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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Yes—Google really hid a playable version of Atari’s Breakout in Google Images. In May 2013, searching for “Atari Breakout” rearranged the image thumbnails into rows of bricks, with a paddle and ball controlled by the player. The original Google feature is no longer reliably available on live Google Images; a separate, unaffiliated restoration remains playable at elgooG.
What Google’s Breakout Easter egg was
This was an interactive feature embedded in Google Images, not a downloadable game. After the trigger search, the result thumbnails formed a Breakout-style wall. A ball bounced around the page, and a paddle at the bottom let you keep it in play. Each picture functioned as a brick: when the ball hit a thumbnail, that image disappeared.
The trick was memorable because Google turned the search results themselves into the game board. There was no separate installation or game page to find.
The Easter egg paid tribute to Atari’s 1976 arcade game, whose core mechanic is bouncing a ball from a paddle to destroy rows of bricks. Early prototype work on the original is famously associated with Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs, although the broader design and development history involved Atari personnel. Background on Atari’s Breakout.
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#1 Best Overall
- Officially licensed Atari titles. Titles include Asteroids, Centipede, Millipede, Breakout, Missile Command, Crystal Castles and many more. Game save options.
- Packed with over 200 built-in Atari games + bonus titles. Pac-Man & Galaga not included. Full Game list listed below.
- Includes Atari console, games instructions, 2 wireless joysticks, USB power cable, HDMI cable, and user manual. System connects directly to TV.
- Includes two 2.4 GHz wireless joysticks, inspired by the original Atari joysticks, include paddles for paddle games like Breakout, Warlords and many more.
- User Guide Languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Japanese and Arabic. Dynamic RGB LED lights.
When it launched and how the trigger worked
A contemporary report published on May 14, 2013, described the feature as a tribute to Breakout’s 37th anniversary. The practical historical instructions were:
- Open Google Images.
- Search for Atari Breakout.
- Watch the thumbnails rearrange into the brick wall and start the game.
The exact phrase and the Google Images destination mattered. Entering only “Breakout,” or using an ordinary web search, was not the same trigger. The 2013 report from 9to5Google documents the query, the image-tile mechanic and the anniversary context.
Rank #2
- Officially licensed: This officially licensed Atari console features classic games from Atari, including titles originally released on the Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Atari 7800, Atari Arcade, Atari Recharged, M-Network and Balls Of Steels Pinball tables.
- 🕹️ 200+ video games built-in, including PAC-MAN, Atari: Recharged and Balls of Steel, Asteroids, Breakout, Centipede, Crystal Castles, Missile Command, Tempest, Warlords, Yars Revenge and many More!
- 🎯 Also includes licensed games from Jaleco & PIKO Interactive. Game Save options.
- High resolution 7” full color display. The integrated paddle, d-pad, trak-ball, numeric keypad, bumpers, and classic gamepad buttons (A,B,X,Y) allow you to play every game in the collection with the controls it was designed for.
- 🕹️ Connects to TV via HDMI. Built in Wi-Fi for easy updates. Powered by a built-in rechargeable battery.
Does “Atari Breakout” still work on Google?
Not reliably. The original Easter egg is discontinued and does not normally appear in the current live Google Images experience. Available third-party records place its disappearance around May 2020, but Google’s exact removal date was not identified as an official announcement. A November 2020 Google Search Community discussion also records that users could no longer find it through the current Images interface; its suggested “I’m Feeling Lucky” workaround was a community suggestion, not a dependable Google instruction. See the Google Search Community discussion.
Changing browsers, using an incognito window, signing into a different account or switching devices should not be treated as a fix. The main issue is that the original feature was removed from the live service, rather than a particular browser setting.
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Rank #3
- 🕹️Officially Licensed: Officially licensed Atari titles, ensuring an authentic gaming experience, includes bonus games.
- Portable Gameplay: Powered by 4 AA batteries (not included) or by a USB-C cable (not included). IMPORTANT NOTE: Please use standard non-rechargeable batteries.
- Collector's Item: A must-own for collectors and fans of video games, celebrating Atari's pioneering legacy spanning over 50 years.
- Headphone Jack: 3.5mm headphone jack lets you enjoy Atari on the go on your own privately. Built-in speaker with volume control and brightness adjustment
- 🎯 Iconic Titles: Relive iconic Atari classics like Pong, Yars Revenge, Breakout, Asteroids Centipede, Missile Command, and many more with 100 games in one compact unit.
How to play a restoration today
The closest readily available option is the elgooG Breakout restoration. It is a third-party recreation, not a Google product or service. Its page describes image-style tiles, scoring, lives, sound controls and support for mouse, trackpad, keyboard and touch input.
- Open https://elgoog.im/breakout/.
- Start the game using the page’s start control.
- Move the paddle with a mouse or trackpad, the arrow keys, or touch controls.
- Bounce the ball into the image tiles and keep it from passing below the paddle.
- Continue when a board is cleared if the restoration presents another layout.
The restoration may change independently of Google. Its tiles should not be assumed to be live results from Google Images; a recreation can use its own sample images, cached material or simulated search-style artwork.
Rank #4
- ARCADE CLASSICS ATARI STAR WARS ULTRA SERIES ARCADE GAME: The original arcade trilogy—Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi—all in one force-powered cabinet.
- AUTHENTIC GAMEPLAY: With classic graphics and sounds you can immerse yourself in nostalgia that looks just like the original. With 3 games in 1: Relive iconic moments from all three original films—dogfight with TIE fighters, defend Echo Base, and bring down the Death Star!
- AUTHENTIC YOKE CONTROLLER: Take full control of your starfighter with arcade-accurate flight controls for maximum immersion.
- 17" LIQUID CRYSTAL SCREEN: The oversized screen delivers crisp vector graphics and cinematic clarity that brings every battle to life adding an arcade-authentic glow to your setup, perfect for any game room.
- AC ADAPTER INCLUDED: Plug in and play instantly—no batteries, no waiting, all action
Original, restoration or another block-breaker?
| Version | What it is | Current status |
|---|---|---|
| Original Google Images Easter egg | Google’s hidden 2013 feature, with image thumbnails serving as bricks | Discontinued; appears to have disappeared around May 2020 |
| elgooG restoration | A separate recreation of the image-tile Breakout experience | Playable at elgoog.im/breakout/; explicitly unaffiliated with Google |
| Other modern search games | Separate browser or search-result block-breaking experiences | Do not assume they are the 2013 Easter egg or official Google features |
Why the Easter egg stood out
- It repurposed a utility: a familiar image-search page became an arcade screen.
- The pictures were functional: they were the destructible blocks, not background decoration.
- It was immediate: no download, account or separate game launcher was required.
- It connected web culture with arcade history: Google marked an Atari classic inside one of its most-used products.
What this feature was not
- Google did not create Atari’s original Breakout; it created a tribute implemented in Google Images.
- A restoration that looks like the old page is not evidence that Google has restored the official feature.
- Search results for newer “block breaker” games should not be merged with the 2013 image-thumbnail Easter egg without a verifiable first-party Google source.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play the original Google version on a phone?
The original is not reliably available on Google Images on phones or other devices. The elgooG restoration advertises touch support, but browser behavior can vary.
Is elgooG owned by Google?
No. The restoration identifies itself as unaffiliated with Google.
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- Officially licensed: This is an officially Licensed Atari Arcade. 100 Games in 1. Titles include Asteroids, Centipede, Millipede, Breakout, Missile Command, Tempest and many more.
- High Resolution: This collectible game features a high-resolution 2.75-inch full-color display, allowing you to immerse yourself in the classic gameplay. Built-in speaker with volume control
- Headphone Jack: 3.5mm headphone jack lets you enjoy Atari on the go on your own privately.
- Portable Gameplay: Powered by 4 AA batteries (not included) or by a USB-C cable (not included)
- Collect Them All: Collect the full range of Micro Players from My Arcade. Perfect for any game room, office or display case
Is Google’s Easter egg the same game as Atari’s Breakout?
It uses the same paddle-and-ball idea, but it was a Google Images tribute in which image thumbnails became the bricks, rather than Atari’s original arcade release.
The Bottom Line
Google’s “Atari Breakout” Easter egg was real, launched in Google Images in May 2013, and turned search thumbnails into playable bricks. The official version is gone from live Google Images; today’s closest option is the unaffiliated elgooG restoration.
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