Since the very first Google Doodle created in 1998 that was dedicated to the Burning Man festival, Google has been making fantastic Doodle games to highlight important events, achievements, people and milestones.
From simple offerings like Pac-Man to amusing Doodle games celebrating milestones like the Pony Express, here are some of the best Doodle games made by Google that you can still play in your browser.
1. Pac-Man
If you’re looking for old Doodle games, then Pac-Man is the oldest interactive version. Google’s May 21, 2010 tribute to the 30th anniversary of this popular title offers an opportunity to revisit the magic of the golden age of arcade gaming.
This simple Google Doodle features a custom maze filled with iconic pellets, fruits, and cherries, which players must collect to rack up points.
As you guide your legendary yellow character through the labyrinth, keep a watchful eye on the four infamous ghosts—Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde.
2. Fischinger
Released on June 22, 2017, this popular Google Doodle was launched to celebrate the 117th birthday of visual artist, painter and filmmaker Oskar Fischinger.
In this interactive musical experience, you can create your very own visual symphony by clicking on various spots on a grid, each representing a different sound.
The Fischinger Doodle encourages experimentation and creativity. As the play head moves across the grid, every spot you selected is played aloud, breathing life into your composition.
3. Scoville
If you’ve ever checked where the Carolina Reaper, Ghost pepper, Habanero, Naga Viper or any other pepper falls on the Scoville scale, then you have Wilbur Scoville to thank for the information.
An entertaining Google Doodle that pays homage to the 151th birthday of this American chemist and professor of pharmacology was released on January 22, 2016.
In this Doodle animation, you’ll help Scoville defend himself against an onslaught of fiery peppers. Your job is to accurately throw ice cream at them and send them back where they came from.
4. Pony Express
The Pony Express Google Doodle commemorates the 155th anniversary of the historic mail service that was active between 1860 and 1861.
Released on April 14, 2015, this Doodle offers a fun and engaging experience for players of all ages. In it, players have to control their horse’s movements while gathering envelopes along the way. There are many obstacles including rocks, cacti, bandits, and snowfall, to evade as you go.
5. Boba Game
Boba, or bubble tea, has become so popular, Google decided to celebrate the third year anniversary of this drink getting its own emoji, by launching the Boba Game Doodle on January 29, 2023.
If you had clicked on Google’s logo on the home page on said day, you would have seen a fox in a chef’s hat, making bubble tea.
You have to simply tap and hold to fill up the ingredients in the glass to the correct level to win at this Doodle.
6. Eiji Tsuburaya
If you’re familiar with Ultraman or Godzilla (if you don’t live under a rock, that is), then you might want to check out this Doodle that celebrates the work of Japanese director, Eiji Tsuburaya.
In commemoration of Tsuburaya’s 114th birthday, Google released a special animation on July 7, 2015, consisting of a set of mini-games that captures the chaotic process of Tokusatsu—live action content heavy on practical special effects.
7. Halloween 2016
The Halloween October 31, 2016 Google Doodle revolves around a black cat named Momo who is studying at the Magic Cat Academy. Halloween 2016 offers a gaming experience suitable for all ages.
As Momo the cat, you must cast spells to defeat the ghosts invading your academy. To do this, use your mouse to draw symbols on the screen match the symbols above the ghosts through 5 increasingly harder levels.
8. Snake
Relive fond memories of playing the classic Snake game on your old mobile phone with this charming Google Doodle tribute you can enjoy on your browser.
As you control a growing snake, navigate the grid to consume food while avoiding collisions with yourself and the screen edges.
9. Cricket
Play Cricket in this cute browser game that was launched on July 1, 2017, to celebrate the excitement of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.
This lighthearted and accessible Doodle on the “gentleman’s sport” has you in control a team of crickets (yes, your cricketers are actual crickets) as they bat against a squad of determined snails.
10. Doodle Champion Island Games
Doodle Champion Island Games is a Google Doodle game that was released on July 23, 2021, to celebrate the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
In it, you’ll assume the role of Lucky, a calico cat, and compete against other champions in a series of sporting challenges inspired by Olympic events.
The graphics and supporting characters lend this doodle a very “Stardew Valley” feel. Apart from competing in the various sports there are side quests (like finding the golden arrow) to finish and NPCs to interact with.
11. Garden Gnomes
This fun Google Doodle was unveiled on June 10, 2018, to celebrate Germany’s Garden Day. Garden Gnomes transports you to a whimsical garden where you control a trebuchet to launch gnomes in order to plant flowers.
The aim is to cover as much ground as possible. As you progress, you’ll unlock various gnome designs with unique abilities that affect their flight trajectory and distance.
12. Doctor Who
This interactive animation was released on November 23, 2013, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the iconic sci-fi series Doctor Who. Long-time fans of the Doctor are likely to feel a tinge of nostalgia as they indulge in this Doodle.
You have to take on the role of one of the eleven Doctors as you navigate through 6 levels of mini-games designed as obstacle courses teeming with hostile alien races like the Daleks and Cybermen.
13. Lotería
Card game lovers can immerse themselves in the vibrant world of Mexican culture with Lotería that was rolled out by Google on December 9, 2019.
Like bingo, Lotería is a traditional Mexican card game of chance, where players match illustrated cards to corresponding images on their game boards.
You can wait for a random match or share a link with a friend who also wants to try out this Doodle.
Based on the bean pattern displayed at the beginning of each rough, you’ll have rely on your speed, luck and strategic card placement to secure victory.
14. Coding for Carrots
Coding for Carrots, launched on December 4, 2017, marked 50 years of kids coding with this game designed to introduce tiny tots to the basics of computer programming. It’s one of the best Google Doodle games that has been released over the years for children.
In it, players have to arrange blocks of code (each block in the form of a colorful card) to move a cute rabbit around and collect carrots.
Using drag-and-drop blocks, they can guide the rabbit through increasingly complex mazes, teaching fundamental coding concepts such as loops and conditionals along the way.
15. Earth Day 2020
Marking the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, 2020, was this captivating Doodle which raises awareness about the importance of protecting our planet’s biodiversity.
The Earth Day 2020 Doodle has you joining forces with a honeybee as it embarks on a journey to pollinate flowers and collect nectar.
Along the way, you’ll have to navigate through mazes and avoid tricky obstacles, while learning about the crucial role of bees in our ecosystem.
16. Clara Rockmore
Celebrate the life and legacy of theremin virtuoso Clara Rockmore with this enchanting Google Doodle that was released on March 9, 2016.
In this music themed Doodle, you’ll learn to master the theremin, a unique electronic musical instrument controlled without physical contact.
Guided by Clara Rockmore herself, you’ll follow a series of on-screen prompts to perform melodies by moving your cursor through the air, mimicking the distinctive technique needed to learn the instrument.
17. Basketball 2012
Google wanted folks to get into the spirit of the 2012 London Olympic Games with this exhilarating Basketball 2012 Doodle that featured as the company’s logo on the search page on August 8, 2012.
In it, you control a basketball player aiming to score as many points as possible within a limited time frame.
The key to success lies in mastering the art of shooting by accurately timing your shots and adjusting your aim to account for distance and angle.
18. Slalom Canoe
Navigate the rapids with skill and precision in this thrilling Google Doodle launched on August 9, 2012, and inspired by the slalom canoe event at the London Olympic Games of the same year.
You have to step into the shoes of a canoeist racing through a treacherous slalom course, steering clear of obstacles and passing through gates to achieve the best time possible.
Slalom Canoe tests your reflexes, timing, and determination as you have fun paddling through the rapids.
19. Pangolin Love
To mark Valentine’s Day, this heartwarming Google Doodle called Pangolin Love which tells the story of two lovestruck pangolins was launched on February 11, 2017.
You’ll use the space bar and arrow keys to move a pangolin as it dodges various obstacles and collects love-themed items.
It’s all in pursuit of the pangolin reuniting with its mate, in this charming side-scrolling adventure Doodle.
20. Hip Hop
Celebrating the 44th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop, this Google Doodle surfaced on Aug 11, 2017. The Hip Hop Doodle invites you to take on the role of a DJ and create your own beats.
Featuring a virtual turntable and a collection of classic hip-hop tracks, you’ll mix, scratch, and blend your way to musical greatness, all while learning about the genre’s history and impact on modern culture.
21. Crossword Puzzle
A popular game that calls out to anyone with a literary bent is the humble crossword puzzle, of course. To celebrate a century of crosswords, Google unveiled the Crossword Puzzle Doodle in 2013.
It’s a great way to pass the time while also trying to jog your memory and test your mental reflexes. The concept is simple—try to guess the word across or down by using the clues given to you.
There’s no time limit. You can mull over the prompts for as long as you want, and even share the results on social media, once you’re done with the Doodle.
22. Halloween 2022
If you’re looking for Google’s Doodle games that are newer, then there’s Halloween 2022 (released on October 30, 2022), a sequel to the Halloween 2018 Great Ghoul Duel.
The latter was Google’s first ever multiplayer interactive Doodle. In it, two teams of four players have to herd wandering spirit flames back to their home base.
There are several maps to explore, new abilities to unlock and opposing players to sabotage as you help your team to gather the most spirit flames to win.
#Quick, Draw!
Here’s a bonus addition to our list if you’re looking for doodle games by Google, and not necessarily a Google Doodle game.
In Quick, Draw!, you are given a drawing prompt and the AI has to guess what you’re scribbling within 20 seconds.
It’s a lot of fun to try and trip up the AI by drawing the worst possible version of the object you’re supposed to sketch.
What’s the point of this machine learning exercise, you might ask?
When you play it, you’re adding to the data set that helps developers train any new neural network.
In parting:
You can find the latest Doodle that is playable directly on Google’s homepage on any day that there’s an active Doodle. If you want to explore the best Google Doodle games of all time, you can visit the Google Doodles Archive.
The archive allows you to browse through all the past Doodle games and play any of the available offerings. Simply click on a Doodle to start playing it in your web browser.
