How to Master the Year of the Snake Google Game? A Complete Guide!
How do I play the Year of the Snake Google Game? This guide is for you. Before preparing this how-to tutorial, we spent hours mastering this game.
We discovered that this playable doodle is designed for both mobile and desktop devices. While playing this game, you simply swipe on mobile or press the arrow buttons on desktop to move the snake and eat mandarin oranges. Moreover, you need to be very patient and stay acutely aware of the snake’s tail so as not to collide with it
In addition, you need to keep your full focus on the movement of the snake. If it touches the wall or bites its own tail, the game will be over.
Quick Facts!
- Objectives:
- Help the snake to eat snacks.
- Increase your score.
- Don’t let it touch the boundary.
- Gameplay Style: This playable doodle is inspired by the standard snake game. But now, it is improved by having a responsive design and modern visuals.
- Cultural Symbolism: Connects with the Chinese Zodiac sign that shows strategic and transformational growth, as well as wisdom.
- Accessibility: There is no need to install any app or enter your login credentials to start playing this game.
- Level of Difficulty: If the snake speeds up, it becomes more challenging for you to gain more score.
What Is the Year Of The Snake Google Game?
This is one of Google’s special playable Doodles, the Year of the Snake Google game. The 2025 Wood Snake was created to celebrate the Lunar New Year with a global community.
They celebrate it on the first new moon of the year, as per the lunar calendar. Besides this, it is a ritual that has been going on for 3000 years.
In the Chinese zodiac, the snake shows wisdom, strategy, and transformational growth.
This game works well on mobile and desktop-based Google Chrome and other web browsers. Plus, it has a modern and interactive version of the arcade Snake game. Here, you will get daily challenges, customization options, and more. This game follows the Chinese New Year traditions:
- Festive designs,
- Red colors,
- And firecrackers.
How to Play the Year Of The Snake Google Game?
Follow these instructions to play the game easily.
- Open your default web browser.
- Go to google.com. Enter your query – Year of the Snake Google game.
- Click on the Play button.
- Here, you will get three options:
- Play
- Settings
- Daily Challenge.
- Once again, click Play.
- Otherwise, you can also click the Daily Challenge button to complete it. (Optional)
- Start playing the game.
Now, let’s see the compatibility list that will clear your doubt about whether you can play this game on other devices or not. Along with that, we will provide you with a quick solution to control your device to play this game.
Also Read :- How To Play Google Doodle Block Breaker?
| Device | Supported? | Controls |
| Windows/Mac PC | Yes | Use the forward, left, backward, or right keys. |
| Android/iPhone | Yes | Swipe the screen (up, down, left, or right directions) |
| iPad/Tablets | Yes | Swipe the screen or use a connected Bluetooth keyboard. |
Game Rules Explained Simply
We’ve already followed these instructions while playing this doodle. So, it’s your turn to follow these rules to play this game smoothly.
- Use the arrow keys properly while playing the game on the desktop device.
- Guide the snake to eat snacks.
- When the snake eats the snack, its tail becomes longer. So, you need to be very careful that it doesn’t touch any wall or its tail as well.
- Eating snacks will also increase the speed as well as level up at the same time.
Year Of The Snake Game Gameplay Explained
Let us explain how this game actually plays.
#1. How the Game Gets Harder
This is the prime concept consisting of eat, grow, and speed up.
- Speed Increases: As your score increases, the snake’s speed gradually ramps up, testing your reflexes.
- Length Management: As your snake’s tail becomes longer, there will be less space to make the movement very carefully.
- Dynamic Difficulty: This playable doodle offers a subtle speed progression feature. In other words, when the score increases, the speed will automatically grow.
Note: Players will receive scores instead of any level number.
#2. The Wood Snake Aesthetic
Google has a main motive for designing the doodle because it shows the 2025 Wood Snake element.
- Visuals: There is no plain background. Instead of that, users can effortlessly play on a rich canvas, which is accompanied by organic and smooth animations.
- Audio: This playable doodle consists of celebratory and subtle sound effects. It triggers when we gather points. In addition, it replaces the old harsh beeps.
#3. The Daily Challenge Feature
While starting to play this game, users will get three options: Play, Settings, and Daily Challenge. In fact, this feature makes this doodle stand out from the standard Google Snake game.
- New Goals: You will face multiple challenges on a regular basis, such as a specific time limit. On the second day, there may be some obstacles within the grid.
- Community Play: By choosing this daily challenge feature, every user will face the same challenge on the given date. It lets users compare how they have handled the specific challenge of the day.
#4. Customization And Personalization
With the Year of the Snake Google Game of 2025, there is an option to choose the snack items, snake appearance, grid layout, and much more. Let’s dive into the details of what you can customize easily.
- Personalized Serpentine Avatars: Change your snake’s appearance whatever you want.
- Cultural Collectibles: Here, you have an option to choose which item, such as red envelopes, golden dumplings, mandarin oranges, etc., the snake should consume.
- Dynamic Theme: Customize the background as per your needs.
- Select your speed: You can choose rabbit if you are a professional and want to increase your speed. Otherwise, go with the turtle for a smooth game.
Is It Similar to the Classic Snake Game?
Yes! Year Of The Snake Google Game is very similar to the standard Snake Game. Both games share the same idea of increasing the tail length, and if the snake touches the boundaries or bites its own tail, the game will end at the same time.
But this 2025 Year of the Snake Google Game has some advanced features, such as:
- Customization
- Daily Challenges
- Richer graphics for a nostalgic experience
Why Google Created the Year Of The Snake Game
This playable doodle shows cultural respect, digital innovation, as well as community engagement.
- Cultural Heritage Celebrations: It welcomes the Lunar New Year, and this game is one of the most widely celebrated and oldest traditions among the global community. Google released this playable doodle to show the Chinese Zodiac’s importance.
- Making Traditions Interactive: Instead of publishing any blog or article, Google decided to launch this game in an interactive and fun manner. By doing this, Lunar New Year celebrations make old traditions more special and memorable.
- Strengthening Global Connection: By offering this year of the Snake game, Google strengthens the global connection. And it lets people to celebrate this even if they don’t traditionally welcome Lunar New Year.
Year Of The Snake Google Game vs Google Snake Game
Check out the following comparison table so that you will be able to get to know about these clearly.
| Feature | Year of the Snake Google Game | Google Snake Game |
| Release Date | On January 29, 2025, it was displayed on the Google Homepage to commemorate the Lunar New Year. | Originally, it was introduced as a Google Doodle on September 27, 2017. This playable game was specially launched to celebrate Google’s 19th birthday. |
| Purpose | Historical celebration of the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac. | A nostalgic version of the classic Snake arcade game. |
| Platforms | You can use this playable doodle on a desktop with the arrow keys and a mobile device (swipe gestures) | Playable on desktop and mobile, browser‑based with arrow keys or taps |
| Gameplay Objective | Help the snake to eat snacks that will help it to grow longer and avoid borders/self‑collision. Moreover, it’s themed for the Lunar New Year. In fact, you need to complete daily challenges. | Guide the snake to eat fruits, grow longer, and not to touch the walls/tail. |
| Customization | Users can easily change the look of the snake as well as the snacks. | It allows moderate customization, where users can change the colors and fruits by tapping on the Gear icon. |
| Design & Visuals | Animations, festive graphics, and sound effects are associated with Lunar New Year traditions. | Colorful grid, hand‑drawn doodle style, smooth animations, and power‑ups. |
| Traditional Significance | Represents wisdom, renewal, and transformation in the Chinese zodiac. | There is no cultural symbolism, but it is purely arcade nostalgia. |
| Availability | Featured on the homepage in Jan 2025; still accessible via the Google Doodles archive. | Permanently available online; widely hosted on multiple sites. |
| Replay Value | Short sessions are ideal for quick breaks and festive, limited‑time engagement by completing daily challenges. | High relatability with multiple game modes as well as speed settings. |
Tips and Tricks To Score Higher
We suggest you follow these quick tricks. By implementing them, you will see that you’ve broken your previous score.
- If the snake’s tail becomes longer, we suggest you not to move in between the grid.
- You should maintain the proper distance between the snake’s head and tail.
- Take your time to turn the snake’s moment safely.
- Coil strategically your snake’s body in an S or zigzag shape. Otherwise, follow the Hamiltonian Cycle, a mathematical strategy that makes sure you are not following the same weaving pattern.
- Constantly keep an eye on the tail’s position to score higher.
- Master the daily challenge to enhance your concentration level while playing this game.
Final Words
Google released this playable doodle on January 29, 2025, with the primary motive to grow creativity and transformation. In fact, this is a web-based game, so there is no requirement to sign up or download the application. Remember that this playable doodle can be accessed on any web browser or app that supports access to Google.com. And most importantly, if you want to score higher in this game, put your whole concentration into this. Last but not least, if the snake touches the boundary, the game will be over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before starting to play this game, you should check out these additional queries. By reading and understanding them, all your doubts will be solved easily.
Q1. Is the Year Of The Snake Google Game free?
Ans. YES! Open your web browser and type the Year of the Snake Google game. Then, start playing the game for free. In short, there is no requirement to pay any cost.
Q2. Do I need to install anything to play it?
Ans. NO! You just need to go to your web browser and search for the game. However, this playable doodle is the web-based game.
Q3. Why doesn’t the game show up on Google anymore?
Ans. If you are not able to search for this playable doodle, it’s because of the following reasons.
- Temporary glitch
- Regional restrictions
- Using outdated devices may cause compatibility issues.
Q4. Is this an official Google game or a third-party copy?
Ans. YES! This game was launched by Google, and there is no official application to play.
Q5. Can I play it on mobile?
Ans. YES! You can easily play this game on your mobile browser. You just need to search for this game on google.com. That’s it!
Q6. Can I save my progress or share my score?
Ans. No! You can’t share your progress or scores with others. If you still want to, capturing screenshot is the only way.
Reference Links:-
https://doodles.google/doodle/lunar-new-year-2025/
https://blog.google/company-news/outreach-and-initiatives/diversity/happy-lunar-year-snake/
https://support.google.com/websearch/thread/321421808/year-of-the-snake-google-game-disappears?hl=en