In "Snake Pass," players control Noodle the Snake and his friend Doodle the Hummingbird as they navigate through 15 levels to restore Haven Tor's mythical power. By thinking like a snake, players will slither, coil, and climb through precarious puzzles to reunite the Keystones with the magical gates. With a unique physics-based gameplay style and a charming soundtrack from David Wise, Snake Pass offers a refreshing twist on puzzle platformers.
Unique movement mechanics that make you feel like a snake, providing a fresh take on the platforming genre.
Charming visuals and a delightful soundtrack by David Wise, creating an inviting atmosphere.
Frustration-free puzzling without time constraints, allowing for experimentation and persistence.
Controls can be frustrating and imprecise, especially in later levels, leading to repeated deaths.
Camera issues can obstruct gameplay, making navigation difficult in tight spaces.
Lack of progression or power-ups throughout the game, leading to a sense of mechanical stagnation.
gameplay
543 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
63%
5%
The gameplay of *Snake Pass* is characterized by its innovative and unique mechanics that require players to navigate levels by slithering and coiling like a real snake, rather than relying on traditional jumping mechanics. While many players find the physics-based movement satisfying and rewarding once mastered, the game has been criticized for its lack of progression, repetitive gameplay, and frustrating controls, particularly in later levels. Overall, it offers a charming and challenging experience that appeals to those seeking something different in the platforming genre, though it may not be for everyone due to its steep learning curve and occasional design flaws.
“What sets Snake Pass apart from traditional platformers is its core movement mechanic.”
“Innovative movement mechanics: the physics-based movement system is a breath of fresh air in a genre that often plays it safe.”
“The gameplay is just so unique and charming, I can't help but forgive every single flaw.”
“Lack of progression or power-ups: Snake Pass maintains the same core mechanics from start to finish, with no new abilities or major gameplay evolutions introduced across its 15 levels.”
“The novelty of playing as a snake wears off very quickly and by stage 6 (out of the 15) I found myself not even bothering to get collectibles anymore because they felt like they had no purpose and were mostly placed in spots that can make you lose a decent amount of progress with a single slip up.”
“The gameplay is plagued by a horrible camera and extremely repetitive gameplay.”
music
337 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
48%
3%
The music in "Snake Pass," composed by the renowned David Wise, is widely praised for its melodic and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the game's vibrant jungle theme. While many players find the soundtrack charming and nostalgic, some note that the limited variety of tracks can lead to repetitiveness over time, particularly across the game's multiple levels. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that adds emotional depth to the gameplay experience.
“The jungle-themed levels are full of color and personality, and the soundtrack by David Wise (of Donkey Kong Country fame) is a standout — melodic, atmospheric, and perfectly matched to the game’s tone.”
“With its vibrant, whimsical aesthetic and relaxing soundtrack - by none other than David Wise - Snake Pass somehow manages to be both relaxing and infuriating at the same time.”
“The music in Snake Pass breathes effervescent life into its atmosphere.”
“The soundtrack, although apparently composed by the Donkey Kong guy, doesn't go beyond serviceable in my opinion.”
“Honestly, only four songs for all the levels gets a bit repetitive, especially if you take the time to reach the optional collectibles.”
“Yes, the song is catchy but I wanted to tear my ears off after listening to the same song for 4 levels.”
graphics
311 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
44%
2%
The graphics in "Snake Pass" are widely praised for their vibrant, colorful, and whimsical aesthetic, reminiscent of classic platformers. Players appreciate the charming art style and detailed environments, which enhance the overall experience, although some note issues with optimization and limited graphical settings. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a delightful experience despite some gameplay frustrations.
“The game’s visuals are stunning, with bright, colorful environments that feel alive.”
“The graphics are delightful - colorful and sharp - and the music is pleasant if a little generic.”
“The graphics are beautiful, the gameplay is fun, and the puzzles, while seemingly simple, are difficult.”
“The game is not very friendly or casual, despite its graphics.”
“The game is also pretty short, so that, plus the pointlessness of the collectibles, plus the boringness of the story, makes the game feel pretty lackluster despite its aesthetic polish.”
“Overall, well worth the buy, but would really appreciate them trying to fix the graphics up very soon!”
story
193 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
77%
14%
The game's story is largely criticized for being minimal and uninspired, often described as non-existent or merely a backdrop for gameplay. While some players appreciate the light-hearted and simplistic narrative, many feel it lacks depth and character development, with unskippable cutscenes that detract from the overall experience. Ultimately, the consensus is that the game prioritizes gameplay over storytelling, which may appeal to those seeking a fun platforming experience rather than a compelling narrative.
“The light-hearted story is reminiscent of games like Spyro or Banjo Kazooie, and the level designs, while mostly simple, are challenging enough for those going after all collectibles.”
“The story, while very minimal, is a sweet 'G' rated narrative that's ideal for kids.”
“The game is pretty and the story was shallow but still actually rather nice.”
“The game’s charm carries it a long way, but those looking for storytelling will find very little beyond 'collect the keystones and move to the next area.'”
“For a character-driven game, having a minimal story is an odd choice.”
“The story feels like it's just tacked on.”
atmosphere
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
20%
8%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant, colorful visuals and engaging soundtrack, particularly highlighting David Wise's contributions. Players appreciate the immersive environments, which evoke a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of classic adventure games, while the relaxing pace and lack of enemies enhance the overall experience. Despite some minor gameplay issues, the charming art style and upbeat music create a delightful and captivating atmosphere that resonates well with players.
“The jungle-themed levels are full of color and personality, and the soundtrack by David Wise (of Donkey Kong Country fame) is a standout — melodic, atmospheric, and perfectly matched to the game’s tone.”
“The art and graphics are lush and beautifully done, and work together with the famous dulcet tones of David Wise to create a cohesive and lovely entrancing atmosphere.”
“Surprisingly satisfying gameplay, beautiful art direction, and a bright cheerful atmosphere make for an overall well-polished fun experience.”
“Update (11/21/18): I nominated this game for the 'Best Environment' award for the 2018 Steam Awards because the atmosphere that the developers created for this game is unique, serene, and deserves recognition.”
“It's not like having colorful enemies would change the atmosphere of the game as there are already spikes that impale the noodle and kill him.”
“Then suddenly it hit me... this game's atmosphere reminded me quite a bit of some of the older Rare titles.”
grinding
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
3%
86%
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and frustrating, particularly for completionists aiming for 100%. Players often find themselves repeating long levels and unskippable cutscenes after dying, which leads to a time-consuming cycle of collecting lost items and retrying sections. While some enjoy the challenge, many agree that the repetitive nature and slow movement can detract from the overall experience, making it feel like a grind.
“a bit grindy sometimes”
“a bit grindy...sometimes”
“medium level of grinding”
“I recommend it with a caveat: it can be pretty frustrating going for 100% and with its long levels and many retries from the last checkpoint, it can get really tedious too.”
“Messing up means you've committed that much more time to redoing a section, and the added bonus of losing the collectibles you've gathered since the last checkpoint makes it all the more tedious if you're a completionist.”
“Whenever you die, you lose all objects collected before the last checkpoint, which invites you to constantly go back and forth saving progress, and this combined with Noodle's less-than-impressive top speed can become tedious, especially when the closest checkpoint is not that close or not an easy path to travel.”
emotional
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers consistently highlight the game's emotional depth, primarily driven by its charming music and wholesome narrative, which enhances the overall experience. The main character, an emotional snake, and the game's delightful expressions contribute to a nostalgic and heartwarming atmosphere, making it a standout platformer for players seeking wholesome fun. Despite some gameplay challenges, the emotional resonance and charm of the game leave a lasting impression on players.
“Many reviewers mention the music as one of their favorite aspects, adding emotional flavor to otherwise silent gameplay.”
“I had never played nor seen this game before and yet.. I was sitting here staring at something that made me feel the familiarity of an old friend.”
“This game is wholesome and lovely in every way.”
optimization
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
50%
29%
Overall, the game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting poor performance even on high-end systems, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering. While some users found success by adjusting graphics settings or disabling overlays, the general consensus is that the game is unoptimized and requires significant hardware to run smoothly. A few players did report satisfactory performance, indicating that experiences may vary based on individual setups.
“Most recommend fiddling with graphic settings and accepting this isn't an optimized game, but I noticed all my hitches happen whenever a friend was sending a message or launching a game, so disabling the Steam overlay solved all my issues.”
“The game is terrifically optimized.”
“- a commendable, well-optimized port for PC.”
“Not optimized, performs terrible on a high-end PC.”
“Poor optimization, needs a Jeff Bezos computer to run at an enjoyable framerate, hobo tier graphic settings.”
“I was really looking forward to this, but it's very poorly optimized, and taxes even high-end machines.”
humor
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it both funny and quirky, particularly through the character's expressions and the awkwardness of the controls. Many reviews highlight the game's bright, cartoony graphics and catchy music, which enhance its comedic appeal. While some players note that the humor may not be the primary focus, the overall experience is described as charming and capable of eliciting genuine laughter.
“The ability to change their expression on the fly is hilarious, and I found myself doing it constantly.”
“The graphics are bright and cartoony, the music is catchy and upbeat, and the characters are likable and funny, which makes the game look like it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
“It's charming, challenging, and at some moments will have you sitting in front of your monitor laughing like an idiot.”
replayability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
70%
15%
The game offers moderate replayability primarily through collectible-driven challenges, time trial, and arcade modes, appealing to completionists and those seeking to master the gameplay. While the presence of collectibles and achievements encourages exploration and replay, some players feel limited by the game's length and unskippable cutscenes, which detract from the overall experience. Overall, it provides enough content for dedicated players, but may not sustain long-term engagement for everyone.
“Collectible-driven replayability: each level includes optional collectibles — blue orbs and golden coins — which give players incentive to fully explore and master the environment.”
“Challenges and collectibles at every level give the game some replayability; the achievements are well balanced and a joy to achieve.”
“Each level took me around 30 minutes on average, with some of the later levels taking slightly longer, and there are some achievements that encourage replayability, such as playing every level without dying or finding hidden idols that are otherwise unmentioned.”
“I wish the game was longer (only 15 levels total), but it has some replay value for all the achievements, plus time trial and arcade modes if you want to do those.”
“There is some replayability with time attack and arcade modes, each with leaderboards for each level, but unless you are comfortable with the gameplay, I’d say those modes aren’t for you.”
“The game may suffer in terms of replay value, but a single full completion may keep you busy for quite a while.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many players noting it runs smoothly on platforms like the Steam Deck and feels polished. However, some users report minor visual glitches and issues with controls, physics, and camera responsiveness that can affect gameplay. Despite these concerns, the majority find the experience enjoyable and free of major bugs.
“I encountered no glitches in the entire playthrough, and the game feels polished in general.”
“The game runs great and it has a ton of environmental jungle gym elements to slither and climb.”
“Runs great on Steam Deck at 40Hz max settings.”
“The snake's head sometimes glitches into the wood visually, making it hard to determine which side of the rod/log the head is facing. This uncertainty can lead to mistakes in coiling, causing the body to wind out of the coil and fall off the log.”
“Unfortunately, the controls are unresponsive, the physics engine is buggy, and the camera is uncooperative.”
“The game offers some nice graphics, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
49%
13%
Character development in the game is largely absent, with reviewers noting a lack of narrative depth and character growth. However, the character design is frequently praised for its charm and quality, contributing positively to the overall aesthetic experience despite the gameplay's pacing and camera issues.
“Great mechanics and beautiful character design.”
“The character designs are by far well crafted.”
“The colors are great and the character designs are lovely.”
“No story to speak of: while not a dealbreaker, the absence of narrative or character development is notable.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
200%
300%
Reviewers appreciate the game's focus on traditional gameplay and exploration, highlighting a lack of perks and microtransactions that often detract from the experience in modern titles. This return to a more straightforward gaming model is seen as a positive aspect, emphasizing skill and challenge over monetization.
“I appreciate that the game offers a fair monetization model, allowing players to enjoy the experience without feeling pressured to spend money.”
“The in-game purchases are optional and don't affect the overall gameplay, which makes it a refreshing experience.”
“The actual gameplay is the focus, navigating the world is your challenge - the way games used to be before perks and microtransactions.”
“The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
“It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending extra.”