Clicking on Friday’s Google Doodle honoring the lunar cycle will launch a click-to-play card battler where you can create your own combination deck using the moon’s eight phases. You compete with the moon to connect corresponding moon phases in the game Rise of the Half Moon: May. To get extra points, you must chase certain card combos. You advance and may get wildcard power-ups for the next rounds, where the game gradually grows bigger and more challenging, if you outscore the moon.
This interactive doodle is the most recent in Google’s ongoing Half Moon series, and it coincides with the Flower Moon’s last quarter of half-light.
Since its inception in 1998, Google Doodles has evolved from basic drawings to interactive games and riddles, but this one is undoubtedly one of the most complex ones from the last few months. Visit this link to see 53 of our best Google Doodles.
Uncertain about where to begin? What you should know is as follows.
What is the half-moon in May?
The half moon in May occurs during the third quarter of the moon’s orbit, when sunlight illuminates precisely half of the moon’s disk and it has completed three-quarters of its circuit around the Earth. This month’s lunar cycle is in its last quarter, or “half moon” phase. The half moon falls on May 20 at 4:56 AM PT this year. The right side illuminates in the southern hemisphere, whereas the left side glows when seen from the northern hemisphere.
Because of the vibrant wildflowers that bloom across North America and Europe at this time of year, this month’s lunar cycle is known as the Flower Moon.
NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers captured these amazing images of the Flower Moon when she was stationed at the International Space Station.
How the game Flower Moon operates
A three-by-three grid is used to begin The Rise of the Half Moon. You choose one of three moon-phase cards at random and put it on the board for each round. Here’s how points are earned:
Phases of pairing: Drop two similar cards next to each other for one point.
Creating a full moon: Combine complimentary phases, such as waxing gibbous (two points) with waning crescent.
Finishing a cycle: Arrange the cards in the precise lunar sequence, from the new moon to the fading crescent (three or more cards, one point each card).
A monthly wildcard with a unique ability will be unlocked if you defeat the moon three times in a row. If you clean all nine boards this month, you will have four wildcards to choose from. The game becomes progressively harder to win as you go since the layout starts to expand beyond the three-by-three grid.
How to play Flower Moon Doodle and win at it
This is the Google homepage doodle for May’s Flower Moon.
Click on the doodle on the Google homepage to start the game. A pop-up will appear when the game loads.
Then look over the board. The squares are connected by lines that demonstrate how to join them to create combinations. You need to arrange your placements along those routes.
Play one of your cards from your hand last. Though you should constantly plan ahead, you will always have three cards. You should consider both offensive and defense while placing your cards since the moon, your opponent, will use them against you.
Some pointers from the game:
Play defense: Defense is just as crucial as attack. You may use one of your cards as a throwaway to prevent a big combo from happening if you feel like the moon is preparing one.
Employ your wildcards: Wildcards have the ability to duplicate your cards, steal cards, and destroy opponent cards. Because you can only use them once, use them sparingly, particularly in the latter, more challenging stages.
Move swiftly: Don’t pursue every combination since you only have a few rounds every round. As quickly as possible, secure the plays with the greatest value.