Snake, rebuilt in pixel art — golden bonus stars, stone mazes and two stages.

A short history of the snake game

The snake game is older than most people think: the arcade game Blockade (1976) already had two players trailing ever-growing lines and trying not to crash. It became a household name in 1997 when Snake shipped on Nokia phones, where its tiny grid and four-way controls were a perfect match for a numeric keypad. The rules never changed because they did not need to — the whole game is one decision repeated, and that is exactly why it is still compelling.

A few habits make the difference between twelve apples and a perfect run. Keep your snake near the walls early on so the middle of the board stays open, and plan your turns two moves ahead — Neon Serpent queues up to three quick turns, so you can tap a corner before you reach it. Do not chase your own tail in tight circles; a long snake needs room to unwind.

The golden star appears after every fourth apple and fades after eight seconds. It is worth 50 points and two extra segments, so it is tempting, but check that you will not be boxed in before you go for it. In stage two the stone brackets in the corners and the posts in the middle cut the board into lanes — treat them as walls, and use the open centre row as your main road.