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Google Pacman Doodle
Trick
Before there was Doodle Cricket or the guitar, there was Pac-Man. In May 2010 Google turned its logo into a playable maze, and it remains the most famous entry on our hidden Google games list. Here is how it worked, how to unlock the two-player mode, and where to play it now.
Quick answer: The Pac-Man Doodle launched on May 21, 2010 as Google's first playable Doodle. Click Insert Coin to start, and click it a second time to bring in Ms. Pac-Man as player two.
What the Pac-Man Doodle was
Google made it for the 30th anniversary of Pac-Man, working with Bandai Namco. The team was led by programmer Marcin Wichary and Doodler Ryan Germick. At launch it replaced the Google logo for about 48 hours, and the usual I'm Feeling Lucky button became an Insert Coin button.
It is remembered as the first Google Doodle you could actually play, and it plays like the 1980 arcade game: eat the dots, avoid the ghosts and clear the maze. The game reaches 256 levels, just like the original.
How to play it
- Click Insert Coin. Or wait about ten seconds and the game starts on its own.
- Steer with the arrow keys. You can also click on the maze to point Pac-Man where to go.
- Eat every dot. Clear the maze to move to the next level.
- Grab power pellets. The large flashing dots let you chase the ghosts for a short time.
The hidden two-player mode
Google added a small surprise: click Insert Coin a second time and Ms. Pac-Man joins the maze as a second player. Pac-Man still uses the arrow keys, while Ms. Pac-Man is controlled with W, A, S and D, so two people can share one keyboard.
It is one of the oldest co-op tricks in our complete list of Google Easter eggs, and the reason many people first learned that Doodles could hide extras.
Where to play it today
The Doodle left Google's homepage after its first couple of days, but it has stayed available on its own page, and Google's Doodle archive and fan sites keep copies running. Because Google moves and retires pages without notice, search for the 30th anniversary Pac-Man Doodle if an old link no longer opens.
- Use a desktop. Arrow keys and WASD are far easier than touch controls.
- Learn the ghost patterns. Ghosts follow predictable routes, so repeating a safe path pays off.
- Save power pellets. Use them when ghosts are close, not as soon as you see them.
- Try the chaotic cousin. The Google gravity pacman trick mixes the maze with falling page elements.
More hidden games to try
If Pac-Man made you nostalgic for early arcade games, the Google pong trick is next in the series, and it separates fact from fiction on a very popular search.
Frequently Asked Questions
For the original launch coverage, see ABC News' coverage of the 2010 launch.