Google's "Atari Breakout" Easter Egg

The Atari Breakout Easter egg was launched by Google in May 2013, commemorating the 37th anniversary of the classic Atari game "Breakout". This interactive feature transformed the image search results into a playable game of "Breakout," bringing a piece of retro gaming to the search page.

To discover the Easter egg, users had to search for "Atari Breakout" in Google Images. After the image results loaded, the page would automatically transform into a playable version of the game, with the images becoming the bricks that users needed to break.

The game was played using a paddle at the bottom of the screen, which users could control with their mouse or touch. A ball would bounce around the screen, and the goal was to break all the image bricks by bouncing the ball off the paddle. As users broke more bricks, the game would get progressively faster and more challenging, similar to the original Atari game.

The Easter egg was a fun and engaging tribute to the iconic arcade game and was designed to provide a unique and interactive experience for users. It was available on both desktop and mobile devices, providing a nostalgic gaming experience directly in the Google search interface.

The Atari Breakout Easter egg was extremely popular among users and garnered significant media attention. Many users shared their experiences on social media platforms and gaming forums, celebrating the creative and nostalgic nature of the feature. The Easter egg was widely praised for its ingenuity and faithful recreation of the classic game, demonstrating Google's ability to blend gaming with search.

The Easter egg not only provided entertainment but also served as a cultural reference, introducing a classic game to a new generation. It created a positive user experience and showcased Google’s capacity to create interactive and memorable features.

Google officially discontinued the Atari Breakout Easter egg after a period of time, as part of its usual practice of updating and rotating special features. The removal was in line with their policy of cycling through various Easter eggs and special interactive elements. The discontinuation disappointed many who enjoyed the surprise, but the Easter egg was preserved by platforms like elgooG, ensuring that fans could still experience it.

While the original Easter egg is no longer available on Google's search engine, it remains accessible through recreations, which offer the same interactive experience as the original, allowing fans to continue enjoying this piece of digital gaming history.

Update: Since January 23, 2025, Google has officially introduced a mini-game called "Block Breaker" on its SERP page. This game is similar to ours but features more levels and enhanced playability. When you search for "Google Block Breaker" or just "Block Breaker", you may see this Easter egg.

This restored version by elgoo.im is a near-perfect visual and functional replica of the original, offering an identical experience. Furthermore, it includes enhancements in certain details and boasts excellent support for both light/dark themes and mobile access.

To experience the restored Atari Breakout Easter egg on this page, click the button at the top of the page to enter the dedicated page for this Easter egg. Once on the dedicated page, the game will load with a set of image-based bricks at the top. Users can control the paddle at the bottom with their mouse or touch to break the bricks with the ball.

The restored version on elgooG provides an identical experience to the original Google Easter egg, allowing users to play the game as it was intended. It accurately recreates the original functionality, from the game mechanics to the visual layout, ensuring users experience the same level of engagement and nostalgia.

The Atari Breakout Easter egg was a creative tribute to the classic arcade game, bringing a retro gaming experience to the Google search platform. Although discontinued by Google, it has been carefully restored on elgooG, thus allowing users to enjoy this unique feature once again. This restoration underscores the importance of preserving digital cultural artifacts and encourages users to explore other restored gems.

Explore the restored Atari Breakout Easter Egg on elgooG and discover other restored gems, and immerse yourself in the world of digital nostalgia.