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Google Search isn’t all just about finding information. The developers have hidden a bunch of fun surprises throughout the years, known as Easter Eggs. Whether you’re a curious explorer or someone looking to add a bit of fun to your day, these Easter eggs offer a delightful break from the ordinary.
In this article, we’ll dive into 28 of the most entertaining Google Easter eggs and secrets, each one ready to turn your search into an unexpected adventure.
1. Classic Easter Eggs
Games
Who needs a separate gaming console when you can play directly in your search results? Google offers a surprising variety of classic games.
Pac-Man
Search for “Pac-Man” and fire up a nostalgic game of chasing dots and avoiding ghosts. And, if you click the down arrow underneath you’ll see all of Google’s other games that you can play (and the same goes for the rest of the games)
Solitaire
Test your card-shuffling skills with a game of Solitaire. Search for “Solitaire” and get dealing. Once you click play, the game will appear in the centre of your screen, you can choose between easy and hard and then get dealing.
Tic Tac Toe
Challenge a friend or the AI to a game of Tic Tac Toe (or play yourself if you’re really that bored). Simply search for “Tic Tac Toe” and get playing. All you need to do is click on the board as to where you want your ‘X’ to be.
Minesweeper
Put your memory and deduction skills to the test with a game of Minesweeper. Search for it and see if you can avoid those hidden bombs. Click ‘Play’, choose your difficulty level, and click away.
Dinosaur Game
This hidden gem might be the most famous Google Easter Egg. If your internet connection ever drops, hit the spacebar and you’ll find yourself playing a side-scrolling dinosaur game to avoid cacti.
Personally, I find this game so addictive that I forget about my internet struggles.
Search Tweaks
Do a Barrel Roll
Search for “Do a barrel roll” and watch your search results perform a 360-degree spin, referencing the Star Fox video game series.
The now-famous phrase “do a barrel roll” originated in the 1997 video game Star Fox 64. Peppy Hare, a character known for his frantic advice, would constantly instruct the player to perform this manoeuvre to dodge enemy fire. The internet meme arose from the urgency and repetitiveness of Peppy’s pleas.
Google in 1998
Take a trip down memory lane with a search for “Google in 1998” and see a retro version of the Google search layout. We really have come a long way and it’s nice to be reminded of that from time to time.
Askew
Feeling a bit off-kilter? Search for “askew” and watch the search results page tilt slightly to one side. Trying this Easter Egg won’t disrupt your usual Google experience. Once you’re done having fun, your search results will automatically return to normal.
Festivus
For all your Festivus needs, search for “Festivus” and a celebratory pole will appear on the screen.
Seinfeld introduced the world to Festivus, a fictional holiday observed on December 23rd. This anti-consumerist celebration throws out the traditional trappings for a Festivus pole (no tinsel!), a family dinner filled with “airing of grievances” (telling your loved ones exactly what you think!), feats of strength (think wrestling matches, not gift-wrapping), and a healthy dose of sarcasm.
Even minor victories are hilariously dubbed “Festivus miracles.”
Blink HTML
Feeling a bit nostalgic for the early days of the web when text used to flash? Search for “blink HTML” and watch the bold text on the page start blinking.
In 1994, Netscape Navigator introduced the <blink> tag, a one-trick pony designed to make text blink on the screen. While intended to grab attention, it’s become more of a relic of the past – but thanks to Google we can be reminded of what it was like.
Fonts
Looking to change things up visually? Googling a font name like “Calibri” will actually change the search results font to match your search!
Not only is this a fun feature for Google to add to its repertoire, but it’s also very useful because you’re immediately made aware of what the font looks like.
Interactive Elements
Flip a Coin or Roll a Die
If you’re looking to make a quick decision then search for “flip a coin” or “roll a die” and Google will give you a random result. Did you know that you can also use a dedicated tool like Flip Coin because it allows you to flip multiple coins at once, which results in more random results.
Breathing Exercise
Many people feel stressed on a day-to-day basis. Breathing can really help make you feel a lot better. If you search “breathing exercise” on Google and scroll past all the sponsored posts you’ll see a 1-minute exercise that Google leads you through once you press play.
Metronome
Need to keep time? Search for “metronome” and get a virtual metronome you can adjust to your desired tempo.
Spinner & Fidget Spinner
Fidgeting fun! Search for “spinner” and get an interactive spinning wheel you can play with. You can also change the wheel size to include more or less numbers. Alternatively, you can search for “fidget spinner” and you guessed it – a fidget spinner appears.
To stop the wheel or the fidget spinner then just click it, to get it going again you just need to click, hold it and spin it.
You can switch between the two by toggling the option on the right-hand side.
Seasonal Easter Eggs
Throughout the year, Google gets into the holiday spirit with special animations and logos. Keep an eye out for these festive surprises around when the holiday is near:
- Halloween: Watch out for spooky ghosts and ghouls in the search results.
- Christmas: See Santa fly across the screen or build a snowman with interactive elements.
- Hanukkah: Celebrate with a glowing Menorah lighting up the search page.
- Kwanzaa: A beautiful golden background adorned with traditional patterns graces the Google search bar, accompanied by a glowing kinara (a seven-candleholder used in Kwanzaa celebrations).
Animal Sounds
Curious about what a particular animal sounds like? Search for “What sound does a cow make?” (or any other animal) and Google will provide the answer with a fun audio clip.
Fun Facts and Wordplay
Facts
Searching “fun facts” or “I’m feeling curious” will show you a random fun fact to brighten your day. Clicking on “Ask another question” will reveal another interesting tidbit.
Wordplay
Type in “define anagram” and Google will playfully challenge you with “Did you mean: nerd fame again?” (an anagram of ‘define anagram’). You can also search for “anagram” and see a similar result.
2. Lesser-known Gems
While some Google Easter Eggs are widely known, there are a surprising number of hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
The Answer to Life, the Universe and Everything
Fans of Douglas Adams will appreciate this one. Search for “what is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything” and Google will reveal the answer is, of course, 42.
Where does this come from? In a moment of anticlimactic revelation, Deep Thought, the supercomputer tasked with pondering life’s biggest mysteries in “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” coughs up the answer to the ultimate question: “forty-two.” This leaves everyone scratching their heads – and Google has cottoned onto it too.
Bletchley Park
Pay homage to the incredible codebreakers of World War II by searching for “Bletchley Park.” Google will display a special info card highlighting the historical significance of this location.
Forrest Gump
Feeling nostalgic for the movie Forrest Gump? Search for “Forrest Gump” and a runner will appear at the top of the screen, just like in the film. More runners will join him as you spend more time on the page.
Tomatina Fiesta
Search for “la Tomatina” (a Spanish tomato-throwing festival) and witness an animation of a jumping tomato appear.
Click it, and you can throw virtual tomatoes on the screen, referencing the festival’s messy fun. There’s even a button to wash away the splatters afterwards.
Mine Your Way to Fun with Minecraft
Search for “Minecraft” and a grass block button will appear.
Clicking it reveals Steve’s hand in the corner. You can then “mine” away sections of the screen, revealing a small Minecraft world. Steve even upgrades his pickaxe as you keep clicking!
Puppy Prints
Search for “puppy,” “puppies,” “dog,” or “canine” and a paw print button will appear.
Clicking it will bring out a dog’s leg, leaving a paw print with a bark sound wherever you click on the screen.
Cat lovers do not fear – the same works for “cat” or“kitten”.
Wordle Takes Over Google
Calling all Wordle addicts! Search for “wordle” and the Google logo will transform into a 6-letter round of Wordle which spells out the words COLUMN, GOALIE, and GOOGLE.
Pop Culture References
Google loves a good pop culture reference.
- Search for “Olivia Newton John” and see “Did you mean: The One That I Want,” referencing her iconic song.
- Search for “the one ring” and witness “Did you mean: my precioussss,” channeling Gollum’s obsession from The Lord of the Rings.
- Try “wubba lubba dub dub” for a hilarious reference to Rick and Morty.
Axolotl Adventure
Search for “axolotl” or “lake xochimilco” and a friendly yellow axolotl will appear. Click it to discover a doodle celebrating the fascinating creatures of Lake Xochimilco. Here, you can interact by taking pictures of cartoon axolotls when they appear.
Bubble Tea
Search for “bubble tea” and watch a cup filled with bubble tea bouncing on the screen. Click it to unleash a fun doodle where you can add various bubble tea ingredients to your cup.
Legally Blonde
Search for “legally blonde” and a chic pink purse will appear next to the Knowledge Graph. Click it to witness Elle Woods’ beloved chihuahua, Bruiser, jump out and strut his stuff. This delightful Easter Egg even changes the link colours on the page to pink, matching Elle’s signature look.
Chicxulub Impact
Search for “chicxulub,” “chicxulub asteroid,” or “meteorite” and witness an asteroid falling on the results page. Brace yourself, as the entire page will shake slightly from the impact!
For those who don’t know, the Chicxulub asteroid slammed into Earth millions of years ago, leaving behind a giant crater buried beneath Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.
In Conclusion
Often, searching the web can feel like a mundane task, where you’re simply looking for information without much excitement or entertainment.
However, what if you could turn that routine task into a fun and interactive experience? Missing out on Google’s hidden Easter eggs means you’re not just overlooking some of the internet’s most delightful secrets, but also bypassing opportunities to inject a little fun into your day.
Luckily, Google has embedded a variety of Easter eggs and hidden features that transform the ordinary act of searching into something unexpectedly enjoyable. From classic games like Pac-Man and Solitaire to quirky tricks like “Do a barrel roll,” there’s a whole world of surprises waiting to be discovered. Next time you’re on Google, take a break from the routine and explore these hidden gems—you might just find yourself having more fun than you ever expected while searching the web.
Article by
Samantha Hops
