score each thing that comes up most in owner feedback on the PacMan Ghost Light Table Lamp. Six things come up most in owner feedback: two draw praise and four split opinion. Its ratings average 4.6 stars (76% five stars, 13% four, 7% three and 4% one or two), so every score starts at 92, that average on a 100 point scale. Where opinion is split, we take off 6. Where it draws mostly complaints, we take off 12. Then we read four owner reviews in full (every one we found gave it four or five stars) and move the score up to 5 points either way depending on how the owners who mention it rated the product. Our overall score starts from the same 4.6 star average and loses 0.1 for each thing that draws mostly complaints, with 0.1 more when at least a tenth of ratings are one star, never more than 0.3 in all. Nothing comes off here, so it stays at 4.6. Read our editorial standards

Appearance

Paladone lists the finish type as Polished and the base material as Plastic. One of the four owner reviews we read mentions it. That owner gave the product four or five stars. Score 92: its 4.6 star average on a 100 point scale.

92Positive

Gift

One of the four owner reviews we read mentions it. That owner gave the product four or five stars. Score 92: its 4.6 star average on a 100 point scale.

92Positive

Color

Paladone lists the shade color as Multicolor and the color as Multicolor, multicolored. Three of the four owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. 11% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 86: we started at 92 and took off 6 because opinion…

Read the full note (410 characters)

86Mixed

Functionality

None of the four owner reviews we read mention it. 11% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 86: we started at 92 and took off 6 because opinion is split.

86Mixed

Brightness

Paladone lists the wattage as 60 watts. Two of the four owner reviews we read mention it, and those owners gave the product four or five stars, so the complaints come from the wider group of buyers. None of the reviews we read say what goes wrong, so this score rests on the buyer ratings. 11% of all ratings are three stars or fewer, which is where complaints like this usually sit. Score 86: we sta…

Read the full note (451 characters)

86Mixed

Owner Satisfaction

76% of ratings are five stars and 13% are four. 7% are three stars and 4% are one or two. Very few ratings land that low. Score 92: its 4.6 star average on a 100 point scale.

92Positive

Value for Money

86Mixed

Specifications

Size and weight

Product Dimensions: 7.87"D x 8"W x 8"H
Item Weight: 12.3 ounces

Power

Wattage: 60 watts
Voltage: 36 Volts

Materials and warranty

Base Material: Plastic
Shade Color: Multicolor

What Buyers Say

Based on 3,038 Amazon customer ratings, averaging 4.6 out of 5, recorded 12 September 2026. See the reviews on Amazon

5 stars		76%
4 stars		13%
3 stars		7%
2 stars		1%
1 stars		3%

★★★★★

Great light

Still holding strong, has stayed on for months now

Michael M. · June 19, 2026 · Verified

★★★★★

Terrific, Better Than Reviews

Terrific light.The colors change slowly enough to see all the vibrant colors. My son,14, loves his room dark, not anymore! He plays jazz music, puts it in party mode, & relaxes. Its a great … Read it on Amazon

Luis Garcia · June 24, 2019 · Verified

★★★★★

A bright piece of nostalgia

I have had this light for a few years now and I have not turned it off once and it is still going very strong. I like to have colorful lights in my room and this is such a great addition to … Read it on Amazon

Carter Benton · December 11, 2024 · Verified

★★★★☆

Not very bright like pictured

I love that it is a ghost light from Pac-Man. My son is obsessed with Pacman and there isn't enough products out there to buy for him. For a 5 year old, this light is cool and perfect and to… Read it on Amazon

Rose Marie · March 9, 2022 · Verified

Setting It Up

Connect USB Power Cable

Plug the included Micro USB cable into the lamp and the other end into a USB port: a computer, a games console or a USB wall adapter. A wall adapter is not in the box, so use one you already have if there is no port nearby.
Read the Instruction Manual

Paladone includes an instruction manual. Check it to see how the touch control and the rotary switch work on your unit before you start switching modes.
Select Desired Color Mode

Let the lamp phase through its 16 colours, or use the control to change mode. The slow phasing is the calmest setting for a bedroom.
Dim the Room

The colours show best in a dark or dim room. In daylight or bright artificial light, the white ghost can look pale, so judge it in the evening.
Enable Party Mode

Select party mode and play music nearby. The built-in microphone picks up the beat and the ghost flashes through the colours in time. Move it closer to the speaker if the effect looks weak.
Position for Optimal Viewing

Stand it on a flat, stable surface indoors, away from water, with the cable routed so nobody catches it. For a young child's room, place it out of easy reach.

Common Questions

Does it come with a remote control?

No. The box contains the ghost light, a Micro USB cable and an instruction manual. Paladone lists touch as the control method, alongside a rotary switch on the lamp itself.

Is it actually made of wood, or plastic?

Plastic. Paladone lists plastic for both the ghost shade and the base, with a polished finish, and the build is sturdy.

Is it bright enough to actually light a room?

Not as a main light. Brightness is a mixed point with buyers: the ghost is white plastic, so colours show as a tint and can look paler than the photos, especially in a lit room. In a dark room it gives a pleasant glow, and some owners find it bright enough to fill a corner while subtle enough to sleep with on.

Does the music-sync feature actually work well?

It works as a fun extra. A built-in microphone listens to music in the room, and in party mode the ghost flashes rapidly through all 16 colours to the beat. It responds best with the music reasonably loud and the lamp near the speaker, and there is no app or pairing needed.

Is this an officially licensed PAC-Man product?

Yes. Paladone describes it as an officially licensed Pac-Man product, and Paladone Products is the manufacturer. It is not an unofficial copy.

What age is this actually appropriate for?

Paladone recommends it for ages 8 and up and says it is not suitable for children aged 3 and under. Buyers find it especially popular as a gift for children aged about 6 to 10, so for younger children, follow the recommended age and place the lamp out of easy reach.

On Video

6 videos

Pacman Ghost Light Table Lamp - 16 Color Options - Changes Colors to Music - USB Powered

Gadget Gets

All videos

Paladone PacMan Ghost Light Review: A Great Gift for Young Fans, With a Softer Glow Than the Photos

TL;DRThe Short Answer: Is the Paladone PacMan Ghost Light Worth It?

Key Facts

What Stands Out

Strengths and Drawbacks

What works

What does not

Features in Depth

16 Phasing Colours and Touch Control

Music-Reactive Party Mode via Built-In Microphone

Plastic Build, 8 Inches Tall and Easy to Store

Genuine Gift Appeal, but Brightness Is Mixed

How We Scored It

Appearance

Gift

Color

Functionality

Brightness

Owner Satisfaction

Value for Money

Specifications

Size and weight

Power

Materials and warranty

What Buyers Say

Great light

Terrific, Better Than Reviews

A bright piece of nostalgia

Not very bright like pictured

Setting It Up

Connect USB Power Cable

Read the Instruction Manual

Select Desired Color Mode

Dim the Room

Enable Party Mode

Position for Optimal Viewing

Common Questions

On Video

Pacman Ghost Light Table Lamp - 16 Color Options - Changes Colors to Music - USB Powered

The Verdict

Who should buy it

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