20 Hidden Google Games for You to Play

Say what you will about Google, but the old search engine devil has some fine taste and sense of humor in its design department. Over the years Google’s amassed a veritable trove of hidden games, many of which first appeared in connection with anniversaries but continue to be available to play today.

Google’s repertoire of hidden games and Easter eggs stretches across all its platforms – from Google Search to Assistant and the Google Android app. This list brings together Google’s best secret games wherever it can find them.

Good to know: learn how to turn off Google AI search on your device.

1. Quick, Draw!

There’s something a little dystopian about playing a kind of Pictionary-type game with a robotically-voiced AI, but that doesn’t make it any less fascinating.

In Quick Draw, Google gives you 20 seconds to doodle a drawing of a specific object or being – for instance, a garden, kangaroo, or stop sign – and as you’re drawing, the AI will keep guessing what it is you’re drawing.

We were impressed that Google worked out some of the more “abstract” drawings we’ve made. Anyway, if you’d like to help Google’s neural networks learn, give this fun game a try.

Tip: want even more than games? Here are some interesting easter eggs Google has hidden for you.

2. Soccer (Google Doodle Archive)

You can’t go too wrong with a casual game of football, and it doesn’t get any more idle and casual than the Soccer Doodle game, dating back to 2012.

As the player, you control a goalie as an AI player pelts shots in the direction of your goal. You move left and right in the goal using the mouse (or keyboard), then click (press the Space bar) to jump for those aerial shots.

You get to defend 5 shots per session, but you can spend hours idling away in this enjoyable footy-inspired clicker by pressing the Reload icon at the end of each stretch.

3. Champion Island Games (Google Doodle Archive)

First launched as the Google Doodle on 24 August 2021, Champion Island Games is one of the most in-depth secret Google Search games to date.

It’s pretty much a condensed form of an old-school RPG in the Pokemon style, as you wander around an island participating in sports, taking on legendary opponents, and getting involved in all manner of strange sidequests.

The intro cinematic is particularly beautiful! This Doodle was originally launched to commemorate the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 but was re-released at the start of the Paralympics with extra side-quests and secrets to discover. With the 2024 Paris Olympics currently underway, this is the perfect game to play in your browser right now!

4. Atari Breakout

For a while, it looked like this beloved Google Doodle game was lost forever, but it’s been reinstated to our list after we discovered that you can still play this Atari classic.

Breakout was previously played by simply typing it into Google Images, but that is no longer possible. Instead, you can head over to this site and get started with the game immediately.

For those who haven’t played this game before, the concept is simple, use a ball to break as many bricks (shown above) by using the walls and the paddle below to hit the targets.

FYI: if you’ve recently finished watching Fallout on Amazon Prime Video, check these best Fallout games to start playing.

5. Tic Tac Toe

An oldie but a goody, Tic Tac Toe (or noughts and crosses, as it’s called in the UK) is believed to have existed for quite literally thousands of years. It’s avaialble on Google by typing “tic tac toe” into the search engine.

A game window will immediately show up at the top of the search results. You can opt whether you want to be X or O and then start playing. You can also select a difficulty level or choose to play against a friend.

Sure, there are only so many possible outcomes in this game, and it’s not too hard to reach a point where you can neither win nor lose, but it’s a nice easy way to waste some time and solve some disputes.

6. Basketball Game (Google Doodle Archive)

If you’ve been Googling for a while (and let’s face it, most of us have), then you may remember this little hidden gem that was released a while back. This simple basketball game was released to celebrate the 2012 Summer Games and involves shooting hoops from various distances.

Just hold down your mouse button (or Space key) to increase the power of your throw – it’s about finding that sweet spot to get the ball in the hoop.

You have 25 seconds to score as many points as possible, and as the game progresses, you have to throw from further and further away. Make sure you calibrate your throw accordingly if you want to win.

7. Magic Cat Academy (Google Doodle Archive)

Taking us all the way back to Halloween 2016 is this beautifully hand-drawn fun Google game about a spellcasting cat fending off an endless swarm of incorporeal ghosties.

Magic Cat Academy is super-simple, as you stand in the middle of various levels drawing lines that correspond to the symbols above ghosts’ heads to banish them. While it might sound simple, the symbols will get increasingly complex as you advance in the game.

The action picks up very quickly, and before long, you’ll be swept up in a relentless flow of spectral destruction. There are five levels in total, and you can also regenerate health by swiping a heart shape when you see the appropriate life-giving ghost. Good luck!

Tip: feel like playing a chilling horror game? Check out these free options that are avaialble on Steam.

8. Text Adventure (Google Chrome)

Want to be transported back to the late ’70s to get a feel for what gaming used to be like in the days before conveniences like graphics and UIs? You can. Right there in your Google Chrome browser, in fact, where a quirky little text adventure lies in rest, waiting to be uncovered.

To access this well-hidden game, open Google in Chrome, then type text adventure into the search box. Next, press Ctrl + Shift + I, then type yes in the Console that appears (you might have to switch from the Search tab in the console.)

The text adventure will then begin. As with every great text adventure, play simply by typing commands that unfold the action and move you through the game world.

9. Garden Gnomes (Google Doodle Archive)

On June 10, 2018, Google celebrated Garden Day in Germany (no, we’ve never heard of it either) by releasing a Google Doodle themed around garden gnomes.

Clicking this Doodle will start a deviously addictive game where you catapult gnomes as far as you can using a sort of trebuchet. It sounds a bit cruel, but it’s a bit like Angry Birds really, and you never heard them complaining.

You can try playing with various gnomes that differ in shape and size for an increased dose of entertainment. Once you set a personal best, challenge yourself to make an even larger jump.

10. Solitaire (Google Search)

Did you know you can play Solitaire on Google? The first game many of you will ever have played on a computer, the classic card-matcher, is available to play directly through Google Search.

Just type “solitaire” into Search and hit Enter. A small game window will immediately appear at the top of your search results. All you need to do next is press Play.

It’s the same old game you’ve always remembered: stacking cards in descending order and alternating colors. It looks nice, too, with a dash of Google’s design swagger.

Tip: seeing the “Unusual traffic from your computer network” message on your PC? Check our post to see how to resolve this Google error.

11. Flight Simulator (Google Earth)

It’s been around for years, but Google Earth is still kind of mind-blowing, letting you whiz around the planet and zoom in on just about anything, anywhere in the world (apart from military bases, North Korea, and the usual sketchy stuff).

Better still, Google Earth has a built-in flight simulator that lets you travel around the world using an actual plane. You can even choose whether to fly an SR22 or F-16 jet and play using a joystick (if you have one.) Our advice is to turn on 3D buildings as well, which means you’ll get to experience cities like San Francisco (pictured) in its murky textured but nonetheless 3D glory.

To access it, you need to download and install Google Earth Pro on your Windows, Mac, or Linux computer, then from the menu, click Tools -> Enter Flight Simulator at the top. This is a technical “game” so be prepared to fail a few times before you manage to keep your plane afloat.

12. T-Rex Run (Google Chrome)

Google knows the absence of the Internet can make people lose their minds. Luckily, Google hopes to stave off violent reactions with this cute and addictive game. One of the more well-known hidden Google Chrome games.

Starring a lone T-Rex in 8-bit glory, jump over cacti and evade flying pterodactyls in this endless runner. To play, shut off your device’s Wi-Fi or fire up Chrome when you have no access to the Internet.

When presented with the Unable to connect to the Internet screen (featuring the aforementioned T-Rex), hit the Space bar. Or tap the dino if you’re doing this from a mobile device. Get ready, because the deceptively-easy game is about to begin. Just keep hitting that Space bar (tap the screen) to jump.

13. Pac-Man (Google Search)

This custom Pac-Man Google game appeared as a Doodle on May 21, 2010. This playable version of Pac-Man was made to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the incredibly popular arcade game.

To start munching on pac-dots, simply Google the term pacman, and you can get down to the timeless business of avoiding Inky, Pinky, Blinky, and Clyde.

After you press Play in the search results, the game appears in a pop-up window just like Solitaire. Our only complaint is that the scale of the game is a bit on the smaller side, but you can always zoom in on your screen.

Related: learn how to delete your Google search history easily.

14. Snake (Google Search)

Prepare to feel like Marty McFly and go back in time. The Google Doodle snake game commemorating the 2013 Chinese New Year features a classic game from Nokia-era mobile phone dominance.

That’s right, a version of Snake is playable within Google’s search engine. To start, punch in snake and click Play.

You can use your keyboard to guide the Snake around the board, but you must be careful and prevent it from hitting its head on the walls if you want to win.

15. Santa Tracker

Excited about the gifts coming your way this year? Make sure to use Google’s Santa Tracker to follow their journey. Although the tracking feature activates in December, you can enjoy some fun mini-games before them.

You can keep yourself entertained with titles such as Railroad Ride, Gumball Machine, or Elf Jetpack – which will test various skills from quick response to memory. Alternatively, you can give Santa a makeover or have a quick drawing session. There are many options to pick from.

Each Christmas Eve, the Santa Tracker goes live, simulating Santa’s global journey, showing his progress as he alternates between flying and delivering gifts. Santa typically advanced about one time zone to the west each hour.

16. Zerg Rush

Zerg Rush used to be one of those games you could access through Google Search but that’s not the case anymore. Instead, you can find the game through this website, which has been mentioned before.

In Zerg Rush, your search results are under attack by countless dots that are floating and spreading on your screen. If you’re not careful, they will end up erasing everything and you’ll be left to stare at a blank screen.

To remove a flying dot, click it with your mouse multiple times until it’s destroyed. It’s a sneaky game, requiring you to scroll down and thoroughly check the page to make sure no more dots have slipped in.

17. Mahjong FRVR (Experiments by Google)

Google’s Experiments page is home to a variety of intriguing projects that can be worth checking out. Of course, there are quite a few other games you can try, but we’ve decided to include this Mahjong experiment in this list.

It offers a solid gaming experience with nice graphics and a robust assortment of levels directly in your browser. Just head on to the Google Experiments page and click the Launch Experiment button.

The levels aren’t timed so you don’t have to rush to solve them. If you want to try additional gaming experiments by Google, use the Search bar at the top to uncover more.

Tip: here are the best mobile games that come with your Netflix account.

18. Cloud Game (Google app)

Here’s another hidden Google game you might not know about because it’s hidden pretty well. To access it you’ll need to switch your phone to Airplane mode.

Then open the Google app (be careful – don’t use Chrome or any other browser) and search for anything. You’ll notice a cloud illustration next to the message that says Airplane mode is on. Tap on it.

You’ll be taken to the game, where you play as a fluffy white cloud that must glide through birds, angry black clouds, and other obstacles. Just tap the screen to keep your character afloat and prevent him from falling to its doom. If you love Flappy Bird, this one is for you.

19. Doctor Who (Google Doodle Archive)

This is a must-have for fans of the Doctor Who series. It’s available through the Google Doodle Archive after being officially launched to celebrate 50 years since the series lunch on November 23, 2013.

This is a platformer game where players get to control the Doctor (there are different versions to choose from) as he runs and jumps through various levels looking for the G-shaped exit. The game includes Doctor Who’s most popular villains including the Daleks and Cybermen, as well as the iconic Tardis time machine.

The game also features several puzzles to solve, adding to the overall challenge. There are plenty of levels to go through, so you won’t experience a dull moment.

20. Android Version Game

Each version of Android comes with a hidden mini-game. You can activate it by going to your phone’s Settings app and navigating to About phone -> Android version.

Here you should be able to see the Android version your phone is running. In our case, it’s Android 14. Tap on it several times (don’t get discouraged if nothing happens after a couple of taps, continue to tap.)

The Android logo or another image should appear on your screen. On Android 14, the logo and part of the Android mascot appear floating on a spacey background. Continue tapping the logo. This time it might take a while before something changes, so you need to be diligent. Tapping unceasingly on the Android 14 logo eventually resulted in being able to access a spaceship mini-navigation game.

Tip: learn how to check your Android version and other phone specs.

Still don’t have your gaming fix? Learn how to install the Epic Games store on Linux and play your favorite games. Alternatively, if you wish to play together with someone, check out our list of the best Steam games with remote play.

Image credit: Freepik & Flaticon All screenshots by Alexandra Arici