Slither.io
Multiplayer snake game that grew via YouTuber promotion.
Slither.io (stylized as slither.io) is a multiplayer online video game available for iOS, Android, and web browsers, developed by Steve Howse. Players control an avatar resembling a snake, which consumes multi-colored pellets to grow in size, with the objective of becoming the longest snake in the server. The game grew in popularity following promotion by prominent YouTubers and topped the App Store soon after its release.
- release_date
- March 26, 2016 (iOS); March 27, 2016 (Android); March 25, 2016 (browser)
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Steve Howse
- Platforms
- Browser, iOS, Android
- Released
- Browser, iOS / March 25, 2016 / Android / March 27, 2016
- Genre
- Casual, snake
- Modes
- Multiplayer, single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Steve Howse created Slither.io while experiencing financial problems, having moved from Minneapolis to Michigan. Inspired by the popularity of Agar.io, he used WebSocket technology to build an HTML game after pausing development due to Flash limitations. The most difficult part was making each server stable enough to handle 500 players at a time; he used Amazon Web Services (AWS) for server hosting. After six months of development, the game was released for browsers on March 25, 2016, and for iOS on March 26, 2016, with servers supporting up to 500 players. An Android version followed on March 27, 2016, published by Lowtech Studios. Howse generated revenue through advertising shown after a player's snake died, removable for US$3.99, and chose not to sell virtual currency or power-ups to avoid pay-to-win advantages. The game's promotion relied on YouTube let's plays, including by PewDiePie, who had over 47 million subscribers at the time.
Reader's Guide
Slither.io's significance lies in its rapid rise to popularity as a free-to-play multiplayer game that dominated app store charts and search trends in 2016. It reached the top of the App Store in several regions, including the United States and the United Kingdom, and became Google's most searched video game in the U.S. for 2016. The game's browser version was ranked by Alexa as one of the 1,000 most visited sites in July 2016. Its legacy includes influencing the .io game genre and inspiring an arcade version by Raw Thrills. Critics praised its appearance and customization but noted low replay value and the cost to remove ads (though by 2026 most versions no longer show them). The game's development story—created by a solo developer under financial strain, relying on viral YouTube promotion—exemplifies the indie game success model of the mid-2010s.
Did You Know?
- Slither.io was developed by Steve Howse after he realized WebSocket technology could support an HTML multiplayer game.
- The game's browser version was among the 1,000 most visited sites in July 2016 according to Alexa.
- Players can boost by pressing space bar, up arrow, or double-tapping on mobile, losing mass that appears as pellets.
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