Today's Google Doodle Is a JRPG Styled Sports Game

Today's Google Doodle is a Doodle Champion Island Games, a fully functional game that combines Japanese culture, JRPG looks, and sport to celebrate this year's Olympic games.

Accessible via the Google homepage, the new interactive doodle allows players to take control of Lucky the Ninja Cat as they explore a series of styled sports minigames. Google says it's the "largest interactive #GoogleDoodle ever". The doodle opens with beautiful cinematic animations from Japanese company Studio 4°C and is set on the fictitious, Japanese-themed Champion Island.

On Champion Island, seven different fur-midable champions attempt to test your skills across various sports: table tennis, skateboarding, archery, rugby, swimming, climbing, and marathon running. Each minigame comes with a simple set of rules which can be learned quickly. Upon arriving at Champion Island, players depart their sailing boat and are prompted to choose between four different teams - Red, Yellow, Blue, and Green.

Despite being a doodle-based game, your choice in team carries some weight. Each team is linked to a global leaderboard that updates in real-time as you strive to push toward victory. The four teams are each represented by animals: Ushi (a cow), Karasu (a crow), Inari (a fox), and Kappa (a turtle). Choosing your team can be a tricky decision, especially as it will prompt the other animals to playfully shun you as a result.

To access the various minigames, players control Lucky by keyboard. Each minigame is positioned around the island and can be easily accessed by following signposted paths from its center. Players may also find it useful to know that leaving the doodle doesn't reset your progress. Alongside each of the minigames, players can explore a range of buildings and speak to various NPC characters on their travels. Whilst navigating Champions Island, theme music composed by Qumu keeps the tone fun, light, and playful.

I was fortunate enough to be asked to make the soundtrack for “Doodle Champion Island Games”! ^^

It's a sports game by @GoogleDoodles based around characters from Japanese mythology, and you can play it now at: https://t.co/q70WhXrc99

Hope you like it ;D#GoogleDoodle

— Qumu (@qumumusic) July 23, 2021

It's far from the first game introduced in a Google Doodle – take a look back at how Google revived a range of its most beloved doodles, including Pac-Man in honour of the company's 19th birthday.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN.