Snake

How to play Snake

You steer a snake around a square board. Each time it eats a piece of fruit it grows by one segment and you earn points. The game ends when the snake's head runs into its own body, or into a wall when walls are on.

• Computer: arrow keys or W, A, S, D to turn. Space or P pauses.
• Phone or tablet: swipe on the board in the direction you want to go, or use the pad below it.
• The snake can't reverse straight back into itself, so a turn in the opposite direction is ignored.

Every so often a golden fruit appears for a few seconds. Reach it in time for bonus points.

Speed and walls

Choose from four speeds. Faster speeds are harder but worth more points for every fruit, so a high score on Turbo means a lot more than one on Slow.

Turn on Pass through walls to let the snake leave one side of the board and come back on the other. Only your own tail can stop you then, which makes it a good way to practice long runs. Your high score is kept separately for each speed and wall setting.

Tips for a higher score

• Hug the edges early. While the snake is short, keep the middle of the board open for later.
• Move in long sweeps. Zigzagging across the board in neat rows leaves you room to turn and avoids trapping yourself.
• Think one turn ahead. Before eating, make sure there's a way out of where the fruit sits.
• Follow your tail. When things get tight, chasing your own tail is the safest path: that space will always open up.
• Don't rush for gold. A bonus fruit is nice, but not worth a crash.

Questions and answers