If you were around in late 2021, you probably remember the absolute chaos surrounding the launch of the OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition. It wasn't just another lazy "color swap" collaboration where a company slaps a logo on the back and calls it a day. Honestly, it was probably the peak of OnePlus creativity. They didn't just change the hardware to glow in the dark with a hidden maze; they went deep into the software, and that’s where the OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man edition ringtones come in.
Most people think these are just cropped MP3s of the original 1980s arcade theme. That’s actually a huge misconception. If you've actually spent time with the device, you'd know the audio profile is a weird, beautiful mix of high-fidelity modern production and "bleep-bloop" nostalgia.
The Secret "Bleeps" and "Bloops" of OxygenOS
When OnePlus partnered with Bandai Namco, they didn't just license a mascot. They effectively gamified the entire user experience. The ringtones on this phone are actually tied to "Easter eggs." Basically, you couldn't even access some of the coolest sounds right out of the box. You had to earn them.
I’m talking about finishing specific "challenges" in the system to unlock hidden content. One of the most famous ones involved the Warp Charge 65 system. When you plugged the phone in, you got a custom charging animation of Pac-Man eating dots, and if you did this enough times or met certain criteria, the phone would "gift" you extra stickers and tones.
Why the Notification Sound is Actually the Star
Everyone talks about the ringtone, but the notification sound is the real MVP here. It’s a short, sharp chime that mimics the sound of Pac-Man eating a Power Pellet. It’s satisfying. It’s not jarring like those screeching default "whistle" tones you hear on every other Android phone.
The ringtone itself—the one that actually plays when someone calls you—is a remixed, lo-fi version of the classic theme. It has this driving, electronic beat underneath the iconic melody. It sounds "arcade-y" without being annoying.
The Hardware-Software Handshake
It’s worth mentioning that the audio feels different on this phone because of the haptics. OnePlus used Haptics 2.0 on the Nord 2, and they actually synced the vibration motor to the rhythm of the Pac-Man ringtone. So, when the phone rings in your pocket, it doesn't just buzz; it feels like the "Waka-Waka" movement of the character.
It's those little details that made people go crazy trying to port these files to other phones.
- The Alarm Tone: A slower, more atmospheric version of the "Level Start" music. It’s designed to wake you up without giving you a heart attack.
- The Unlock Sound: A quick "gulp" sound when you hit the fingerprint scanner, which, by the way, has a custom animation of Pac-Man dodging Blinky and Inky.
- The Message Tone: A crisp, pixelated blip.
How People Are Getting These Tones in 2026
Since this was a limited edition device, finding one in mint condition now is getting harder and harder. But the community, being the community, ripped the audio files almost immediately after launch.
If you're trying to get the OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man edition ringtones on a Samsung, a Pixel, or even a newer OnePlus 12 or 13, you basically have two options. You can go the "official" route of looking for the extracted APKs from XDA Developers (the legend linuxct did a lot of the heavy lifting here early on). Or, you can find the raw .ogg or .mp3 files on platforms like Zedge.
The tricky part? Most of the "Pac-Man" ringtones you find online are just generic game rips. They aren't the actual OnePlus-designed remixes. If it doesn't have that polished, modern electronic bassline, it’s not the real deal from the Nord 2.
Is it worth the hassle?
Kinda, yeah. Most modern ringtones are boring. They’re either "corporate chic" or "generic guitar riff." Having a phone that sounds like a 1980s arcade cabinet—but produced by someone who actually knows how to mix audio for tiny smartphone speakers—is a vibe.
The Technical Side of the Sounds
One thing I noticed while digging through the system files of a Nord 2 Pac-Man unit is the file format. OnePlus used high-bitrate OGG files. Why does that matter? Because OGG handles the high-frequency "retro" chirps much better than MP3 without clipping. If you're downloading a low-quality version from a random site, it’s going to sound "tinny" and might even hurt your ears at high volume.
The original files were tuned specifically for the dual stereo speakers on the Nord 2. These speakers were surprisingly loud for a mid-range phone, and the EQ (Equalization) for the Pac-Man tones was boosted in the mids to ensure you could hear them over city traffic.
How to install them correctly
If you’ve managed to get your hands on the authentic files, don't just dump them in your downloads folder. To make them show up properly in your system settings:
👉 See also: SpyFinder Pro Hidden Camera Detector: What Most People Get Wrong
- Connect your phone to a PC via USB.
- Navigate to the Internal Storage.
- Look for the folder named Ringtones (create it if it’s not there).
- Drop the OnePlus Pac-Man files there.
- Do the same for the Notifications and Alarms folders.
- Restart your phone.
Once you reboot, the system media scanner will pick them up, and they’ll appear in your sound settings alongside the boring stock options. It makes a world of difference.
What Happened to the "Exclusive" Feel?
Honestly, the fact that anyone can download these now kinda devalues the "limited" nature of the phone, but that’s just how the internet works. The actual owners of the Nord 2 Pac-Man edition still have the "glow-in-the-dark" back and the custom UI overlays (like the blue and yellow notification shade), which you can't easily replicate with just a few audio files.
If you’re a fan of retrogaming or just want a phone that stands out in a sea of identical-sounding devices, these tones are probably the best thing to come out of the OnePlus "special edition" era. They captured a specific moment where phone companies were actually having fun.
To get the most authentic experience, search for the "OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man System Dump" on enthusiast forums rather than just Googling "Pacman ringtone." Look for files specifically named Pacman_Ringtone.ogg or Pacman_Notification.ogg to ensure you're getting the ones tuned by the OnePlus audio team. Once you have them, test the haptic feedback compatibility on your current device—some newer Android versions can actually "feel" the audio and translate it into vibration patterns automatically.