Snake: the complete wiki
Snake is the snake game everyone knows: eat, grow, and every bite makes it harder not to crash into your own tail. Vexply’s version is free in your browser with no download, and adds levels with obstacles, combos and special events that change the pace of every game.
How to play
Controls
- Turn
- Arrow keys or W A S D
- Pause
- Space bar or P
- Phone
- Swipe on the board or use the D-pad
Modes and options
- Grid
- Three densities (16, 24 and 32 squares per side): more squares means more room to maneuver and longer games.
- Board size
- Small, normal or large, so the board fits your screen comfortably.
- Bonus food
- Shows up now and then, is worth 5 points and disappears after 5 seconds.
- Events
- Feast (a big 15-point meal), Food Rain and Double Score for 7 seconds.
Rules
- The snake keeps moving on its own; you only choose where it turns.
- Every piece of food scores points and makes you one square longer.
- You lose if you hit a wall, an obstacle or your own body.
- Every 40 points you level up: the snake gets faster and obstacles appear (up to five).
- Eating again within 2.6 seconds chains a combo, up to ×5.
Strategy
From level 3 on, the problem isn’t speed but space. The most reliable strategy is to move in “lanes”: sweep back and forth in parallel lines across one area of the board, so your body stays tidy behind you and there is always a path toward your tail.
Obstacles appear when you level up, so it pays to reach each new level with the snake away from the center. And a bigger grid isn’t always easier: the snake looks smaller and turns need to be more precise.
Tips
- Hug the edges once the snake is long: it keeps the middle free for turning.
- Don’t chase bonus food if reaching it boxes you in; it’s worth 5 points, not a whole game.
- The slow-motion power-up (3 seconds) is the best moment to escape a tight spot.
- Before turning into a narrow corridor, check there’s a way out: your tail takes a while to free the space.
- When a combo is about to run out, go for the nearest food only if the way back is clear.
Common mistakes
- Heading straight for every piece of food. Once the snake is long, the shortest path tends to trap you; sweep in strips and leave room to come back.
- Chasing the bonus food at any cost: it’s worth 5 points and vanishes after 5 seconds, not worth a game.
- Turning into a narrow corridor without checking the way out: the tail takes time to free the space.
- Reaching a level change in the middle of the board, right where the new obstacles can appear.
Mechanics
The tags that describe Snake. Those with a page lead to similar games.
FAQ
- Can I play Snake on my phone?
- Yes. Swipe on the board or use the D-pad that appears on touch screens. There’s also a full-screen button so the board fills the whole screen.
- Does the snake go through walls?
- No: in this version hitting a wall ends the game, like classic Snake.
- How does the combo work?
- If you eat again within 2.6 seconds, the multiplier goes up (to ×5 at most). Take longer and it drops back to ×1.
- Is my high score saved?
- Yes, in your browser, along with your stats, the history of your last 10 games and your achievements. If you sign in, in your account too.