TETRASNAKE

Shipped Side Project

I've had the idea for TETRASNAKE bouncing around in my head for years. Combining 2 of the most iconic grid-based games always just seemed like a natural fit.

Each turn has you start as a 3-segment snake, with a 4th segment appearing somewhere else on the grid. Eating the 4th piece transforms you into a tetrasnake (tetra being the Greek prefix for 4). As soon as you form the active shape for that turn, the tetrasnake drops into place. Complete lines to clear them and advance levels; the snake gets a little faster each time.

Eat the segment, make the shape, drop the piece

Despite being a mashup of Snake and Tetris, it plays completely unlike either game. Instead of just eating segments while trying to avoid walls or your own tail, you have to be very tactical about how you approach a segment to avoid dropping too early. Placing pieces isn't as simple as directing them to the right location; you have to navigate your way there without accidentally forming the shape in the wrong spot. Getting all the little details right took a lot of iteration, and the only way to figure out what worked was building and trying things out.

Mobile was a big focus. On phones the well slides over to make room for the score and shape panels, and you steer with swipes. You can even chain several turns together in a single swipe, which makes a huge difference once the snake starts speeding up. You can also install it on your home screen like an app, and your high scores stick around.

The look is pure synthwave: neon borders that change colour with each level, CRT scanlines, a retro sunset, and a shuffled playlist of 12 background tracks. There's also a native iOS version in the works, with plans for Game Center leaderboards, achievements, and a few extra goodies. Stay tuned for that, but in the meantime give it a shot on the web.