Google is known for its elaborate Easter Eggs, but users have discovered a hidden surprise that may top all the rest.
Deep in Google Search is an old school text adventure game that’s bound to captivate users for hours on end.
Savvy Reddit user attempt_number_1 spotted the game in Google’s developer console, where players use their keyboard to complete different tasks by issuing certain commands.
Users don’t have to have Google Chrome in order to try it out. The game also works on Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Chromium-based browsers and reportedly on Mac users as well
To play the game, search for ‘text adventure’ or ‘text game’ in your browser.
Users don’t have to have Google Chrome in order to try it out. The game also works on Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Chromium-based browsers and reportedly on Mac users as well.
After searching those terms, press Ctrl+Shift+J on a Windows computer or Cmd+Option+J on a Mac.
This will open Google’s developer console and ask if you want to play a game.
From there, type ‘yes’ and hit enter. This will trigger the text-based adventure game, in which the user plays as the big blue G in Google’s logo.
Throughout the game, Google gives users descriptions about their surroundings.
As the capital G, the user is on the hunt for the other letters in Google’s logo.
Google is known for its elaborate Easter Eggs, but users have discovered a hidden surprise that may top all the rest. A text game lets users move through Google’s Mountain View campus
‘A strange tingle trickles across your skin. You feel lightheaded and sit down,’ reads the introduction to the game.
‘Feeling better you stand up again and notice your reflection in a window. You are still the same big blue G you’ve always been and you can’t help but smile.’
Users travel around Google’s Mountain View, California campus in search of the other letters and often encounter obstacles like an alligator.
Commands like ‘grab,’ ‘use,’ ‘clear path’ and ‘inventory’ allow users to interact with their surroundings.
Other commands include ‘north,’ ‘south’ and ‘map’ enable them to move throughout the game.
Once users start playing, they travel around Google’s Mountain View, California campus in search of the other letters in its logo and often encounter obstacles like an alligator
Commands like ‘grab,’ ‘use,’ ‘clear path’ and ‘inventory’ allow users to interact with their surroundings. Other include ‘north,’ ‘south’ and ‘map’ that let users move around the game
‘Type single word commands, no need to describe the subject,’ the game instructions note.
‘For example, “grab banana peel” should just be “grab” or “use banana peel” should just be “use.”‘
When users win the game, it’ll tell them precisely how many actions it took to get there, as well as their total time spent playing.
Finally, it’ll cheekily tell users: ‘Now get back to work.’
In addition to this text adventure game, Google has a long list of previously discovered Easter Eggs.
Perhaps one of the most popular examples of this is Google’s Google Chrome game.
When users win the game, it’ll tell them precisely how many actions it took to get there, as well as their total time spent playing. It’ll cheekily tell users to ‘get back to work’
If a browser can’t connect to the internet, it’ll trigger a jump and run game, where the user tries to prevent a dinosaur from colliding with cacti and crashing into other obstacles by jumping over them.
Google’s other Easter Eggs are just as nerdy.
Desktop Chrome users who search ‘Google in 1998’ from their browser bar are transported back in time as their search results are presented as if plugged into Google’s original 90’s search engine.
And Chrome users who search ‘Beam me up, Scotty’ in Youtube will find their video results pop onto the page as if teleported from Star Trek’s U.S.S. Enterprise.