Google Games You Can Play in Search: Snake, Pac-Man & More

Quick answer: To play Google games, type the game’s name into Google Search, for example snake, pac-man, solitaire, minesweeper or tic tac toe. A playable version then appears at the top of the results, so just click Play. You don’t need to download anything or sign up. In addition, Chrome has its own hidden dinosaur game at chrome://dino.

Google has quietly built a small arcade into its search results. Some of these games were made for the search page, and others started out as popular Google Doodles. They load instantly, they’re free, and they’re good for a quick break.

The fastest way in is to search play snake. Google then shows a Games from Google panel, with Snake at the top and Play and Daily challenge buttons. Below it is a grid of other games, including Solitaire, Minesweeper, Baseball, Block Breaker, PAC-MAN, Garden Gnomes, Colour Tiles, Popcorn, Tic-Tac-Go and Champion Island. Click any tile to switch games. Below, we list every Google game we found that still works, plus exactly what to type for each one.

Search “play snake” to open the Games from Google panel. Click Play, or pick another game from the grid.

What do you need to play Google games?

Any web browser on a computer, phone or tablet. Chrome works best.
An internet connection. The only exception is the Chrome dinosaur game, which works offline.
JavaScript turned on, which it is by default.

If a game doesn’t appear when you search, try google.com in English, because a few games depend on your region or language.

Which classic Google games can you play in Search?

Snake

Search: snake or play snake

This is the old Nokia phone game with a fresh look. Steer the snake with the arrow keys (or swipe on a phone), eat the apples, and don’t run into your own tail. You can also click the settings gear to change the map, speed and size, or swap the apples for other fruit. Of all the games here, this is the hardest one to stop playing.

Pac-Man

Search: pac-man or pacman doodle

Google first made this as a Doodle for Pac-Man’s 30th anniversary, so the maze spells out “Google.” Click Click to play and use the arrow keys. If you press the insert-coin button a second time, a second player can join as Ms. Pac-Man and use the W, A, S and D keys.

Solitaire

Search: solitaire

This is classic Klondike solitaire with an Easy and a Hard mode. Drag the cards, or click a card to move it automatically. There’s also an undo button, which makes it a little more forgiving than the version on your old family PC.

Minesweeper

Search: minesweeper

Choose an Easy, Medium or Hard board. Left-click to dig, and right-click (or long-press on a phone) to place a flag. Each number shows how many mines touch that square. However, one wrong click ends the game.

Tic-Tac-Toe

Search: tic tac toe

Play against Google on Easy, Medium or Impossible. Or switch to two-player mode and play a friend on the same screen. Be warned that Impossible really is impossible, so the best you can hope for is a draw.

Change the difficulty from the menu at the top left. The Games and Toys row underneath links to more games.

Memory Game

Search: memory game

Flip the cards over to find matching pairs. It’s short and simple, which also makes it a good pick for kids.

Which Google Doodle games can you still play?

Many of the best Google games began as interactive Doodles. Google keeps them in an archive, and they still work. Either search for the name, or browse them all at google.com/doodles.

Doodle Champion Island Games: a full Olympic-themed adventure game with seven sports mini-games, a map to explore and lots of side quests. It’s the biggest game Google has made so far. Search champion island games.
Coding for Carrots: guide a rabbit through levels by snapping code blocks together. It’s a gentle first step into programming for kids. Search coding for carrots or kids coding doodle.
Halloween Magic Cat Academy: draw spell shapes with your mouse or finger to beat ghosts as Momo the cat. Search magic cat academy.
Garden Gnomes: launch gnomes across a garden with a catapult. Search garden gnomes doodle.
Rubik’s Cube: a working 3D cube you can turn. Search rubik's cube doodle.
Cricket: bat as a cricket (the insect) against snail bowlers. Search cricket doodle game.
Bach: write a short melody, and AI adds harmony in the style of Bach. Search bach doodle.
Baseball: hit pitches thrown by peanuts, with snack foods in the field. Search baseball doodle.

Which quick Google tools work like mini-games?

These aren’t really games, but they’re handy for settling small arguments:

flip a coin: heads or tails, with a spinning coin.
roll a die or roll dice: choose anything from a four-sided to a 20-sided die, and roll several at once.
spinner: a fidget spinner, or a number spinner you can set from 2 to 20.
random number generator: pick a number between any two values.
breathing exercise: a calm one-minute breathing guide, useful after a tough round of Minesweeper.
metronome: a working metronome with an adjustable tempo.

How do you play the Chrome dinosaur game?

Chrome’s best-known game isn’t in Google Search at all. Instead, it’s built into the browser.

Type chrome://dino into the address bar and press Enter. It also appears automatically when you’re offline.
Press the Space bar or Up arrow to start, then use the same keys to jump over cacti.
Press the Down arrow to duck under the flying pterodactyls that appear later.

On a phone, just tap to jump. The game gets faster as you go, and it switches to night mode at certain scores. For more hidden tricks like this, see Every Chromebook Easter Egg Worth Knowing About.

Which Google games don’t work anymore?

Google has retired a few old favorites, although older websites may still list them:

Atari Breakout in Google Images: searching “atari breakout” in Image Search no longer starts the game. Instead, play Block Breaker in the Games from Google panel, which works the same way: bounce the ball and break the bricks.
Zerg Rush: the game where small “o” characters ate your search results no longer appears.

Google adds and removes these games from time to time. So if a game on this list doesn’t show up for you, it may have changed or may not be available in your region.

Frequently asked questions

Are Google games free?

Yes. They’re all free, with no ads inside the games and no account needed.

Do Google games work on phones?

Most do. Snake, Solitaire, Minesweeper, Tic-Tac-Toe, and the Doodle games all support touch controls. However, Pac-Man is easier with a keyboard.

Can I play Google games offline?

Only the Chrome dinosaur game. All the games in Search need an internet connection to load.

Are Google games safe for kids?

Yes. They’re simple and non-violent, with no chat and no purchases. In particular, Coding for Carrots and the Memory Game suit younger children well.

Does Google save my high score?

Some games, like Snake and the Chrome dinosaur game, remember your best score in that browser. However, scores aren’t saved to your Google account.