Snake Game: play the classic Snake online for free

Snake is one of the most loved arcade games ever made, and you can play it right here for free. Steer the snake around the board, eat fruit to grow longer and try to beat your high score without crashing into the walls or your own tail. It runs in your web browser, so there is no download and no sign-up, and it works on PC, laptop, tablet and mobile.

How to play Snake

The rules of the Snake game are simple, which is what makes it so addictive:

  1. Press Play Game, then pick a mode from the menu. Classic is the best place to start.
  2. In Classic, choose a maze (click it or use ← →) and a speed from 1 to 9, then press Play.
  3. Steer the snake with the arrow keys, W A S D, swipes or the on-screen buttons.
  4. Eat the red fruit. Each fruit makes your snake one block longer and adds to your score. Eat fruit quickly one after another for a combo.
  5. Grab the golden star and the power-ups before they disappear, and stay away from the poison ☠️.
  6. Do not hit the walls and do not run into your own body. One crash and the game is over.
  7. Submit your score to the leaderboard, share it with friends, then press Play again.

Every fruit you eat makes the snake a little faster, so the game starts relaxed and slowly turns into a real test of reflexes.

6 ways to play

ModeHow it works
▶️ ClassicPick one of 5 mazes and a speed from 1 to 9. Faster speeds give more points for every fruit.
🗺️ Campaign20 levels with 11 different mazes. Eat the target number of fruit to clear a level and earn up to 3 stars.
📅 Daily ChallengeA new maze, speed and target score every day, the same for every player. Keep a daily streak going 🔥.
⏱️ Time AttackScore as many points as you can in 60 seconds. Chain combos to go big.
👥 2 PlayersPlay against a friend on one keyboard. Player 1 uses W A S D, player 2 uses the arrow keys. Last snake alive wins.
✏️ Maze EditorDraw your own maze, play it, and send the link to friends so they can try it too.

Power-ups and special items

ItemWhat it does
🍎 Fruit+10 points (more at higher speeds) and the snake grows by one block.
⭐ Golden star+50 bonus points. Blinks just before it disappears.
🧊 IceSlows the snake down for a few seconds. Great when the board gets crowded.
👻 GhostFor a few seconds you can pass through walls and your own body.
✂️ ScissorsCuts your snake in half, which gives you room to breathe on a full board.
☠️ PoisonAvoid it! It takes away points and shortens your snake.

5 classic Snake mazes

Just like the Snake games on old mobile phones, you can pick a maze before each round. Every maze changes how you have to think, and each one keeps its own best score.

MazeWhat it's likeDifficulty
No WallsNo walls at all. Leave one edge of the board and you come back on the other side. Perfect for beginners and long snakes.★☆☆☆☆
LinesTwo long walls across the board. The edges are still open, so you can wrap around them.★★☆☆☆
BoxThe classic: solid walls all around the board. Touch the edge and it's game over.★★★☆☆
TunnelA box with a door in the middle of each side and two pillars inside. Use the doors as shortcuts.★★★★☆
RoomsWalls split the board into four rooms joined by narrow doors. Plan your route carefully.★★★★★

Snake game controls

ActionPC / laptopPhone / tablet
Move up↑ or WSwipe up or ▲ button
Move down↓ or SSwipe down or ▼ button
Move left← or ASwipe left or ◀ button
Move right→ or DSwipe right or ▶ button
Pause / resumeSpace or P❚❚ button
Sound on / offM🔊 button
Music on / offN🎵 button
Choose maze (Classic)← / → or clickTap a maze
2 PlayersPlayer 1: W A S D · Player 2: arrow keysNeeds a keyboard
FullscreenFullscreen button under the game

You cannot turn straight back into yourself. If you are moving right, pressing left does nothing, so a quick mistake will not end your game.

Scoring

  • Fruit: +10 points and the snake grows by one block.
  • Speed bonus: every speed level above 1 adds 25% to your points. Speed 9 gives three times the points of speed 1.
  • Combo: eat fruit quickly one after another for x2, x3, x4 and up to x5 points.
  • Golden star: +50 points. Stars appear now and then after you eat fruit and blink just before they disappear.
  • Poison: takes points away, so steer around it.
  • Best score: your highest score for each maze is saved on your device, and each maze shows up to 3 stars (100, 250 and 500 points).

Tips & tricks to get a high score in Snake

  • Hug the edges early. While the snake is short, travel along the walls. It keeps the middle of the board free for later.
  • Move in long, tidy lines. Zig-zagging back and forth in rows (the "lawn mower" pattern) keeps your body neat and makes it hard to trap yourself.
  • Always leave an exit. Before you turn into a gap, check that you can get back out after the snake gets longer.
  • Plan two moves ahead. The game remembers your next turns, so you can tap two directions quickly to take sharp corners.
  • Go for stars only when it is safe. 50 points is a lot, but not worth crashing for. Skip a star that is behind your tail.
  • Use pause. Press Space to stop and look at the board when things get tight.
  • Use the open edges. In No Walls and Lines, wrapping around the edge is often the fastest way to the fruit.
  • Learn the doors. In Tunnel and Rooms, the doors are your only way between areas. Line up early so you go straight through them.
  • Keep the combo alive. Head for the next fruit right away. A x5 combo is worth five fruits.
  • Save the scissors. If you are long and stuck, scissors can rescue a run that would otherwise end.

Achievements, skins and leaderboards

  • 18 achievements to unlock, from "First Bite" to "Champion" for clearing the whole campaign.
  • 6 snake skins (Galaxy, Retro, Neon, Fire, Rainbow and Gold). Some skins unlock when you earn achievements.
  • 5 board themes, including a green Retro LCD look inspired by old mobile phones.
  • Online leaderboards for every classic maze, Time Attack and the Daily Challenge. Enter your name after a game to see your rank.
  • Share your score on WhatsApp, Facebook or X right from the game over screen.
  • Background music: a retro chiptune you can switch on or off with the 🎵 button.

Why play Snake on Online Games Galaxy?

  • ✅ 100% free with no account needed
  • 🧱 11 mazes and 20 campaign levels
  • 🎮 6 game modes including 2 players
  • 📅 Daily Challenge with streaks
  • 🧊 Power-ups: ice, ghost and scissors
  • 📊 Online leaderboards
  • ⚡ Instant play in your browser, no download
  • 📱 Mobile friendly with swipe and touch buttons
  • ⌨️ Keyboard controls with arrow keys or W A S D
  • 🏆 High score saving on your device
  • ⭐ Bonus stars for extra points
  • 🔊 Retro sound effects you can mute any time
  • 🖥️ Fullscreen mode for a bigger board

A short history of the Snake game

The idea behind Snake goes back to the arcade game Blockade from 1976, where two players steered lines that grew longer as they moved. Over the next years many home-computer versions appeared, and the game became known simply as "Snake".

Snake became truly famous in the late 1990s when it came pre-installed on mobile phones. Millions of people played it on tiny monochrome screens, and it turned into one of the most played mobile games of all time. Today Snake is still a favourite because anyone can learn it in seconds, but getting a really high score takes skill and planning.

Later phone versions added mazes, so players could choose between an open board, a walled box and trickier layouts. Our version brings that back with five mazes, and adds a few modern touches: smooth graphics, bonus stars, sound effects, touch controls for phones and a saved best score for every maze.

Snake game FAQ

Is this Snake game free to play?

Yes. The Snake game on Online Games Galaxy is completely free. There is nothing to buy and you do not need an account.

Do I need to download anything to play Snake?

No. Snake runs right in your web browser, so there is no download or installation. Just open the page and press Play.

Can I play Snake on my phone?

Yes. Snake works on Android phones, iPhones and tablets. Swipe on the board or use the on-screen arrow buttons to steer.

How do you get a high score in Snake?

Keep the snake near the edges, move in long tidy lines, leave yourself an escape route and grab golden stars quickly because each one is worth 50 points.

Is my high score saved?

Yes. Your best score is saved in your browser on that device, so it is still there the next time you play.

Can I turn the sound off?

Yes. Click the speaker button at the top of the game or press the M key to mute or unmute the sound.

What mazes are there in this Snake game?

There are 5 mazes: No Walls (the snake goes through the edges), Lines, Box (walls all around), Tunnel (a box with doors and two pillars) and Rooms (four rooms joined by doors). Each maze keeps its own best score.

Can the snake go through the walls?

In the No Walls and Lines mazes the edges are open, so the snake leaves one side of the board and comes back on the other. In Box, Tunnel and Rooms the outer walls are solid, except for the doors in Tunnel. With the 👻 ghost power-up you can pass through any wall for a few seconds.

Can two people play Snake together?

Yes. Choose 2 Players in the menu. Player 1 steers with W A S D and player 2 with the arrow keys on the same keyboard. The last snake alive wins.

How does the Snake Daily Challenge work?

Every day there is a new maze, speed and target score, and it is the same for everyone. Reach the target in one game to complete it, keep a streak going and compare your score on the daily leaderboard.

Can I make my own Snake maze?

Yes. Open the Maze Editor, tap the board to add or remove walls, then press Play. Press the 🔗 button to get a link you can send to friends.

What do the power-ups do?

🧊 Ice slows the snake down, 👻 Ghost lets you pass through walls and your body for a few seconds, and ✂️ Scissors cut your snake in half. Avoid ☠️ poison, which takes points away.