Snake Game
The classic — arrow keys or swipe, with a saved high score.
Arrow keys / WASD, swipe, or the on-screen pad on mobile. Space or P to pause. Grab the gold apple for +5 before it disappears!
Play the classic Snake game right in your browser — keyboard or on-screen controls, speeds up as you grow, and remembers your best score. Works full-screen on mobile.
How to play
- Steer the snake with the arrow keys or W A S D, by swiping on a touchscreen, or with the on-screen arrow pad.
- Eat the food to grow longer and score a point.
- The game ends if the snake hits a wall or runs into its own body.
- The snake speeds up as it grows, so it gets harder the longer you last.
The board is a 20 × 20 grid — 400 squares — so the snake has plenty of room early on, but space runs out fast as it grows.
Tips for a high score
- Don't chase the food directly when the snake is long. Plan a path that doesn't trap you afterward.
- Hug the walls. Moving around the edge keeps the middle open for turning.
- Zigzag in rows. Sweeping back and forth across the board leaves the snake's tail in a tidy line you won't run into.
- Always leave an escape route. Before you turn into a narrow space, make sure there's a way out.
- Stay calm when it speeds up. Short, early key presses are safer than last-second turns.
A short history of Snake
The idea dates back to the 1976 arcade game Blockade, where players steered growing lines and tried not to crash. It became a worldwide hit in 1997 when Nokia built a version into its mobile phones, and for millions of people it was the first game they ever played on a phone.
Frequently asked questions
How do I control the snake?
Arrow keys or WASD on a keyboard. On a touchscreen, swipe in the direction you want to move, or use the on-screen arrow pad below the board.
Is my high score saved?
Yes — your best score is kept in your browser (not on any server), so it's still there next time you play on the same device.
Does the game get harder over time?
Yes — the snake speeds up gradually as you eat more food, so later stretches of a run require sharper reflexes than the start.
Can I play full-screen on my phone?
Yes — the fullscreen button expands the board to fill your screen, which makes swipe controls more precise.
What's a good score?
It depends on practice, but filling even a quarter of the 400-square board is a strong run. Your personal best is saved in your browser, so the real goal is beating your own record.