Snake, the Classic Snake Game
Steer the snake, eat the apples and don't bite your own tail. Play with a keyboard, a finger or a mouse, with your high score kept on your device. No sign-up.
- Free
- 3 speeds
- Keyboard and touch
- No sign-up
100% private — Everything is processed directly in your browser: your files, voice, and image are never sent to Chatzam's servers.
How to play Snake
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Pick the speed and the walls
Slow, normal or fast, with deadly walls (you lose if you touch them) or wrap-around walls (the snake comes out on the other side).
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Start the game and steer the snake
On a computer, use the arrow keys or WASD. On a phone, swipe on the grid or turn on the on-screen D-pad. Your first move starts the game.
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Eat the apples without hitting yourself
Each apple gives one point and makes the snake longer. The game ends if the head touches the body, or a wall in deadly mode. Space pauses the game.
A full Snake game that runs smoothly everywhere
Three speeds, two kinds of walls
Six combinations, each with its own high score: a relaxed mode to warm up, a fast mode with deadly walls for experts.
Controls for every device
Arrow keys and WASD on a keyboard, swipes on a touchscreen, and an optional on-screen D-pad. The snake never turns back on itself by mistake, even if you press two keys very quickly.
A grid that fits your screen
The grid adjusts to the available width, on a phone or a big monitor. A full-screen button is offered when your browser allows it.
High scores and saved games
Your best score for each mode, your stats (games played, apples eaten, longest snake) and the game in progress are kept on your device. The game pauses by itself if you switch tabs.
The rules of the Snake game
The idea fits in one sentence: the snake moves all the time, and you only choose which way it turns. An apple appears at random on the grid; when the head reaches it, the snake grows by one square and your score goes up by one point. The longer the snake, the less room there is to move. You lose if the head runs into the body or, with deadly walls, the edge of the grid. If you manage to fill the whole grid, you win, which takes real planning. Snake goes back to the arcades of the 1970s and became hugely popular in the late 1990s on mobile phones: it is the game many people first played on an old Nokia.
Deadly walls or wrap-around walls: two ways to play
With deadly walls, the grid is a pen: touching the edge ends the game, just like the original version. With wrap-around walls, a snake leaving on the right comes back on the left, and the same goes for top and bottom; the game flows better and suits long runs, because only your own body is a threat. The three speeds (slow, normal, fast) combine with both settings. Each combination has its own high score, so you compare like with like: a score of 40 on fast with deadly walls is nothing like a score of 40 on slow with wrap-around walls.
Tips to beat your high score
Stay along the edges at the start and keep the centre free for turning. As the snake grows, follow a regular pattern of zigzags or loops so you don't trap yourself in a dead-end pocket. Don't rush for the apple if the path boxes you in; always look at where the tail will be in a few squares, because it frees up space as it moves. On mobile, swipe firmly in the direction you want rather than tapping, or turn on the D-pad if you prefer buttons. Finally, practise on slow first: accuracy matters more than speed.
Play Snake on a phone, tablet or computer
The game runs entirely in your browser: nothing to install, no account, no ads in the grid. On a computer, the arrow keys or WASD steer the snake, and the space bar pauses. On a phone or tablet, swipe on the grid or use the on-screen D-pad; the page doesn't scroll while you play on the grid. Sound is off by default and turns on with one button. Your game is saved automatically and picks up where you left it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I play Snake on a phone?
Swipe your finger on the grid in the direction you want: up, down, left or right. You can also tick "D-pad" to show four buttons under the grid.
Which keys do I use on a computer?
The keyboard arrow keys or WASD steer the snake. The space bar (or the P key) pauses and resumes the game.
What is the difference between deadly walls and wrap-around walls?
With deadly walls, touching the edge of the grid ends the game. With wrap-around walls, the snake comes out on the other side; only touching its own body makes you lose.
How does scoring work?
Each apple eaten is worth one point and makes the snake one square longer. Your best score is kept separately for each of the six speed and wall combinations.
Is my high score saved?
Yes, on your device, in the browser you use. It disappears if you clear the site's data or switch browsers. The game in progress is also restored when you come back to the page.
Is the game really free?
Yes, with no sign-up and no limit on games. It runs in your browser and downloads nothing apart from the page.