Needle in a Haystack: Getting Started
Find one steel needle hidden in up to 5 million straws. Modes, controls and hint rules from the official browser version.
Quick answer: Needle in a Haystack: Getting Started. Find one steel needle hidden in up to 5 million straws. Modes, controls and hint rules from the official browser version. This guide covers Needle in a Haystack on GameTio. Last verified Oct 11, 2026. Source-checked; not playtested by GameTio.
Source-checked · Not playtested. View sources
On this page
What is the goal?
Open the official browser version. One steel needle is partly hidden somewhere in a generated haystack. Find it by panning and zooming, then clicking or tapping the needle.
Note: this is the browser version. A separate Steam title, Find The Needle, is already listed on GameTio.
Which mode should I pick?
The site lists four straw counts:
- Easy — 100,000 straws
- Normal — 1,000,000 straws
- Daily — 1,000,000 straws, one shared haystack per day
- Insane — 5,000,000 straws
There is also a timed mode with a two-minute limit.
How do hints work?
Hints become available after 30 seconds of searching, but each hint adds a 30-second penalty to your time. Use mouse, keyboard or touch to pan and zoom.
See all guides or the game directory.
Frequently asked questions
Is this Needle in a Haystack guide playtested?
No. This guide is source-checked from official and community sources, not playtested by GameTio.
Sources & verification Checked Oct 11, 2026
- Needle in a Haystack — official site Official source
Saved HTML reviewed locally on 2026-10-11; no live source request or gameplay test.