Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Google revived The Great Ghoul Duel as a multiplayer Halloween Doodle in 2022, four years after the original debuted. The sequel kept the frantic team race for spirit flames and added characters, maps, and power-ups. Google’s archived pages explain how it worked, but they do not confirm that matchmaking is reliably available today.
What returned for Halloween?
The Great Ghoul Duel first appeared as Google’s October 30, 2018 Halloween Doodle. Google described it as its “first-ever multiplayer interactive game Doodle.” On October 30, 2022, Google brought it back as a multiplayer sequel, with additional characters, maps, and power-ups.
The 2018 and 2022 editions share the same core contest: teams gather spirit flames and try to bring them home before time runs out. The 2022 page describes the sequel and its additions; Google’s original page provides the detailed rules for the first version.
How do you play Great Ghoul Duel?
In the original format, eight ghosts split into two teams of four. Players collect wandering spirit flames and carry them back to their team’s base. Each match lasts two minutes, and the team with the most flames collected when time expires wins. Opponents can intercept flames while they are being carried, so a team must balance gathering spirits with disrupting the other side.
#1 Best Overall
- This 1 vs Many game by renowned designer Emerson Matsuuchi is the first time the original Halloween movie has been made into its own board game.
- It was the night HE came home... and one player must take on the role of Michael Myers!
- The others will control Laurie and her friends as they scramble to find weapons, the kids, and a way to escape.
- Their task will be made more difficult because Myers can only be seen when you're looking right at him!
- 2-4 Players | Ages 14+ | 60 Minutes Playing Time
Google’s 2018 description also says high-performing ghosts can unlock special powers, including speed boosts and night vision. The sequel’s named additions—characters, maps, and power-ups—give returning players more variety without changing the basic race.
Can you play Great Ghoul Duel with friends?
Google’s 2022 page said a host could invite up to seven friends and family through a custom invitation link, filling the eight-player format. It also offered the choice to play with randomized players around the world. Those are the options Google described for the 2022 game; the archived page does not establish that either option, particularly live matchmaking, remains reliably available now.
Rank #2
- A 1 vs Many game by renowned designer Emerson Matsuuchi.
- Focus on hidden movement mechanics and escaping as a bystander, or hunting them down as Mike Myers!
Google said the multiplayer systems for both the 2018 Doodle and its 2022 sequel ran on Google Cloud Platform. The 2022 page identifies Open Match, an open-source matchmaking framework co-founded by Google Cloud and Unity. Google Cloud also published a retrospective on the 2018 collaboration with the Doodle team.
How the 2018 and 2022 Doodles compare
| Edition | What Google describes | Shared game rules |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 original | Debuted October 30, 2018; Google called it its first multiplayer interactive game Doodle. | Two teams of four; two-minute match; collect spirit flames and return them to base; opponents can intercept carried flames. |
| 2022 sequel | Returned October 30, 2022, with additional characters, maps, and power-ups. Google described friend invites and randomized matchmaking. | Retains the spirit-flame race and two-minute match described on Google’s page. |
Sources: Google Doodles, Halloween 2018; Google Doodles, Halloween 2022.
Rank #3
- Thrilling party game starring the voice of Ghost Face, Roger L. Jackson himself!
- Fast-paced gameplay gets your heart pounding as you race to stay alive!
- Custom Ghost Face figure tracks the killer as he moves and attacks.
- Free downloadable game app features intense original narration and music!
- Evocative art and components, including Knife first-player marker, will delight Scream fans.
What the archived pages can—and can’t—tell you
The official pages establish the game’s historical rules, sequel features, and the multiplayer options Google offered in 2022. They do not establish present-day server status or guarantee that randomized matchmaking works now. Check the live Doodle page to see whether the game and its multiplayer options load for you.
For the technical background, Google Cloud’s account of the 2018 multiplayer Doodle describes the work behind the launch.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- YOU’LL GET GOOSEBUMPS: Work as a team to rid the neighborhood of all monsters. Move around the neighborhood map, collect Item cards, and use the Get Help cards to defeat each monster
- CLEAR ALL MONSTERS: On your turn, investigate to find items and spend Scare Score to attack monsters in different ways, but don’t get caught. You win when all of the monsters are defeated
- SPOOKY SERIES: Scary movie lovers and fans of fantasy books will love playing through five scenarios, like The Haunted Mask, in this board game based on classic delightfully creepy Goosebumps books
- SPIN MASTER GAMES: We have coffee table ready board games for adults, board games for kids 8-12, 1000 piece puzzle for adults, family games, yard games, game room decor, & your fave brands
- BOARD GAMES FOR FAMILY NIGHT: For your next games for family game night, bring one of our adult games, couples games, party games, 500 piece puzzles for adults, games for kids ages 4-8, or card games for adults
Rank #4
- Trick-or-Treat Adventure: Play as a Vampire, Witch, Mummy, Werewolf, or Frankenstein and sneak through the graveyard to grab candy! Beware the Banshee and her ghosts in this spooky board game that mixes fun, strategy, and Halloween thrills for all ages.
- Haunted House Challenge: Enter the Haunted House to grab a glowstick - your only defense against ghosts! Watch for portals that let spirits move fast. A mix of suspense and strategy, perfect for kids, teens, and adults at parties or family nights.
- Engaging Gameplay for All Ages: Easy to learn but full of depth, this Halloween board game keeps everyone entertained! Ideal for family nights and parties, it offers the perfect mix of spooky fun, strategy, and laughter for players of all ages.
- Strategy Meets Spooky Fun: Use BOOst Tokens, trigger costume powers, and outsmart rivals! Portal ghosts, raid the Candy Coffin, and protect your stash in this exciting board game full of suspense, laughter, and family-friendly competition.
- Family Game Night Favorite & Gift: More than a Halloween game - it’s a year-round favorite! With strategy, surprise, and spooky fun, it’s perfect for families and friends. A great holiday gift or family night pick for kids, teens, and adults alike.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
