Google Search has a hidden text adventure game that anybody can play, the latest in a long list of Google easter eggs that shows the company's love for old school video games.
Google has hidden different retro games in its software, including in the Android mobile operating system and the Chrome internet browser. The latest one is baked right into the Google Search engine, and it is a bit more complicated to access and play compared to previous easter eggs.
How To Play The Google Search Secret Game
The hidden game in Google Search was found by Redditor attempt_number_1, who promptly posted about the discovery on the online forum.
The first step is to access Google.com in the Chrome browser, and then search for "text adventure" without the quotes in the search box. After the Google Search results come up, users will have to open the JavaScript developer console. This can be done by pressing Ctrl + Shift + J on Windows or Command + Option + J on Mac.
The developer console should contain a prompt that asks whether users would like to play a game, with a yes or no option. If the user types yes and hits enter, the game will start. If the user types no, the search engine will reply with "Fine, be that way."
The hidden text adventure game allows players to take on the role of the capital G from the Google logo, with the mission of finding the other letters around the Google campus in Mountain View, California. It takes up to one hour to complete, with one-word commands to interact or move.
Google Easter Eggs In Android And Chrome
Google has not been shy about inserting games into its properties as easter eggs, which are entertaining for some users at the very least.
Google added a clone of the notoriously difficult Flappy Bird into Android 6.0 Marshmallow, and then included a game inspired by the cat collector Neko Atsume in Android 7.0 Nougat.
The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, meanwhile, came with a game that took advantage of the squeezable feature of the smartphones, known as Active Edge.
One of the most popular Google easter eggs, however, is in the Chrome browser. Whenever users lose their internet connection, they can take control of a T-Rex in a simple endless runner as it jumps over cacti.