Google Maps Makes Navigating City Streets Fun with Pac-Man

Hold the phone (seriously, hold your phone): Google has transformed its Maps app into the classic arcade game Pac-Man to celebrate April Fools’ Day! The app lets you navigate any city streets while frantically gobbling up pac-dots and dodging those irritating, squiggly-bottomed ghosts Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde. Accessible on computer and mobile (mobile is limited, see clues here), users click on the Pac-Man illustration (or in some cases, a pin that pops up mid-map) in the bottom left-hand corner of the map to load the game.

We started first on the streets near Seattle magazine offices in Downtown, before moving on to play Old Ballard and Capitol Hill. Those who want a real challenge should try the area near the intersections of Denny Way and Stewart (or not, if screaming out of frustration isn’t allowed at your workplace).

This isn’t the first time the company has made a gaming option on April Fools’ Day. Last year a Pokemon challenge allowed users to scramble to any of the 150 globally placed monsters (Dedenne was at the EMP!), and the year prior a mode that featured the digitalization of the actual treasure maps of Captain William Kidd and invited users to help decipher its symbols. (Other 2013 pranks included YouTube “shutting down” and Google Nose, which claimed to allow users to search for smells.)

You’re already on your phone or computer, so you have no excuse not to channel your inner ‘80s gamer. Google says this feature won’t be around for long, and we can’t think of any better way to spend our Wednesday.