At the end of 2016, only two games made the top ten global searches in Google. The first was Pokémon Go and the second was Slither.io. Since then, no other games have made the list for their perspective Year in Search, not even AAA titles like Fortnite or Minecraft. The instant – though fleeting – success of Pokémon Go makes sense because of the nostalgic factor and its inventive game play. But why did Slither.io make the list?

When I first saw the game, I realized it too prompts a subtle nostalgia. Playing as a snake-like creature that gobbles up dots of food/energy in order to grow is a concept so reminiscent of Snake, the game featured on Nokia 3310s – the famously indestructible phones that became a meme. Snake is a lot more rudimentary for obvious reasons but it was similarly addictive. After dying and re-starting as an embarrassingly small dot, the player gets the urge to regain everything they lost. This trial and error style is exhausting but surprisingly effective. 

As I was looking for games to play online without downloading, I ran into Slither.io and many of its other counterparts like Hole.io and Zombs.io. All three games support online multiplayer and are amusing, carefree ways to pass the time. What distinguishes Slither.io from the rest, besides its astounding success, is how leveled the playing field is. In other words, even plump, giant snakes with seemingly all the power can be defeated by a measly peanut-sized worm with a lot of ambition. All the player has to do is make another snake run head-first into another body. Then, the loser vanishes into edible dots that help the victor grow. What helps level the playing field is the agility of smaller creatures compared to larger ones – even though they can use their size in their favor and trap tiny prey. This characteristic makes the game very enticing for new players, since there is virtually no learning gap.

One of the many characteristics that distinguishes Slither.io from Snake is the competition with other players and AI online. Even though interacting with other players adds a lot of variety to the game, it also slows down the server. The source of a lot of my frustrations with Slither.io – and frankly, with other games too – is the input lag. Losing because of a delayed reaction is almost as disappointing as having to start from zero. 

However, the best thing about Slither.io is that no one takes it seriously. The losses hurt less because the game is just a way to pass the time. There’s no pressure to improve for a tournament and no one to impress with wild slithering skills. If the game gets too infuriating, just close the tab or exit the app. No progress is saved regardless, so there is nothing to lose.

If you find yourself with maxed-out storage or have to borrow someone else’s laptop for an assignment and choose to procrastinate instead, you can type in “slither.io” on the address bar of any browser and slide away from responsibilities. The skins’ hypnotic colors coupled with doltish eyes on every creature make the visual experience as fun as the overall gameplay.

Written by: Isabella Massardi | Instagram

Art by: Meg Cabras | Instagram