Today’s Google Doodle is a popcorn-themed Battle Royale

Today’s Google Doodle is really fun. It’s also a fun time for me personally because I just got a new popcorn pan for the stove and a huge bag of popcorn corn because that’s the only way to make popcorn. No microwave nonsense. Just corn kernels, oil and butter. The good stuff. Good and good for you.

In any case, today’s Google Doodle is a tribute to popcorn. It’s also a battle royale game where you compete alone or in teams against 60 players to see who survives until the end. I got 11th place on my first try by dodging popcorn and salt and trying to deflect projectiles against opposing players.

The official description of the doodle is:

You can’t believe that today’s interactive Doodle celebrates your favorite movie companion and classic midnight snack: popcorn! This game makes Doodle history by allowing the highest number of players to participate in a match at once! Play solo or invite friends to play with you in Squad Mode.

Popcorn is not a new phenomenon. The delicious snack – and favorite of moviegoers around the world – dates back to ancient times, long before Europeans “discovered” the Americas. Archaeologists have found popcorn corn in New Mexico dating back to 3600 BC. Traces of popcorn have been found in ancient Peruvian tombs.

However, popcorn did not become popular in the United States until the 19th century. In 1885, Charles Cretors invented the first steam-powered popcorn machine in Chicago, which meant that popcorn was widely available when the World’s Columbian Exposition opened in Chicago in 1893 (the setting of Erik Larson’s excellent book The Devil of Chicago, that everyone should read).

Be sure to visit Google’s homepage today and play Popcorn Battle Royale. It’s really fun!