Google is much more than a search engine. Hidden among its everyday features are playful surprises, interactive games and clever jokes that can make your next search a little more interesting. These hidden features are known as Google Easter eggs, and you can discover many of them simply by typing the right phrase into Google Search.
Whether you are a longtime tech enthusiast or someone who is just getting started with the internet, these Easter eggs are easy to try. You do not need special software, coding skills or technical knowledge. All you need is a browser and a few seconds of curiosity.
Want to make Google literally spin? Search for “do a barrel roll” and watch what happens. Instead of simply showing you the usual search results, the entire page rotates 360 degrees before returning to normal.
The Easter egg is a reference to a popular video-game maneuver turned meme. The phrase became well known because the character Peppy Hare from the Nintendo game Star Fox 64 tells the player to “do a barrel roll” in missions.
Google turned the phrase into a fun interactive joke. There is no special software to install, and you don’t need to click through complicated menus. Just search for the phrase and watch what happens.
If you like small visual jokes, the askew Easter egg is worth trying. Search Google for askew. The results page will appear slightly tilted to one side. Nothing is broken, and your screen isn’t malfunctioning. Google is simply playing along with the word’s meaning.
Askew means something is not straight or level. Google demonstrates the definition by literally making the search results page look slightly crooked. The effect is subtle enough that you might initially wonder whether something has gone wrong with your browser. Once you realize that Google did it intentionally, the joke becomes much more obvious.
Here’s an Easter egg that is especially enjoyable if you have a basic understanding of programming or simply appreciate nerdy jokes. You can search for “recursion” in the search bar. Google will give you a definition of the word and suggest “Did you mean: recursion.” If you click the suggestion, you’ll end up right back where you started.
In computer science, recursion is a process in which a function refers to itself. A recursive function, for example, can call itself as part of solving a problem. Google’s joke mirrors that concept. The search engine effectively keeps suggesting the same word, creating a tiny loop.
You don’t need to know how to write code to enjoy it. Think of it like someone giving you directions that send you back to the exact place where you started. The joke works because the search result still illustrates the word’s meaning. Among Google Easter eggs, this one can be appealing to tech enthusiasts because it combines programming humor with a familiar Google feature.
If you’re interested in web development, Blink HTML is another Easter egg you should try. Search for “blink HTML” on Google. You’ll notice that certain words in the search results can appear to blink or alternate visually. It is a playful homage to the old-school, non-standard <blink> HTML tag from early web history, which made text flash before modern browsers removed support for it, as it was distracting and annoying for users.
Google’s Easter egg gives you a little reminder of that older web design technique directly in the search results. For anyone learning web development, this Easter egg is also a fun reminder that the web has gone through many design trends over the years.
Search Google for “DVD screensaver” if you’re old enough to remember the DVD logo bouncing across the television screen, and see a fun tribute to it. You’ll find the Google logo bouncing around the screen. The animation recreates the nostalgic screensaver effect that many people remember from DVD players and television screens.
You can relive your old goal of watching the logo move around and waiting for it to hit the corner of the screen. For younger users, this Easter egg is a quick glimpse into an earlier era of home entertainment.
If you enjoy building, exploring and mining in the blocky world of Minecraft, Google has a fun surprise waiting for you. Search “Minecraft” on Google, and a small grass block icon should appear at the bottom of the screen. Click it to start the Easter egg.
Once the game begins, the grass block is replaced by an “X” icon, while Steve’s fist appears at the bottom of the screen. You can now click on any search result, so it breaks up like Minecraft blocks. From there, a Minecraft-themed environment will appear, and you can mine down the blocks.
This is a clever way to bring one of Minecraft’s most recognizable mechanics, breaking and mining blocks, directly into Google Search. With Minecraft having sold more than 300 million copies, it is easy to see why Google chose to include this Easter egg.
Google is a massive company that hit $305.63 billion in revenue in 2023. But Google Easter eggs are a great way for the company to add fun and personality to its search engine. They can also celebrate popular culture, recognize important moments or give users something unexpected to discover.
Google Easter eggs also encourage you to explore. Instead of treating Google as a tool that only provides straightforward answers, you start wondering what else might be hidden behind an unusual search.
You don’t need advanced technical skills to enjoy Google Easter eggs. Whether you make the page spin with “do a barrel roll,” tilt it with “askew,” encounter the programming joke behind “recursion” or revisit old-school web design with “blink HTML”, each Easter egg offers a small surprise.
The next time you open Google, don’t just search for the information you need. Try experimenting with unusual phrases, too. You might discover a hidden joke, game or interactive feature that turns an ordinary search into something a little more memorable.
