Google has a penchant for incorporating entertaining surprises, known as easter eggs, into its search engine. Whether it’s hidden minigames or animations triggered by specific keywords, the company enjoys adding a touch of fun to the user experience. Continuing this tradition, Google has now introduced a built-in minigame when users search for “Katamari” (via Kotaku), referencing the popular game series that originally debuted on the PlayStation 2.
The Katamari minigame allows users to roll everything on the webpage into a virtual ball. To initiate the game, users simply click on the Katamari ball icon located on the right side of their screen. Gameplay involves utilizing the arrow keys on a desktop or laptop keyboard, or using finger gestures on a mobile device.
The inclusion of this easter egg is likely a nod to the recent remaster of We Love Katamari, released earlier this month. The original game, which first launched on PlayStation 2 in 2005, received a remastered version titled We Love Katamari Reroll+ Royal Reverie. The remastered title is now available on various platforms, including Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam.
The Katamari series, developed by Bandai Namco, revolves around a collection of puzzle-action games where players assume the role of the Prince of All Cosmos. In this surreal series, players are tasked with rolling up a ball comprised of various objects, such as cats, cars, and more. These balls then replace the stars in the sky, which were destroyed by the player’s father, The King of the Cosmos.
Fortunately, Google’s version of the game is less demanding. There is no specific goal or time limit to adhere to; players can roll the Katamari ball to their heart’s content until they have captured everything or simply run out of objects to collect. Personally testing the game on my computer, I found that it runs smoothly and provides an enjoyable experience. However, mobile gameplay can be a bit cumbersome, as there seems to be a noticeable input lag, which may hinder the overall experience. Nevertheless, as a lighthearted easter egg, fans of Katamari should find amusement in this addition to Google’s search engine.
