# Snake '97: retro phone classic — Play Snake like it's 1997!

> Nostalgic remake of the classic Snake mobile game with retro graphics and sound. (iPhone/iPad app by dsd 164.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snake-97-retro-phone-classic/id438052745 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [dsd 164](https://appshunter.io/developer/489465257)
- Category: Games, Action, Casual
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.73/5 from 3,892 App Store ratings · 385 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 14.0 · 6 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2011-05-22
- Data updated: 2026-08-26
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snake-97-retro-phone-classic/id438052745/reviews.md

## What is Snake '97?

Play Snake like it is 1997. This is a remake of the original Snake, complete with dot-matrix display and monotone sounds.
Rewind time and get a dosis of nostalgia that is as addictive (and frustrating) as the original.

Play Snake '97 and be prepared to lose some productive hours. 

Simply launch the app, touch a button and start!

Snake '97 features:
- old school controls 
- dot-matrix display
- original monotone sounds (bleep bleep)
- 9 original and 3 extra difficulty levels
- Snake 1 and classic Snake 2 
- 7 classic game modes (5110, 3210, 8210, 8850 and 3310, 3410, 7110 with Snake 2)
- bonus creatures (Snake 2)
- go through the walls! (Snake 2)
- 5 original and 2 extra labyrinths (Snake 2)
- a high score that cannot be reset (just like the original)

The story behind this game is that my smartphone got damaged, requiring me to revert back to an old phone. Suddenly I knew the smartphone was missing something and the idea for a accurate Snake remake was born.

Snake '97 is an homage to the classic mobile phone game programmed in 1997.

By carefully analyzing the classic gameplay, timing and controls, this Snake '97 remake is one of the most accurate available.

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, feel free to contact me.
Have Snake fun! 

Best regards from Amsterdam,
The developer,
Willem.

## Key features

- Old school controls
- Dot-matrix display
- Original monotone sounds
- Multiple difficulty levels
- Snake 1 and Snake 2 modes
- Classic game modes
- Bonus creatures and wall-passing

## What do users think of Snake '97?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🎮 Nostalgic gameplay
- 👍 Authentic retro experience
- 🎨 Customizable phone skins
- ⏱️ Adjustable game speed
- 💰 Free to play

**Cons**

- 🐛 Occasional glitches and bugs
- 🔍 Unclear controls and button mapping
- 💤 Lack of pause functionality
- 📺 Intrusive ads
- 🔌 No offline mode

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Screen resizing issues
- Unresponsive controls
- Inconsistent scoring behavior
- Accidental menu access during gameplay

**Most requested features**

- Add haptic feedback for button presses
- Implement a pause button
- Provide an ad-free paid version
- Optimize for larger screen sizes
- Add more phone skin options

## Recent user reviews (10 of 385)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snake-97-retro-phone-classic/id438052745/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Best game

*2026-08-15, version 7.4*

Feels like the 2000’s

### 4/5 — Love this game

*2026-08-09, version 7.4*

But it starts too fast

### 4/5 — It’s fine

*2026-08-07, version 7.4*

It is good just the controls are a bit confusing but it’s a good game over all

### 5/5 — Wow! Amazing!

*2026-07-31, version 7.4*

This brings back memories of when I was a child and used to play this game. It’s so fun I love it. It’s so simple and the best part is there’s no online trolls who say racist things to me. Not that I’m black or anything but sometimes people call me the N word.

### 5/5 — Pretty fun replaying this game

*2026-06-17, version 7.4*

Fun game if you played this 20+ years ago it’s the same nostalgic

### 5/5 — Simple, sweet, and nostalgic

*2026-06-06, version 7.4*

Out of nowhere, I got this sudden midnight craving to play the old-school Snake on a button phone. I found this app, and honestly, it’s so heartwarming that you guys actually recreated that exact vibe! Just wanted to leave a review to support you—this is incredibly cool. Thank you!

### 5/5 — Stunning

*2026-06-06, version 7.4*

S T U N N I N G !!!

### 4/5 — Fun but too many ads

*2026-06-01, version 7.4*

Really like this game, and scratches the itch to return to the snake games from my youth, but too many ads between games means I will probably abandon this at some point

### 5/5 — Nothing wrong with this app at all

*2026-04-12, version 7.4*

This will be the best app to the original Nokia snake game,

Don’t understand what the negative Nancys expect! Perfect screen size

### 5/5 — The Only Game You Need

*2026-04-05, version 7.4*

I don’t have any games on my iPhone, not much of a mobile gamer, but I make an exception for this blast from the past.  Great app.  Thanks to the developer for this labour of love.

## Frequently asked questions about Snake '97

### What is Snake '97?

Snake '97 is a faithful remake of the classic Snake mobile game from 1997. It aims to replicate the original experience with its dot-matrix display, monotone sounds, and addictive gameplay. You can play as you did decades ago, enjoying the simple yet challenging nature of the game.

### What are the key features of Snake '97?

The app features old-school controls, a dot-matrix display, and original monotone sound effects. It offers multiple difficulty levels, both Snake 1 and classic Snake 2 modes, and various classic game modes based on popular phone models. Additional features include bonus creatures and the ability to pass through walls in Snake 2.

### Is Snake '97 free to play?

Yes, Snake '97 is free to download and play. The application does include advertisements to support its development. There are no in-app purchases mentioned in the provided data.

### What devices is Snake '97 compatible with?

The app is designed for modern smartphones and tablets, allowing you to play Snake as if it were 1997. While the description doesn't specify exact operating system versions, it is available for current mobile platforms.

### What are the different game modes available?

Snake '97 offers a variety of game modes, including Snake 1 and classic Snake 2. It also includes 7 classic game modes inspired by popular phone models like the 5110, 3210, 8210, 8850, 3310, 3410, and 7110 (with Snake 2). Additionally, there are 9 original and 3 extra difficulty levels to choose from.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 7.4 — 2026-02-26

Game over got a whole lot more interesting! Every game now tracks your stats: duration, course corrections, near deaths, distance traveled, and snake length.
A new Stats screen lets you dig into your all-time records, personal bests per phone model, recent games, and 27 challenges to unlock across 7 categories.
All measurements use real-world units: your Snake's length in centimeters/inch, distance in meters/feet.

### 7.3 — 2025-06-25

Various bug fixes, faster loading, fewer ads, various optimisations for new high resolution displays, better support for iPad's new windowing system.

### 7.2 — 2021-12-15

- Optimised graphics for new iPhones and iPads
- Bug fixes in gameplay and loading
- Improved loading time and storage requirements

### 7.1 — 2019-02-12

- New: share game results with awesome screenshots
- Optimised graphics for new iPhones and iPads
- Bug fixes in gameplay and loading
- Added translations

### 7.0 — 2018-02-14

Big update, featuring: 
- 5 original and two new larger game modes (3410 / 7110)
- optimized graphics (including iPhone X and Plus models)
- greatly improved responsiveness of the touch controls
- feel the gameplay thanks to vibration feedback (if your device supports it)
- play in wide screen (entire screen is a button)
- pause anytime by touching the center of the virtual screen
- support for hardware (iPad / Bluetooth) keyboards
- iPad split screen support 
- world wide highscores and ranking (all platforms)
Please leave a review to let me know if you like this update, thanks!

## Apps similar to Snake '97

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
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| [Snake](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snake/id468638551) | 4.1 (120) | Free | Games |

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All apps by dsd 164: https://appshunter.io/developer/489465257

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-26.*