Snakes

Snakes is the sixth version of the Snake game that came preloaded with Nokia phones, starting in 1998. While previous versions introduced colour and multiplayer, this version takes the game concept to 3D. For the N-Gage the game was offered free of charge as a download on the Nokia website and it can be copied from inside the game to another N-Gage device using a Bluetooth connection. For Symbian the game came embedded on different N-series smartphones such as the N95. The gameplay is identical, but the N-Gage version has 42 levels and the N-series version 37.

Levels consists of playfields with either square or hex grids. The snake is shown from a fixed, elevated behind-view perspective and as in the original the snake always moves forward and cannot be stopped. The goal is to empty a blue evolution power bar near the top of the screen by grabbing pick-ups that add to the snake length. This is typically done by following power paths, brightly lit sequences of cells. These are triggered by completing other power paths or by grabbing certain pick-ups. Next to turning left and right 90 degrees (typical for square grids), 120-degrees turns can be performed on hex grids. There are buttons to change the view to the classic one, a button to look to the right, and the speed of the snake can be altered.

Some levels have holes, tunnels or virtual edges where the snake wraps around 180 degrees and continues on the other side. This version of the game introduce two types of walls: a classic one that ends the run immediately and another one that is breakable, but at the cost of losing a ring of length. Because of the walls and the large playfields there is less chance of running in your own tail. Green cells on the field speed up the snake and red cells slow it down. Some levels have other characters called Seekers that come in two types. Red ones steal pick-ups and green ones energy. Pick-ups provide energy or boost, there is a defensive drone that attacks enemy snakes, a shield, a teleport through hyperspace to another area of the field, and sometimes an extra life. In different levels the letters N G A G E and S N A K E S can be collected for an extra life and a bonus level respectively. Levels need to be completed in a limited amount of time, and the performance is rated based on both on length and remaining time.

Competitive multiplayer games are supported through Bluetooth. Both players aim to get the highest score, but can also score by chopping off a segment of the opponent's tail using shield or a drone, or kill the snake entirely. A sonar shows the whereabouts of the opponent on the screen.