Google Doodle is always on the lookout for something cool and unique to turn it into a minigame. A small and interactive game to play when you are bored at work.
But, guess what? Google finally launched a longer version of these adorable Doodle games with Google Doodle Champion Island.
With the end of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics of 2020, Google introduced the interactive Champion Island to give you a glimpse of the Olympic thrill. Without keeping any violent gameplay, it introduced a retro-styled adventure to become the champion.
Moreover, the game immediately gained popularity because of the Japanese cultural elements and myths imbued within the storyline. So, you get the feel of the Tokyo Olympics without actually being there. And, how cool is that?
From navigating through some Japanese locations and meeting folklore creatures, the game lets you have an immersive experience. All you have to do is play through the different levels and defeat all the champions to become the ultimate one!
Excited? Well, before you jump right into the game, you need to have some knowledge about how to win all the trophies and what to expect.
Well, worry not. I have curated everything you need to know about the Google Doodle Champion Island in this article. Keep reading!
What is Google Doodle Champion Island?
Just like any other Google Doodle game, the Champion Island is an interactive game introduced by Google to pay tribute to the Tokyo Olympics of 2020.
Google partnered up with STUDIO 4°C, a Japanese animation studio, to develop the game to celebrate the spirit and thrill of the Olympics.
Designed with a Japanese backdrop, the game revolves around the adventures of Lucky the cat in the Champion Island, where the strongest athletes meet to become the ultimate champion.
Upon arriving on the island, Lucky is welcomed by two Japanese mythical creatures to prove its caliber and roam around the island. Following the storyline, Lucky takes on this adventure and visits 7 different locations to play against the 7 champions.
And when it defeats one champion, it receives a trophy and a scroll at the Town Square. With each defeat, the game becomes harder with more challenging obstacles. And, Lucky has to pass them all.
Along with its main quest, Lucky needs to play some minor side games to explore the island and collect bonus points. This helps it to gain power-ups and you to indulge in a fun little virtual adventure!
Google Doodle and Japanese Cultural Elements
One of the coolest factors behind the huge popularity of the Google Doodle Champion Island is its incorporation of Japanese cultural elements.
With marvelous gameplay strategies, Google Doodle has designed the game against a rich cultural Japanese backdrop. So, when you play the game, you encounter many mythical creatures and come across Japanese folklore elements.
Moreover, the game predominantly revolves around the “Chosen One” myth of Japan. So, Lucky as the Chosen One needs to defeat all the legends and bring back the balance on the island.
Also, when you navigate through the game, you will see that the different locations are actually a pixelated reference to real places in Japan.
From the underwater and sandy beaches to forests and snowy mountains, you get a glimpse of the natural Japanese environment.
What are the Features of the Google Doodle Champion Island?
Most Doodle games have simple but spectacular features that make them popular among both gamers and non-gamers. Similarly, the Champion Island game has a set of unique features that contribute to the growing craze for it.
1. Dynamic Gameplay
The Google Doodle Champion Island provides an immersive gaming experience with its dynamic gameplay. In it, you control the movements of Lucky the cat and help it complete each level.
You get two kinds of controls — a joystick to navigate Lucky through the island, and an action button to play the specific sports. With the help of these two features, you can help Lucky fight against the legendary champions and collect all 7 scrolls.
Moreover, the game is not just a single quest, it is a full-fledged story-based game that has both main quests and minor quests. So, you need to complete both to defeat the final bosses.
2. Retro Pixelated Animation
Unlike the modern games with top-notch animations and CGIs, the Champion Island is designed with a retro pixelated animation. So, you will feel nostalgic while looking at the pixelated animation.
Similar to some retro games, like Super Mario and Battle City, this game also has a pixelated view of the backdrop, along with the movements of the characters. So, when you are playing the game, you will feel like you have been teleported back in time.
3. Comedic Storyline
For the first time in a Doodle game, Google has used dialogues between the characters to narrate the storyline.
But the dialogues are not just plain and straightforward narrations. They make some hilarious conversations between the characters.
So, in a way, you will be laughing at their sarcasm and comedy while learning about the next plot. And, this comedic narration of the storyline essentially makes the game quirky and entertaining.
4. 7 Sports — 7 Champions
As the main quest of the game, you need to become the ultimate champion by defeating all 7 legends. Now, these 7 bosses are not the same characters with different outfits.
Google Doodle has utilized the Japanese folklore to make 7 mythical characters as the champions of the 7 different sports. For instance, these characters are:
- Tengu — the reincarnation of a proud supernatural being — Table Tennis
- Tanuki — a deceptive legendary dog that looks like a raccoon — Skateboarding
- Yoichi — the final one or tenth son of the clan — Archery
- Oni — a giant demon with an aghastly appearance — Rugby
- Princess Otohime — the immortal and youthful daughter of the Sea God (King Dragon “Ryu-o”) — Artistic Swimming
- Fukuro — the luck-bringing owl — Climbing
- Kijimuna — small tree ghosts or wood spirits that live in Gajumaru trees — Marathon
So, you will meet these 7 mythical beings and have to defeat them to get the sacred scrolls and bring back balance to the island.
5. Team Mascots
When you get into the game, you will be given two options. You can either choose to become a part of one of the four teams or play the game separately.
These teams are color-coded as Red, Blue, Yellow, and Green. And, with each team, you meet the team mascots with different abilities. For instance,
- The Red team has Karasu, the intelligent crow who helps you with knowledgeable facts
- Blue team has Ushi, a strong bull who can help you with its strength
- The Yellow team has Inari, foxes with secrets
- And, the Green team has Kappa, the malevolent being who does mischief.
So, you can choose to join either of these four teams and explore their headquarters, or you can choose to play without joining a team.
6. Device Compatibility
The best feature of the game is that it is compatible with every device. So, you can play the Champion Island games either on your phone or your desktop.
The universal device compatibility of the game makes it accessible to everyone around the globe. So, naturally, it becomes a popular way to enjoy the thrill of the Tokyo Olympics right from the comfort of your place.
7. User-Friendly Interface
Another feature that contributes to the global craze for the game is its user-friendly interface. Google has designed the game with simple and easy-to-understand instructions.
Moreover, because of the user-friendly interface, you can easily navigate through the game without needing any technical knowledge. So, you can help Lucky become the strongest champion by simply following the easy instructions of the gameplay.
How to Play the Champion Island Game in 2025?
After having around 18 upgrades, the final version of the Google Doodle Champion Island is here. And, playing the game is quite simple and easy. You just need to follow these steps:
- Open Google Chrome on your phone or your desktop.
- Type “Google Doodle Champion Island” in the Search Bar.
- At the top of the Search Results page, you will find a graphic with the caption Champion Island.
- Click on the graphic. You will be redirected to the main page of the game.
- Click on the Play button in the middle of the screen. Then, your phone will turn the orientation to horizontal view to fit the gameplay.
- Right after that, the game will begin, and you will see a pixelated cat, Lucky, in the middle of the screen with a road in front of it.
- Now, you will get the instructions on two gesture controls.
- On your left side of the screen, you will find the Joystick that helps Lucky move around.
- And, on your right side of the screen, you will find the Action button that helps Lucky make the moves in the sports.
- You just need to move the Joystick to shift the position and use the Action button to attack the players. This way, you need to complete each round and level up to fight the Champions of the 7 sports.
- Once you have defeated a champion, you will get a trophy and a Scroll. Collect all the Scrolls, and the game ends in victory.
Celebrating the Tokyo Olympics with the Champion Island Google Doodle
From marching through the scenes of Hokkaido to the natural beauty of Okinawa, the Google Doodle Champion Island will take you on a little Tokyo tour. You can enjoy the Japanese culture and beauty all the while gunning through the challenges.
Now that you know how to ace through the different sports of the Champion Island game, what are you waiting for? Grab your phone and start defeating all the champions to become the ultimate strongest one!
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