Google is quite the trickster—it comprises some amusing easter eggs to view and indulge in, but that’s not all there is to the world-famous search engine. The fact of the matter is that you can even enjoy secret games on the internet crawler as well, and in this guide, we’ll be walking you through 20 hidden Google games that you should play in 2022.
Check out our guide on the top 20 Linux apps for the full memo. Meanwhile, check out these supremely comical secret Google games that play within the browser and do not demand high graphical resources.
- Recommended read: How to use the Site Search feature in Google Chrome.
20 of the best hidden Google games you should play
Although your options are numerous, the following is our cherry-picked collection of some of the best secret games tucked away in Google that do not pop up unless you enter something specific in the address bar. With no further ado, let’s dive right into these hidden Google games.
1. Minesweeper
Starting this list of the top 20 hidden Google games is an ever-enjoyable classic—Minesweeper. This game dates back to the earliest memories of our gaming childhood when technology wasn’t as advanced as it is today. The goal of Minesweeper is pretty straightforward.
You have to click on cells within the vast minefield and try your luck to see if what awaits you underneath the cell is a point or a mine. If it’s the latter, you can expect a subsequently appearing “game-over” scenario. There is a trick, however, that you can employ to come out on top when playing Minesweeper, but it isn’t so easily learned.
You’ll need to put in a fair amount of practice to learn how the randomization of the Minesweeper game works in Google. To launch it, type the name of the game in the address bar of your Chrome browser and add “Google” to it. That way, the first search result popping up on your screen is bound to be Minesweeper.
Prepare to delve into a game that’s so entertaining and thrilling that hours will pass without you even noticing. It’s a great time killer when you’ve got nothing else to do. On a side note, though, there are other ways of working with the Minesweeper game if you’re on ChromeOS. Check out our interlinked guide for a comprehensive tutorial.
2. Pac-Man Doodle
Next up, we’ve got another iconic game making the frontlines on this list. Pac-Man is a sure-fire hit of nostalgia that rewinds time and takes us back to the days of our childhood; what we have here shaped one of the earlier gaming times with its facile winning formula and highly entertaining, addictive gameplay.
It’s a maze-centric action video game where you get to play as Pac-Man—a dot-eating character who must consume all the circular elements in the game map to win the bout. In doing so, Pac-Man has to avoid the differently colored ghosts that roam the maze, looking to hunt the protagonist down.
Pac-Man gets multiple lives to live through, but if the character gets eaten up more than the specified limit, consider the game duly over. The thrill of the chase makes the Pac-Man Doodle game so famous. To play, type in the title’s name and add the term “Google” to it.
A dedicated section will allow you to start up Pac-Man and enjoy its classic gameplay that has been going strong for years. That’s all there is to it.
3. Zerg Rush
Zerg Rush on Google is more of an easter egg than a game, but since you’re required to do something to get results, we’ll classify it as an interactive game nonetheless. If you type in “Zerg Rush” and click on the first link, the Google search results page, as you know it, will transform into a destructible environment.
What usually happens is that “Zergs” or red-colored circles will start falling from the top of the page and begin landing on search results. They’ll chew away the latter piece by piece unless you click on each Zerg repeatedly and destroy it. That’s the game’s main aim, and we must admit, it’s pretty enjoyable in the grand scheme.
4. Champion Island
Champion Island is single-handedly the best hidden Google game you can play right now—we’ll tell you that. It’s a carefully constructed 3D game where you control a character going through a series of mini-games. It’s an all-in-one video game that puts you through your paces with the various challenges it poses to the player.
The best part is that there are several ways to enjoy yourself on Champion Island. You can participate in an interactive tennis tournament or swim with an island-ruling princess. Many other mini-games are also prevalent across the title, so there’s just no room for boredom.
The RPG-style mechanics and the freedom to explore different areas make Champion Island an ever-enticing affair. It’s lightweight on the system and packs an utterly retro experience that old-school gamers will surely enjoy. Type in the game’s name and add the “Google” term to bring up Champion Island on the screen.
5. Fischinger
Oskar Fischinger was a breakthrough musician who pioneered the art of musical animation and composition. In light of his works and achievements, Google has curated a whole game on the search engine that we believe to be dripping with high quality. You must type “Fischinger” in the address bar and click on the first search result.
Once done, an exceptionally interactive game will pop up on the screen, allowing you to delve into a musical world that’s satisfying to interact with. Multiple musical instruments will be available at your disposal to enjoy and get into, all the while acclimating yourself to the brilliant design of the Fischinger game itself.
A wave scans the in-game environment from left and right and, in doing so, plays the relevant musical chords that you have toggled on. That is to say; there are rows and columns of empty spaces that you can fill in with a tap of your cursor. The more spaces you fill, the more sounds will be produced.
6. Tic-tac-toe
We’ve got yet another classic game making a list here, and it’s something that you’re undoubtedly already quite familiar with. Tic-tac-toe is a game that has been surviving and going strong for ages, whether that is in schools during playtime or other relatively mature situations. Whatever the occasion, Tic-tac-toe has fueled fun for generations.
The layout of the game is entirely straightforward, and that is what, perhaps, makes it stand out the most. First, players draw a 3 by 3 grid where each space has to be marked by Xs or Os.
The first person to draw a consecutive string of the same mark either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally wins the bout. This hidden Google game is based on the same ideology. You must type in the game’s name and add “Google” to the query in Chrome’s address bar. That should do the trick for you.
7. Snake
A snake chasing after and eating items of varying nature is right alongside Tic-tac-toe in terms of its classic appeal. Pick any earlier mobile phones that you can get your hands on, and you’ll find that a snake-based game will be installed on it in some manner or form. That is how iconic the Snake game truly is.
Thankfully, Google allows us to experience this age-old game within the Chrome browser. Type in “Snake game,” and you’ll get positive results. Then, click on “Play” to begin when you’re ready.
8. Solitaire
Google offers yet another game that has been coming along for as long as one can remember. It’s a card game called “Patience,” where you have to arrange your cards systemically, so they can be thrown off the deck and allow you to proceed toward winning the session.
Although there are multiple ways of playing Solitaire on a Chromebook, Google offers you a taste of this recreational activity right within the search engine. Type in the game’s name and the term “Google” and press the “Enter” key. Eventually, you’ll be able to start the card game just fine.
9. Memory game
How about you now turn to something that will train some of your cognitive skills while giving you a fair share of amusement?
Memory game is one of the best Google hidden games you can rely on for this matter, allowing you to go through a series of challenges that put your memorizing capacity to the test.
Type in “Memory game Google,” and your first search result will be this game. Click on the vividly apparent “Play” button to get going.
10. Atari Breakout
Atari Breakout is yet another cult classic arcade video game that came out way back when the industry was still nascent. It’s a title where you have to shoot down bricks of varying colors with the help of a ball. However, you’ll be steering the direction of this ball with a paddle that appears at the bottom half of the game’s interface.
We’re pretty sure you’ve played a game like Breakout before. It’s one of those iconic games that you cannot miss out on, whether you owned a retro Atari console back when they were popular or a handheld smartphone with one of this type of game installed.
Type in the game’s name using the search engine and add “Google” to your query. That’s going to do it. Click on the vividly apparent “Play” button to start the game.
11. Classic T-Rex Google game
We’re all so familiar with this one, aren’t we? We might as well add this is one of those Google secrets that hide in plain sight. You might have already stumbled upon this adorable T-Rex game by accident, but if you haven’t done that already, try disconnecting your device from the internet and searching for something.
When the Chrome browser hits back at you with the “No internet” screen, press the spacebar on your keyboard and watch the adorable little dinosaur jump up and start the endless runner for you. Use the down arrow key to duck and the spacebar to jump. Note that the jump height will determine how long you keep the spacebar pressed.
- Related read: How do you play T-Rex games on a Chromebook?
12. Magic Cat Academy
Next up, we’ve got an adorable cat game to delve into, Magic Cat Academy. This one is best enjoyed on a touchscreen Chromebook since you will be required to draw various shapes to cast magic and take down spooky ghosts.
The game’s protagonist is Momo the Cat—a feline with magical powers. The game is entertaining and certainly leaves you wanting more as you clear the four levels that this awesome hidden Google Play Store game comprises. Type in “Play Magic Cat Academy,” and you’ll be met with likewise results. There’s even a sequel to the game that you can try out!
13. Rockmore
Rockmore isn’t the most exhilarating hidden Google game you can play, but it’s fun to run into if you happen to be an audiophile. The goal is to conjoin musical notes to get through the entire lesson. After that, you can try to get into a brilliant interactive experience in several different stages.
The game is based on Clara Rockmore, a famous Lithuanian music performer, and violin prodigy. To play, search for “Rockmore Google game” and click on the “Play” button to begin. It’s as simple as that.
14. Cricket
Moving forward, we’ve got another fun-filled game called Cricket that plays out like a sports simulator and guarantees lightweight amusement.
The title features insect-like doodles in a cricket stadium where you play as a batsman, trying to time your hits right as soon as the ball leaves the hands of the bowler.
Search for “Cricket Google game” on the search engine and click on the first search result. It will load right up.
15. Coding
Coding on Google is another funny yet informative game that introduces you to the vast realm of programming in a fun and enjoyable way. It features a bunny whose goal is to gobble up as many carrots as possible, but only when the player inputs the proper commands.
To play this game, you must type in “Coding game Google” and enter it in your Chrome search bar. A relevant section should pop up right after that, allowing you to dive into the fun game without breaking a sweat.
16. Scoville
Scoville is one of our favorite games on the list, offering time-accurate gameplay and insightful information about the various kinds of peppers worldwide. The fact of the matter is that this hidden Google game is based on the actual Scoville scale that measures the spiciness of peppers.
The developers have found a great way to blend trivia and a fun game, creating an amusing formula. To play it, type in “Scoville Google game” and press the “Enter’ key while using the address bar. The game should pop right up.
17. The Great Ghoul Duel
Google can often make some truly great games, and The Great Ghoul Duel is an excellent sign. It’s a multiplayer interactive Doodle game fueled by the technology of Google Cloud, where you play trick-or-treat as ghosts. Your fun is quadrupled when other players join in, and you have to duel it out against each other.
The game aims to collect arbitrary “Spirit Flames” and successfully transport them back to your team’s specified zone. Since there will be two teams going up against each other, the team that proceeds with the most Spirit Flames will win the bout. It’s a highly amusing game, especially when you’ve got friends to play with.
- Play The Great Ghoul Duel.
18. Loteria
As the developer states, when you first start the game, Loteria is a class apart from the rest of the titles mentioned here. It’s deemed a “Mexican board game of chance” with cards involved. It would be best if you mirrored the pattern of beans shown during each session to win the game.
Various playable elements are prevalent in Loteria, making it an entertaining card-based game for players to enjoy. To get started, type in “Loteria game” in Google and press the “Play” button when the title appears on your Chrome browser.
19. Basketball
Basketball on Google is another endearing game that lets you take shots at the post and make scores. It’s genuinely straightforward and doesn’t have anything complicated to its name.
You will use the “Spacebar” key to let go of the ball at the right time. Timing the shot just right will help you score. Letting go of the ball too soon or too late won’t help you.
- Play Basketball.
20. Hurdles
At long last, we’ve got Hurdles topping this list off for us. It’s a mini-game where you control a running character. You can increase the player’s speed by repeatedly tapping the left and right arrow keys, right alongside jumping with the “Spacebar” key to avoid forthcoming obstacles.
The goal of the game is to clear the track in record time. Beating the track in under 10 seconds will reward you with all three medals. Easier said than done; achieving a good score in Hurdles is undoubtedly a fun time-killer, one that you’ll find yourself playing a few too often.
- Play Hurdles.
Conclusion
Google is a ubiquitous search engine with visible dominance over the vast stretches of the internet. Nothing escapes the prying eyes of this exceptionally established internet crawler, provided how well-developed it has become over time. To talk about how much Google has spread around the globe, over 4 billion people employ the services of this technology every day.
In the context of this guide, Google even features multiple hidden games that you can play to your heart’s content. Some of these, especially Minesweeper, is remarkably entertaining and dial you back to those times when classic gaming reigned worldwide. Please let us know which game has become your favorite in the comments section.
Chrome Ready wishes you happy gaming!