How to play Snake
- Press an arrow key, swipe on the board or tap an on-screen arrow to start. The snake keeps moving on its own; you only choose where it turns.
- Eat the red apple. Each apple makes the snake one square longer and adds points. A new apple appears right away.
- After every five apples a golden star appears for a few seconds. It is worth five apples, so grab it before the ring runs out.
- Do not hit your own body. In Classic mode the edges are walls; in No walls mode you come out on the other side; in Obstacles mode stone blocks are in the way too.
- Press Space or the pause button to take a break. The game also pauses by itself when you switch tabs.
Play Snake online, the classic arcade game
Snake is one of the simplest and most addictive arcade games ever made. You steer a hungry snake around a grid, eat food to grow longer and try to survive as long as you can. The rules take a few seconds to learn, but every apple makes the snake longer and the board more crowded, so each game turns into a real test of planning and reflexes.
Three modes
Classic is the original: the edges of the board are walls and touching one ends the game. No walls lets the snake leave one side and return on the other, which is more forgiving and great for long runs. Obstacles adds four corner blocks to steer around, so you have to plan your turns earlier. Each mode keeps its own best score.
Speed and board size
Choose from four speeds. Faster snakes are harder to control but give more points per apple: 5 on Slow, 10 on Normal, 15 on Fast and 20 on Very fast. With Speed up as the snake grows turned on, the snake gets a little quicker with every apple, up to 30% faster. The small board is tight and quick, the large board gives you room for a very long snake.
Tips for a high score
Stay away from the middle when the snake is long and move in wide loops along the edges, so your tail always leaves a free path. Do not chase an apple through a narrow gap if you cannot see a way back out. Turn early rather than late, and use the pause button whenever you need a second to think. In No walls mode, crossing the edge is often the quickest way to the next apple.
Phones, tablets and computers
On a computer use the arrow keys or W, A, S and D. On a phone, swipe anywhere on the board or use the large on-screen arrows below it; quick turns are buffered so a fast double swipe works as expected. Your best scores, statistics and settings are stored only in this browser.
Frequently asked questions
Is this Snake game free?
Yes. You can play as much as you like with no sign-up, no ads in the game area and nothing to install. It works in the browser on phones, tablets and computers.
How do I play Snake on a phone?
Swipe on the board in the direction you want to go, or turn on the on-screen arrows in Settings. Both work at the same time, and the game pauses if you leave the page.
What is the difference between the modes?
In Classic the edges are walls. In No walls the snake passes through an edge and comes back on the opposite side. Obstacles adds stone blocks to the board. Each mode has its own best score.
How are points counted?
Each apple is worth 5, 10, 15 or 20 points depending on the speed. The golden star that appears after every five apples is worth five apples.
Is my best score saved?
Yes. Best scores, statistics and settings are saved only in this browser on this device. Nothing is sent to a server.