SNAKE

Level

1

Score

0

Best

0

SNAKE

USE ARROW KEYS OR SWIPE
EAT THE GREEN PIXELS

About Retro Snake

Take a trip back to the 90s with Retro Snake, a faithful tribute to the pixelated classic that defined mobile gaming. The rules are timeless: eat the food to grow, avoid the walls, and—most importantly—don't bite your own tail.

As you consume pixels, your snake grows longer and the game speed intensifies. How long can you survive before the grid becomes a trap of your own making?

Game Math & Mechanics

Understanding the underlying math of Retro Snake is the first step to mastery. The game is played on a 20x20 grid (400 total tiles). Your goal is to fill as much of this space as possible without collision.

The Speed Curve

The game uses an exponential decay formula for speed. It starts friendly but becomes brutal quickly.

  • Level 1: 150ms / move
  • Level 3: 121ms / move
  • Level 5: 98ms / move
  • Level 10: ~58ms / move

Level Progression

  • Threshold: You level up every 50 points (5 apples).
  • Score Value: Each apple is worth exactly 10 points.
  • Input Buffer: The game remembers your "Next Turn". If you press DOWN then LEFT quickly, the snake will execute both moves in sequence. This is essential for U-turns.

Grid Management Strategy

Space is your most valuable resource. How you spend it determines your lifespan.

1. The "Coil" Technique

When your snake occupies >30% of the grid, stop chasing food directly. Instead, move in a Zig-Zag pattern (Left-Right-Left-Right) to compact your body into a tight rectangle. This keeps the rest of the board open.

2. Wall Running

The safest place is the perimeter. By hugging the wall, you eliminate 50% of possible collision angles. Always use the wall to travel from one side of the board to the other, then dive into the center only to grab food.

WARNING: The "U" Trap

A common novice mistake is creating a "U" shape with your body where the food spawns inside the U. If you enter the U to eat without checking your tail length, you might turn around to find your exit blocked by your own growing tail.

Rule: Never enter a confined space unless you have an exit path wider than your current body length.

High Score Milestones

200
Learner
500
Competent
1,000
Master
2,000+
Grandmaster

🎮 Controls

  • ⌨️ Arrow Keys: Precise turning for desktop players.
  • 👆 Swipe: Fluid gestures for mobile play. Swipe anywhere on screen.
  • 📱 D-Pad: On-screen buttons appear automatically on smaller screens.

Updates & Patch Notes

Dec 06, 2024

Initial release of Retro Snake. Features collision detection, local high-score saving, and responsive canvas scaling for all devices.

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