👻 Google Doodle Games · Multiplayer
Google Doodle Games
to Play with Friends
Most Google Doodle games are solo affairs, which is why the multiplayer ones are worth knowing. Our hidden Google games list covers the single-player classics, and this guide picks out the Doodles you can play with other people, plus how to set up a match.
Quick answer: Start with Trick-or-Treat: The Great Ghoul Duel, Google's first multiplayer Doodle. You host a game, send an invitation link to up to seven friends, and play two teams of four. Google has made a few more multiplayer Doodles since.
The multiplayer Doodles worth trying
| Doodle | Year | Playing with friends |
|---|---|---|
| The Great Ghoul Duel | 2018 | Host a game and invite up to seven friends with a link; two teams of four collect spirit flames. |
| Halloween multiplayer sequel | 2022 | Teams of four compete for wandering spirit flames, with new characters, maps and power-ups. |
| Pétanque | 2022 | Play with friends, join a random match or practise alone. |
| Popcorn Doodle | Recent | Pick one of three kernels with different abilities, then squad up with friends or face random opponents. |
The first one: The Great Ghoul Duel
Google's 2018 Halloween Doodle was its first multiplayer game Doodle, built on Google Cloud with an open-source matchmaking framework behind it. Ghosts on each team race to collect spirit flames and carry them back to a safe house, and you can steal flames from the other side. A round is a quick burst of play, which is why it works so well as a break between other things.
The 2022 sequel kept the same idea and added new characters, maps and power-ups. It is one of the easiest Doodles to recommend as a first multiplayer game because the rules fit in one sentence.
These Doodles sit alongside many other tricks in our complete list of Google Easter eggs, if you want to see how they compare with the Easter eggs hidden in Search.
How to set up a game with friends
- Open the Doodle's page. Use the Doodle's own page or Google's Doodle archive.
- Choose the friends option. Look for the option to host a game rather than join random players.
- Send the invitation link. Everyone needs to open the same link to land in your match.
- Check the team size. Some Doodles are built around teams of four, so plan your group around that.
Before game night: multiplayer Doodles depend on online matchmaking. A Doodle that was live on its launch day may not offer the same multiplayer mode in the archive, so test it first.
Not everyone wants a full match. For lighter ideas that need nothing but a browser, see our list of fun Google tricks to do with friends.
More hidden games to try
If you would rather pass one device around the room, the Google fidget spinner trick is next in the series and takes about five seconds to try.
Frequently Asked Questions
For Google's own description of its first multiplayer Doodle, see the Great Ghoul Duel Doodle page.