Google puts Pac-Man inside your Maps

Pac-Maps. Screenshot: Cult of Android

Pac-Maps. Screenshot: Cult of Android

Google has kicked off the April Fools’ Day festivities early this year by putting Pac-Mac inside of Google Maps. The game turns real-life roads into a virtual maze, and the more roads there are, the trickier it gets.

The game works inside any web browser; simply load up Google Maps and find a location with plenty of roads, then click the Pac-Man button in the bottom left corner.

A city like New York works great, but Maps will tell you if your chosen location isn’t suitable, then relocate you automatically if you click “I’m feeling lucky.” The roads will then become the game’s maze, and Pac-Man will appear with four ghosts.

Just like in the 1980 classic, the aim is to gobble up as many pac-dots as possible without being eaten by a ghost yourself. The more you eat and the longer you last, the higher your score. You can control the game using the arrow keys on your keyboard.

Pac-Man isn’t yet playable inside Google Maps for Android or iOS, but Google has brought other April Fools’ games to its mobile apps, so perhaps we’ll see an update today or tomorrow. In the meantime, you’ll just have to play when your boss isn’t looking.