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Google’s The Great Ghoul Duel returned as a multiplayer Halloween Doodle sequel in 2022, four years after the original game debuted in 2018. The quick team contest is simple: gather wandering spirit flames, carry them back to your base, and finish with more than the other team. Google also added characters, maps, and power-ups for the sequel.
What is The Great Ghoul Duel?
The Great Ghoul Duel began as Google’s Halloween 2018 Doodle. Google described it as its first-ever multiplayer interactive game Doodle. The original was a browser-based team game built around collecting spirit flames, while the 2022 edition was presented as a multiplayer sequel.
Google’s pages document the game’s 2018 and 2022 releases, not whether matchmaking is reliably available today. The 2022 Doodle page is the place to check for current access.
How do you play Great Ghoul Duel?
- Join a team of ghosts. In the 2018 version, Google described two teams of four.
- Collect wandering spirit flames and carry them back to your team’s base.
- Watch for opponents: they can intercept spirits while you are carrying them.
- Keep gathering until the two-minute match ends. The team with the most collected flames wins.
Google’s original description also says high-performing ghosts can unlock special powers, including speed boosts and night vision. The sequel keeps the flame-collecting race and short match format.
#1 Best Overall
- This 1 vs Many game by renowned designer Emerson Matsuuchi is the first time the original Halloween movie has been made into its own board game.
- It was the night HE came home... and one player must take on the role of Michael Myers!
- The others will control Laurie and her friends as they scramble to find weapons, the kids, and a way to escape.
- Their task will be made more difficult because Myers can only be seen when you're looking right at him!
- 2-4 Players | Ages 14+ | 60 Minutes Playing Time
What did the 2022 sequel add?
Google named three additions for the 2022 sequel: characters, maps, and power-ups. The official description does not itemize those additions or explain how each changes play, so the safe distinction is that the sequel expanded the game’s options while preserving its central team objective.
Can you play Great Ghoul Duel with friends?
According to Google’s 2022 page, a host can create a custom invitation link for up to seven friends and family. Players could also choose randomized opponents around the world. That is how Google described the options when the sequel launched; the historical page does not confirm that randomized matchmaking or invitations work reliably now.
Rank #2
- A 1 vs Many game by renowned designer Emerson Matsuuchi.
- Focus on hidden movement mechanics and escaping as a bystander, or hunting them down as Mike Myers!
How the 2018 original and 2022 sequel compare
| Version | Release and relationship | What Google describes |
|---|---|---|
| Halloween 2018 | Launched October 30, 2018; the original game | Two teams of four, two-minute matches, spirit-flame collection and base returns, interception, and unlockable powers such as speed boosts and night vision. |
| Halloween 2022 | Launched October 30, 2022; multiplayer sequel | Retains the flame-collection race and two-minute match; adds characters, maps, and power-ups. Google described custom-link games with up to seven invited friends and family, or randomized matchmaking. |
These details come from Google’s 2018 Doodle page and 2022 Doodle page. Google Cloud also published a retrospective on the 2018 multiplayer Doodle. Google said the multiplayer systems used Google Cloud Platform and included Open Match, an open-source matchmaking framework co-founded by Google Cloud and Unity; Google’s 2022 account likewise says its multiplayer systems ran on Google Cloud Platform and used Open Match.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- YOU’LL GET GOOSEBUMPS: Work as a team to rid the neighborhood of all monsters. Move around the neighborhood map, collect Item cards, and use the Get Help cards to defeat each monster
- CLEAR ALL MONSTERS: On your turn, investigate to find items and spend Scare Score to attack monsters in different ways, but don’t get caught. You win when all of the monsters are defeated
- SPOOKY SERIES: Scary movie lovers and fans of fantasy books will love playing through five scenarios, like The Haunted Mask, in this board game based on classic delightfully creepy Goosebumps books
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Rank #4
- Trick-or-Treat Adventure: Play as a Vampire, Witch, Mummy, Werewolf, or Frankenstein and sneak through the graveyard to grab candy! Beware the Banshee and her ghosts in this spooky board game that mixes fun, strategy, and Halloween thrills for all ages.
- Haunted House Challenge: Enter the Haunted House to grab a glowstick - your only defense against ghosts! Watch for portals that let spirits move fast. A mix of suspense and strategy, perfect for kids, teens, and adults at parties or family nights.
- Engaging Gameplay for All Ages: Easy to learn but full of depth, this Halloween board game keeps everyone entertained! Ideal for family nights and parties, it offers the perfect mix of spooky fun, strategy, and laughter for players of all ages.
- Strategy Meets Spooky Fun: Use BOOst Tokens, trigger costume powers, and outsmart rivals! Portal ghosts, raid the Candy Coffin, and protect your stash in this exciting board game full of suspense, laughter, and family-friendly competition.
- Family Game Night Favorite & Gift: More than a Halloween game - it’s a year-round favorite! With strategy, surprise, and spooky fun, it’s perfect for families and friends. A great holiday gift or family night pick for kids, teens, and adults alike.
Rank #3
- Thrilling party game starring the voice of Ghost Face, Roger L. Jackson himself!
- Fast-paced gameplay gets your heart pounding as you race to stay alive!
- Custom Ghost Face figure tracks the killer as he moves and attacks.
- Free downloadable game app features intense original narration and music!
- Evocative art and components, including Knife first-player marker, will delight Scream fans.
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