How to Play Slither.io

Starting a New Game

Download Slither.io (smartphones and tablets only). Slither.io is available online for PC and Mac, or as a downloadable app for smartphones and tablets. Use the following steps to download Slither.io for your smartphone or tablet: Open the App Store on iPhone and iPad, or the Google Play Store on Android devices. Tap the Search tab (iPhone and iPad only). Type "Slither.io" in the search bar. Tap Slither.io in the search results. Tap GET or Install next to the Slither.io graphic.

Open Slither.io. To open Slither.io on PC or Mac, simply navigate to http://slither.io/ in a web browser. On smartphones and tablets, tap the Slither.io icon to open the app. It has a blue app with a cartoon snake.

Change your slither's skin color (optional). When you start a new game of Slither.io, you will be given a random snake color. If you want to change the color of your slither's skin, click or tap Change skin in the lower-left corner. Click or tap the arrows to the right or left to change your skin color. Click or tap Save to save your skin. Additionally, you can click or tap Build a slither in the lower-right corner to build your own slither skin. Then click the colored orbs to build your snake. Click Save to save your slither, or click Reset to start all over again.

Enter a nickname. Use the field in the middle of the screen to enter the name that will appear to other players and in the leaderboard when you play the game. You can enter any name you want.

Click or tap Play Online or Play Against A.I.. This will start your game. Tap the button that says Play Online to play against human opponents online. Tap Play Against A.I. to play against computer opponents. You will experience faster gameplay if you play against A.I. The option to play against A.I. is only available for smartphones and tablets. When playing in a web browser, simply click Play to start an online game.

Playing Slither.io

Use the mouse cursor to control your slither. Your slither will move in the direction of the on-screen mouse cursor. On PC and Mac, simply use the mouse to control the direction your slither moves. On smartphones and tablets, place your thumb on the left side of the screen and drag it in the direction you want your slither to move. You will see the arrow icon move and point in the direction your slither is moving. You can see where you are in the play area using the mini-map in the lower-right corner.

Eat the glowing orbs. You will grow by 1 ball length for each glowing orb you eat. Eat as many glowing orbs as you can to get as long as you can.

Activate speed boost. On PC or Mac, simply click and hold any one of the mouse buttons to activate speed boosts. On smartphones and tablets, tap and hold the arrow icon to the right to activate speed boosts. While using speed boosts, your slither will lose 1 ball length for every second you don't eat. On smartphones and tablets, you can tap Move controls at the top of the screen to move the speed boost button from the left to right side.

Avoid other players. While playing Slither.io, you will run into other player's slithers. If the head of your slither runs into another player's slither, you will lose the game and your slither becomes glowing orbs for other slithers to eat. Use speed boosts to try to get away from other players. There is no penalty for running into the body of your own slither.

Try to get other players to run into you. The longer you get, the harder you are for other players to avoid. The easiest way to try to get other players to run into you is to form a circle around them to trap them. Then they can't escape. Also, be careful if other snakes try to do that to you. In some lucky cases, you let the head of the other snake crash into you, and then you are surrounded by food orbs. Bigger snakes may also try to trap you. Try to stay away from big snakes. If they enclose you in their trap, they are most likely to eat you when you are destroyed. Be careful!

Try to get on the leaderboard. The top ten players on your server are listed in the upper-right corner. The longer you last, the bigger your slither gets and the more points you get. If you last long enough, you will get to see your name on the leader board in the upper-right corner. If you are particularly proud of your score, you can click Share on Facebook or Share on Twitter to brag about your score on social media when you lose.