Slither.io runs on the developer's own site
This game is hosted and operated by its own developer, so we send you straight to the official version rather than embedding a copy. You get the current build, from a source we do not have to vouch for second-hand.
Play Slither.io on the official site →Opens in a new tab. The destination site is not under our control.
Slither.io
Slither.io took the oldest game concept in computing — snake — and made one change that turned it into a global phenomenon: every other snake is a real person, and they are all trying to make you crash into them.
| Category | IO Games |
|---|---|
| Players | Massively multiplayer |
| Developer | Steve Howse |
| Released | 2016 |
| Controls | Mouse / touch |
| Difficulty | Medium |
| Typical session | 3 – 20 min |
| Price | Free |
How to play Slither.io
These are the controls for the browser version. Click into the game area once before you start so the game has keyboard focus.
Slither.io tips and strategy
- Never boost towards a fight. Boost burns mass, and arriving at a contested pile light is arriving at a disadvantage.
- Circle the outside of a big pile rather than diving in. Let other players crash before you commit.
- Cutting off a large snake: aim ahead of their nose, then stop before you touch them. Their reaction is what kills them.
- Boost is a trap for new players. Under about a thousand mass, boosting drains you faster than you can eat.
- Avoid the arena borders under all circumstances — most low-skill deaths happen against a wall, not another player.
About Slither.io
You start as a small snake in a very large arena shared with hundreds of other players. Eating glowing pellets makes you longer. There is no maximum length, and the leaderboard rewards the longest snake on the server.
The twist is that the pellets you eat come mostly from dead snakes. When a player crashes into another snake, they burst into a pile of food. That pile is usually big, always contested, and sitting in it too long is how most experienced players die.
The real strategy is positioning. Cutting in front of a large snake forces them to turn into you, and if they flinch you win their entire body as food. It is a game about patience and geometry more than reflexes.
Slither.io: frequently asked questions
Is Slither.io free?
Yes. Slither.io is free to play in your browser with no account and no download.
What are the Slither.io controls?
Move your mouse to steer. Hold left click or press space to boost, which uses your mass. On mobile, drag to steer and tap to boost.
How do I get bigger faster in Slither.io?
Eat pellets from snakes that have just died rather than farming ambient pellets, and avoid boosting until you are large enough to absorb the cost.
Can you win Slither.io?
There is no winning condition. The leaderboard tracks the longest snake on the server, and survival is the only objective.