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Snake

Collect food, grow longer and keep enough room for the next turn.

Snake rules, tactics & how to play

Learn how to play Snake and how to survive long enough for a huge score, then play the game above.

Rules & how to play

The goal

Guide the snake to eat apples. Each apple makes the snake longer and adds to your score. The game ends if the snake hits a wall or runs into its own body.

Controls

  • Use the arrow keys, or the on-screen D-pad on a touch screen, to change direction.
  • The snake never stops moving, so you steer rather than start and stop.
  • You cannot reverse directly back into yourself.
Tips for a high score

Use the edges

Running the snake around the outside walls keeps the middle open and makes it easier to reach apples without trapping yourself.

Plan your tail

As the snake grows, think about where the tail will be, not just where the head is going. Leave yourself an exit before you dive into a tight space.

Fill in rows

A reliable long-game pattern is to travel in tidy back-and-forth rows so the body stays organised and you always have a path to the next apple.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Snake?

Steer the constantly moving snake with the arrow keys or an on-screen D-pad to eat apples. Each apple makes the snake longer and raises your score. Avoid hitting the walls or the snake's own body, which ends the game.

How do you get a high score in Snake?

Keep the middle of the board open by hugging the edges, plan around where your tail will be so you do not trap yourself, and move in tidy rows as the snake gets long so you always have a clear path to the next apple.

Can you win Snake?

Snake has no fixed finish. The challenge is to survive and grow as long as possible for the highest score. The practical limit is filling the entire board with the snake's body.

Can you play Snake on mobile?

Yes. On a touch screen the game shows an on-screen D-pad so you can change direction with your thumb, and it works the same as playing with arrow keys on a keyboard.