Google in 1998 Easter Egg: How to See It

Key Points

• Google.com launched in 1998 and looked very different from its current design.
• Easter eggs are hidden features or references in films, video games, and internet browsers.
• To see the Google in 1998 Easter egg, search ‘Google in 1998’ in Chrome and see the retro design.
• Other Google Easter eggs can be found in Google Workspace and Google Maps.

How did Google look in 1998? This Easter egg will show you. The nineties are generally looked back on fondly by those now old enough to appreciate the decade. Cartoons were almost as good as they were in the 80s. Scratch-n-Sniff stickers littered our schoolbooks. Tamagotchis were a thing. It was the decade that people also started using the internet regularly. Most people then used Yahoo, Excite, and Infoseek to look up information. The internet was in its infancy, but as more people had homes with personal computers, it grew into what it would be today. 

Google.com came on the scene in the late 1990s as well. In fact, it launched in 1998. Of course, the now ubiquitous search engine looked nothing like what it looks like today. This article will tell you how to see the Google in 1998 Easter egg. We’ll also take a look at other entertaining Easter eggs you can find with Google, but first, what is an Easter egg?

What Are Easter Eggs?

When we talk about Easter eggs in a technical sense, we mean the hidden photos, videos, features, or other references in a film, movie, video game, or in this case, an internet browser. 

The Easter eggs sometimes feature pop culture references or well-known allusions. For example, The Godfather movies would feature a ton of oranges. Director Francis Ford Coppola used oranges as a way to portend a character’s death. Another famous example is Stephen King and Alfred Hitchcock making short appearances in their respective movies. If you play video games like Skyrim, you may notice Easter eggs like the Headless Horseman while wandering the map.  

Sometimes Easter eggs are readily apparent. However, sometimes, Easter eggs require some work on the viewer’s part. For example, to see the Google 1998 Easter egg, you’ll have to do something to make it appear.

How to See the Google in 1998 Easter Egg

Follow these steps to see the Google in 1998 Easter Egg.

1. Launch Chrome

You may also use Firefox, but Chrome works best. You can use your desktop or mobile device.

2. Search For “Google in 1998”

In the search bar, type “Google in 1998.”

3. See How Google Looked in 1998

Your screen should appear as though it went back in time a couple of decades. Notice that even the Google logo changes. You can select the “Take me back to the present” link to return to the Google of today.

More Google Search Easter Eggs

Use Google’s search bar to find these Easter eggs and make your day a little more fun. 

Do a Barrel Roll

Prepare for your page to do a few 360-degree pivots for a fun, if not vertigo-inducing, effect.

Askew

Similar to barrel roll, typing “askew” into the Google search bar will tilt (or skew) your results to the right. Your page won’t roll, but it will stay askew until you click elsewhere. Also, we should note that refreshing the page won’t fix it.

Anagram

Anagrams are words that are made from the letters of the original word. So, for example, an anagram of “thing” can be “hints, sight, or nigh.” So what happens when you search Anagram on Google? You get the suggestion, “Did you mean: nag a ram”? 

Heart-Shaped Graph

For all you math lovers out there, searching “(sqrt(cos(x))*cos(500*x)+sqrt(abs(x))-0.4)*(3-x*x)^0.1” will result in the expression plotted in graph form, a lovely heart. 

Image Breakout

Image Breakout is Google’s fun take on the classic game Atari’s Breakout. Similar to Pong, Breakout is simple yet strangely addictive. Search “Atari Breakout” to find this Easter egg. Just don’t blame us if you can’t stop playing. 

Answer to Life, the Universe, and Everything

If you’ve read the book or seen the movie “The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” you know the answer to the meaning of life, the universe, and everything. That answer is, of course, 42. Search for “the answer to life, the universe, and everything” to see it for yourself. 

Marquee HTML

This Easter egg is subtle, but once you see it, you can’t unsee it. In fact, the first time we searched this, we weren’t even sure what to look for. Enter “marquee HTML” into Google’s search bar to see the effect. Hint: check out the results. They now scroll when normally they’re stationary.

DVD Screensaver

For The Office fans, this Easter egg is the perfect way to waste time while avoiding work. Search for “DVD Screensaver” to see it. Will the cursor ever hit the edges of your screen? Stay tuned to find out!

Other Google Easter Eggs

Most people are aware that the famous search engine contains Easter eggs. However, did you know you can find Easter eggs in Google Workspace? What about Google Maps?

Here are a couple of our favorites. 

Pride

This Easter egg is one you can find easily within Google Spreadsheets. Type in one letter of “pride” in each of the top cells. Voila! Your sheet is now rainbow-colored.

UFOs

We know you want to believe. If you’ve ever wanted to see a UFO in Area 51, this is how you do it. Go to Google Maps. Type “Area 51” into the address bar. You can also type in “Groom Lake, Nevada.” Then, drag the yellow Street View man icon over the area to see a flying saucer appear on the map. 

Google’s Easter Egg When There’s No Internet Connection

All the Google Easter Eggs above are available when connected to the internet. However, you can still have fun if you don’t have an internet connection. 

Here’s how:

1. Disconnect your Wi-Fi connection. 
2. Wait for the page to appear.
3. Hit the space bar. 
4. Use the space bar to make the T-Rex jump over the obstacles. Be sure to avoid the flying pterodactyls. To avoid the birds, don’t jump or push the down key. 

If you do have internet or don’t want to turn yours off, go to the site chrome://dino/ to play the game. 

Google will even keep track of your high score! 

What If You Can’t See the Easter Eggs?

If you’re having trouble getting the Easter eggs to work for you, be sure you’re using either Chrome or Firefox. If you are, update your browser. Updating should fix the issue. 

Do Other Browsers Have Easter Eggs?

While you can see the Google Easter eggs on Chrome or Firefox, Microsoft Edge also has Easter eggs. A popular Edge Easter egg is “Let’s Surf.” Type “edge://surf” into your Edge search bar to get started. 

The image featured at the top of this post is ©iStock.com/Prykhodov.