The Year of the Snake Google Game, Explained

On 29 January 2025 the Lunar New Year opened the zodiac Year of the Snake — and search filled with people looking for a “year of the snake Google game”. Here is what Google actually did for the holiday, and the game those searches land on.

What Google did for the Year of the Snake

Google marked Lunar New Year 2025 the way it usually marks the holiday: with celebratory Doodle artwork on its homepage for the regions that celebrate. What it did not do is ship a special snake game for the occasion — an easy assumption to make in a year literally named after the animal. The playable snake people found (and shared) was the evergreen one that lives in search all year: type “play snake” any day and it is there.

The zodiac snake, briefly

In the Chinese zodiac the snake is the sixth of twelve signs, associated with wisdom, elegance and patience — fitting qualities for a game about calm routing. Snake years arrive every twelve years: 2013, 2025, and next in 2037. Each pairs with one of five elements; 2025 was the year of the wood snake. People born in snake years are traditionally described as thoughtful strategists, which any player who has swept a full board will appreciate.

Why the searches spike

Holiday + animal + Google’s most famous Easter egg is a perfect storm: millions see Year-of-the-Snake Doodle art, remember the snake game exists, and search for a combined version. The confusion between Doodles and the search Easter egg is old and understandable — we untangle it fully in our Doodle explainer, including the 2017 birthday spinner that first mixed the two.

The game to actually play

Any year is a snake year here. The classic board is the traditional experience, the Google-style board has the familiar steady wrap-around feel, and the patient, deliberate zen mode might be the most zodiac-appropriate snake we have. Twelve modes in all — one for each sign, if you like — on the games page. Or begin where everyone begins and play the snake game free on the homepage.