About This Game

Needle in a Haystack Online is a small, free, independent browser game. We wanted the purest possible version of the idea: a real haystack with millions of straws and one needle, playable instantly on any device without an install or an account.

How it is built

The haystack is never stored as an image. Each patch of straws is generated on your device from a number called a seed, and only the patch you are looking at is drawn. That is how a five-million-straw haystack fits in a page smaller than most photos, and how the daily puzzle can show every player the exact same stack.

Not affiliated

This site is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any commercial game with a similar name, including titles sold on Steam. "Needle in a haystack" is a common English expression; the game, code and artwork here are original.

Feedback

Found a bug or have an idea for a new mode? Get in touch.