Snake Pass
What to Know
Average Score
- March 29, 2017
- Sumo Digital
- Platformer, Puzzle
Critics Consensus
- March 29, 2017
- Platformer, Puzzle
Critics Consensus
# Reviews: 69
A summary of the critical opinion for this game will be provided after release or a minimum of 15 reviews have been aggregated.
Critic Reviews for Snake Pass
Reviews
GameCentral (Metro GameCentral)
7/10
“A great concept with a perfect mix of retro modern gameplay and aesthetics, even if the idea never evolves to have real legs.”
Oscar Dreyus (GameSpot)
7/10
“Snake Pass is a unique and beautiful platformer, but one that is marred by a steep difficulty curve.”
Jose Otero (IGN)
7.2/10
“Slithering up simple structures in Snake Pass is one of the most mechanically satisfying video game ideas I’ve ever experience, and it effectively creates a sensation that feels the way maneuvering like a snake might. The camera and checkpoint systems aren’t great, but the concept still managed to hook me for the five hours it took wrap up the campaign. And in the end, I wanted to go back and replay stages to round up all the collectibles I missed.”
Outlet | Author | Score | Date | Quote | Read |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atomix | Emilio Reyes | 78 / 100 | 04-08-2017 | Snake Pass is a fun and original gameplay experiment that works well to offer us a good and charming exploration game. | Read review |
BaziCenter | Bahram Bigharaz | 7 / 10 | 04-23-2017 | In Snake Pass, Noodle and Doodle take you on a warm and charming adventure through a beautiful and colorful jungle. The game greatly mixes platforming and puzzle elements with an original control input and delivers an experience that you won’t forget anytime soon. | Read review |
CGMagazine | Jed Whitaker | 7 / 10 | 04-04-2017 | Snake Pass is a colourful snake ’em-up platformer with hard to learn controls, but is original enough to be worth more than a passing glance. | Read review |
Cubed3 | Gabriel Jones | 8 / 10 | 04-02-2017 | You’d think a game set around playing as a snake wouldn’t have a leg to stand on, and yet this simple puzzler about a snake on a plane has no ereptile dysfunctions. Sorry, sorry… Snake Pass is a truly enjoyable, addictive and original platforming puzzler gem that really stands out. The only real issue is how short it feels. There are four worlds to complete, with fifteen stages in all, and an unlockable time-trial mode, but even with all that, there is a desire for more. | Read review |
Daily Dot | AJ Moser | 4 / 5 stars | 04-08-2017 | Snake Pass is a welcome twist on puzzle-platforming | Read review |
Daily Mirror | Ryan Brown | 4 / 5 stars | 04-05-2017 | There’s some real fun to be had here in spite of its nuisances and both platformer fans of old and newcomers alike will find this enjoyable. | Read review |
DarkZero | Ian Howarth | 6 / 10 | 04-21-2017 | The story is paper-thin, going into no more detail than ‘some magical gems that are used to power portals have been knocked all over the place; find and replace them’. Even then that would normally be fine – we don’t need a reason for everything we do in games, such as running to the right and stomping Goombas, but usually games like that instead provide a challenge as the motivational tool that keeps us going. Sadly, Snake Pass fails to deliver there too. | Read review |
Destructoid | Brett Makedonski | 6 / 10 | 04-10-2017 | Snake Pass’ legacy won’t be any of that negative stuff I mentioned. It’ll be remembered as a quirky thing that’s an exemplary example of how games can offer non-traditional experiences. And, to be quite honest, I love it for that. I thoroughly enjoyed my first hour or so as I leaned into its serpentine sensibilities. But, Snake Pass’ choice of animal is unfortunately fitting as this game just doesn’t have legs. | Read review |
DualShockers | Tomas Franzese | 8 / 10 | 03-31-2017 | Snake Pass is held back from greatness by a troublesome camera and poor textures, but it is quite charming and innovates with its snake gameplay, which still has tons of untapped potential. I can’t wait to see what Noodle and Doodle get themselves into next, as Snake Pass’s mechanics can only be fleshed out even more from here. | Read review |
EGM | Josh Harmon | 6.5 / 10 | 04-03-2017 | Snake Pass is a competent and boldly innovative take on the classic 3D platformer, but the game suffers from an overly fiddly control scheme that doesn’t match the inviting, pick-up-and-play fun of the genre. | Read review |
Eurogamer | Martin Robinson | Recommended | 03-30-2017 | Sumo Digital makes its solo debut with an old school platformer that’s inventive, charming and a little too frequently infuriating. | Read review |
Everyeye.it | Andrea Fontanesi | 8 / 10 | 04-04-2017 | The puzzle-platform game made by Sumo Digital is funny and original, with a strategic and challenging gameplay. | Read review |
FNintendo | João Dias | 7 / 10 | 04-09-2017 | Thinking like a snake might not seem like the most natural thing to do to most humans but Snake Pass will get the players doing just that quick enough. Thanks to its gameplay mechanics that involve the inherent physics to a snake’s body, this game stands on its own thanks to its unique approach to puzzle-solving, coupling it with rich audiovisual environments and very challenging | Read review |
Forbes | Mitch Wallace | 7 / 10 | 03-29-2017 | The implementation of realistic snake physics is commendable, and may even be what snagged Snake Pass a green light in the first place, but it’s also what drags down what could have otherwise been a phenomenal platforming experience. | Read review |
Game Debate | Joffy S | 7.5 / 10 | 04-09-2017 | Snake Pass is a difficult game to wholeheartedly recommend. It’s simply going to be too frustrating for some, all boiling down to a finger knotting control scheme. Forge ahead with it and you will be rewarded however. Snake Pass is an unashamed blast from the past that also strives to innovate on tried and trusted concepts. Its core concept is fundamentally flawed, stripping the player of control rather than empowering, but Sumo has found a way to use this to its strength. | Read review |
GameMAG | xtr | 6 / 10 | 04-05-2017 | Snake Pass is a very strange game that tries to be meditative and hardcore at the same time. It does not allow you to relax and enjoy the gameplay and pleasant music because of the constant drops in the abyss, the slowness of the main character, traps, bad controls and bugs related to the save system. | Read review |
Gamers Heroes | Casey Scheld | 6 / 10 | 04-04-2017 | Snake Pass is not for everybody. Fans of collectathons and colorful worlds will find much to like, but those looking for something a bit more fast paced might be turned off by Noodle and Doodle’s antics. | Read review |
GameSkinny | ESpalding | 8 / 10 | 04-10-2017 | Sumo Digital has created a platform puzzler that is equally charming and infuriating. But it’s hours of fun that shouldn’t be missed by fans of the genre. | Read review |
GameSpew | Richard Seagrave | 8 / 10 | 04-03-2017 | Snake Pass is a refreshingly unique take on the platforming genre that introduces a duo of instantly likeable characters and a colourful game world where the simple act of moving through it is a reward in itself. | Read review |
GameSpot | Oscar Dayus | 7 / 10 | 03-31-2017 | Snake Pass is a unique and beautiful platformer, but one that is marred by a steep difficulty curve. | Read review |
GameXplain | GameXplain | Recommended | 04-06-2017 | Video Review | Read review |
GameZone | Tom Caswell | 6 / 10 | 03-28-2017 | Snake Pass has some great design, but its mechanics fall short resulting in a lackluster experience that makes it hard to recommend as a day one purchase. | Read review |
GamingTrend | Elisha Deogracias | 80 / 100 | 04-06-2017 | Snake Pass is a weird, wacky, and wonderful platformer with rewarding controls and great atmosphere. While there are a few minor issues holding it back, the game is a great throwback to the 3D platformers of the 90s, and a great indie title for the Switch. | Read review |
GearNuke | Khurram Imtiaz | 8 / 10 | 04-01-2017 | Snake Pass might look like a platformer made for kids but it has surprising deep mechanics and requires a lot of skill in order to complete every level while finding every collectible. | Read review |
Geeks Under Grace | Sydney Stoddard | 7.7 / 10 | 10-10-2017 | Grab a console version, sit back, let go, and be ready to laugh with some friends at your multiple attempts to think (and fail to think) like a snake in this fun and challenging puzzle game. | Read review |
God is a Geek | Nicola Ardron | 7 / 10 | 03-30-2017 | Snake Pass is a unique take on the classic puzzle platformer with a genuinely inventive style of movement that reinvents the genre, but a difficult camera and archaic save system takes some of the shine off. | Read review |
Hardcore Gamer | Marcus Estrada | 4 / 5 stars | 04-10-2017 | Snake Pass is a modern attempt to rekindle 3D platforming fun in an intelligent way. | Read review |
Hobby Consolas | Alberto Lloret | 69 / 100 | 04-21-2017 | It may look childish, but it’s a challenging and tough platformer. Put the blame on its tricky control scheme. | Read review |
IBTimes UK | Ben Skipper | 3.5 / 5 stars | 04-08-2017 | Snake Pass is designed for 20 to 30 minute bursts, getting a little frustrated during that time but revelling in the satisfaction of completing a climb and finding a new trinket for the pile. It has issues with its structure and pacing, but not at all with the artistry of its mechanics or audio-visual design. Given life by David Wise’s laid back, fun and thoroughly-hummable score, Noodle’s world is rich, vibrant and a joy to slither around. | Read review |
IGN | Jose Otero | 7.2 / 10 | 04-05-2017 | Slithering up simple structures in Snake Pass is one of the most mechanically satisfying video game ideas I’ve ever experience, and it effectively creates a sensation that feels the way maneuvering like a snake might. The camera and checkpoint systems aren’t great, but the concept still managed to hook me for the five hours it took wrap up the campaign. And in the end, I wanted to go back and replay stages to round up all the collectibles I missed. | Read review |
IGN Italy | Marco Mottura | 8.3 / 10 | 04-03-2017 | Snake Pass is currently my personal surprise of 2017: a platformer-that’s-not-really-a-platformer with strong puzzle elements and a pretty irresistible approach, built with passion and wit around an unconventional concept. It’s also a bizarre and surprisingly hardcore experiment overall, one that will make some players fall in love while irritating others: it won’t please everyone, but its desire for something original is certainly commendable. | Read review |
IGN Spain | David Soriano | 7.2 / 10 | 03-29-2017 | Under the surface, and besides its outdated graphics, you’ll discover a great puzzle platformer. | Read review |
Luis Alamilla | Luis Alamilla | 7 / 10 | 03-28-2017 | Video Review | Read review |
Marooners’ Rock | Alex McCumbers | 8 / 10 | 04-06-2017 | Snake Pass is an absurdly unique game that takes the feel of retro platforming to make something unforgettable. Yet, there are a few things that would make this game so much better. Here’s hoping this is elaborated upon either with a level pack or a sequel. | Read review |
Metro GameCentral | GameCentral | 7 / 10 | 03-30-2017 | A great concept with a perfect mix of retro modern gameplay and aesthetics, even if the idea never evolves to have real legs. | Read review |
Nintendo Life | Mitch Vogel | 8 / 10 | 03-31-2017 | Snake Pass is a real gem in the early Switch library, and is certainly worth a look for anyone looking for that post-Zelda palette cleanser. This writer’s never played a game like this before — which certainly can be a double-edged sword — but it’s a fresh experience that will keep you engaged until the very end. Solid visuals, unconventional gameplay, a memorable soundtrack and a decent amount of replay value make this well worth your time, and we absolutely give it a recommendation. If you’re looking to take a chance and play something unique, then Snake Pass is well worth a look. | Read review |
NintendoWorldReport | Casey Gibson | 8 / 10 | 03-28-2017 | Snake Pass sets out to bring a familiar feeling with a unique twist that sets it apart from its predecessors. While it does exactly that, it isn’t without fault, as overcoming the challenge of platforming without a jump might scare off the faint of heart. If you can overcome the early struggles and the occasional moments of frustration, the game offers a beautiful world to explore and plenty of collectables to keep you busy. | Read review |
NZGamer | Reagan Morris | 7 / 10 | 04-24-2017 | Those that enjoy mastering controls will absolutely adore the challenge. | Read review |
Player2.net.au | Paul James | Recommended | 05-29-2017 | The bright, lively word and cast of characters in it makes the game an instantly attractive option, but with some really impressive mechanics, and a wonderful sense of atmosphere and fun, what you’re getting from your purchase is an immensely satisfying experience. | Read review |
PlayStation Universe | Adam Byrne | 8 / 10 | 03-30-2017 | Aside from some niggling pitfalls – many of which will be mitigated or exacerbated by your level of patience – Snake Pass is a success; a delightful throwback to the classic puzzle platformer of yonder that levels a keen eye on trying to expand modern control sensibility. | Read review |
Post Arcade (National Post) | Chad Sapieha | 5.5 / 10 | 04-13-2017 | Sumo Digital’s innovative 3D platformer successfully captures authentic snake physics, and in doing so makes us love our limbs all the more | Read review |
Press Start | James Mitchell | 7 / 10 | 03-29-2017 | Snake Pass is a delicious combination of interesting concept, a solid execution but with room for future potential. A platformer without a jump button sounds absurd, but Snake Pass uses a kooky physics engine and great level design to make it feel as natural as ever. Though sometimes frustrating, Snake Pass is charming and simple, a different experience, even if it feels like it’s over a little bit too quickly. | Read review |
pressakey.com | Kevin Henschen | Not Recommended | 05-13-2017 | Für Snake Pass benötigt man viel Geduld, weshalb davon abzuraten ist, das Spiel unseren Kleinsten in die Hände zu drücken. Geschicklichkeitsveteranen, denen keine Herausforderung zu schwer ist, sind jedoch gut mit dem Titel bedient. | Read review |
PS4Blog.net | Tracey | 8.5 / 10 | 03-30-2017 | Sumo Digital have done an outstanding job with Snake Pass on PS4. Sure, the controls require a bit of trial and error before you get used to them, but they’re not a deal-breaker. There’s also an option for an easier control scheme if you feel that you need it, so be sure to give that a try. Complementing the action and the great looking scenery is an outstanding soundtrack by the wonderful David Wise which perfectly complements what the game has to offer. I highly recommend that you get Snake Pass on PS4, especially if you have a PS4 Pro so that you can take advantage of the bump in resolution and graphics! | Read review |
PSX Brasil | Rodrigo Ribeiro de Oliveira | 68 / 100 | 04-08-2017 | Despite its cheerful and innocent look, Snake Pass is challenging and frustrating. With its differentiated gameplay, it offers a nostalgic and at the same time distinct experience. | Read review |
Pure Playstation | Chris Harding | 8 / 10 | 03-29-2017 | Snake Pass is a charming little game indeed. It takes the familiar collect-a-thon formula and turns it on its head with its fresh take on the genre. If you’re hankering for an old-school platformer with some light puzzles, slide right on in with Snake Pass. | Read review |
Push Square | Sam Brooke | 7 / 10 | 03-30-2017 | For all of its flaws, Snake Pass represents an admirable attempt at blending the past and the present. Its anthropomorphic characters, jubilant worlds, and atmospheric soundtrack all scream of eras past, yet its movement system and excellent controls are things of the future. Those willing to slither past the checkpoint and camera issues will find an enjoyable and heartwarming nostalgic adventure. Snake Pass shall pass. | Read review |
Rectify Gaming | Gregory Dawes | 7.5 / 10 | 03-28-2017 | Overall, Snake Pass is a charming title that hearkens back to the glory days of the N64. | Read review |
Reloading BR | Felipe Mesquita | 7.5 / 10 | 03-30-2017 | The lack of variety in visual and even stage design makes it clear that Snake Pass did not come to enter the hall of the greatest 3D platform games, but in a market where games of this genre are starting to have a resurgence, it is a fun and unique alternative because it subverts the expected gameplay basics from a 3D platformer in a way that works very well. An overall short experience but with good production values and good hours of fun especially for the ones with the spirit to hunt all the collectibles. | Read review |
Rock, Paper, Shotgun | Alec Meer | Recommended | 03-31-2017 | This could, as I say, have been all comic pratfalls and Goat Simulator destruction, but instead it’s an extremely careful study in how snakes navigate their bizarre bodies around, then transplanted into broadly well-done puzzle-places. I feel in awe of how well-realised this is, almost more than I actually enjoy it. I really do enjoy it though, so much so that I ended up picking it up for my Switch too (making it only the second game I own for Nintendo’s latest toy). | Read review |
Saving Content | Scott Ellison II | 4 / 5 stars | 04-14-2017 | Snake Pass is both a visual delight and a challenging platformer from Sumo Digital. The controls are unique and take time to learn the intricacies of moving a digital snake around as if it were real. The attitude to this platformer is nostalgic and refreshing in the same breath. Snake Pass will be referenced and remembered for years to come – it’s quite the snake charmer. | Read review |
SelectButton | Kevin Mitchell | 8 / 10 | 04-10-2017 | Snake Pass is a highly enjoyable and charming puzzle-platformer full of character. Attempting to collect all of the coins and orbs can lead to a few frustrating deaths, especially if you didn’t reach a checkpoint. Playing the game on a PlayStation 4 Pro, I did experience some micro stuttering that would occur randomly, but nothing that took away from the experience. In fact, Snake Pass does feature a 4K resolution and high dynamic range (HDR) support if you have a compatible display. The game’s audio is superb, composed by David Wise (Donkey Kong Country) fitting in with the vibrant art and characters full of expressions. Just like in LBP, you can change Noodle’s expressions using the directional pad. | Read review |
Sirus Gaming | David Rix | 8.5 / 10 | 08-01-2017 | Overall, Snake Pass is something you shouldn’t pass up on. It’s a modern platformer that has the magic of the classic, while still managing to feel fresh and exciting. Although it’s worlds all feel similar, it was never a slog to get through each one. | Read review |
SpazioGames | Stefania Sperandio | 7 / 10 | 04-17-2017 | Snake Pass lets you play as snake in a colored but uncompromising 3D world where you need to slither, climb and be curious. Despite its childish and lovely graphics, the game feels demanding and the camera system will make you mad, so buy it only if you are patient! | Read review |
TechRaptor | Joey Thurmond | 7.5 / 10 | 04-03-2017 | Snake Pass is a charming delight with imaginative platforming. Some obstacles can be cheesed and puzzles could’ve been developed further, but its collectibles, overwhelmingly cute style, and playful music prevent its novelty from shedding too much. | Read review |
The Games Machine | Ivan Conte | 7.7 / 10 | 04-04-2017 | Snake Pass has a colorful look, a cute character, and a truly inspired level design. It’s also very difficult, and not in a good way: the peculiar control system and the physics of the slithering creature can test your patience at times. It’s a good platform game, but you’re gonna need a lot of patience and self control. | Read review |
The Outerhaven Productions | Tyler Kelbaugh | 4 / 5 stars | 04-09-2017 | Snake Pass is a one of a kind game from Sumo Digital. It’s atmosphere, control scheme, and well hidden collectables make it one of my biggest surprise games of 2017. A bad camera is the only significant complaint I have, although that is definitely a problem in a game like this. Still, those brief moments of frustration don’t change the fact that this is one heck of a game for just $20. There’s a lot of room for this concept to grow, and I look forward to more Noodle and Doodle adventures in the near future. | Read review |
TheSixthAxis | Dominic Leighton | 8 / 10 | 03-30-2017 | Managing to be both nostalgic and refreshingly new, Snake Pass is a glorious adventure that brings the 3D puzzle platformer right up to date. Barring some frustrations and a tough difficulty level, there are few indie games that provide such a thoroughly entertaining, beautifully designed experience as Sumo Digital have created here. | Read review |
TheXboxHub | Neil Watton | 4.5 / 5 stars | 04-02-2017 | From my first hands on with Snake Pass, I had the feeling that Sumo Digital were onto something special, and that most definitely turns out to be the case…as long as you are prepared to think like a snake. | Read review |
ThisGenGaming | Justin Oneil | 8.5 / 10 | 04-08-2017 | I’m pretty happy that in the first few months of 2017 we have seen a couple games, Snake Pass included, try to bring back that magic that so many late 90’s 3D platformers had. Snake Pass has such a charming main character like those games of old and fun and colorful worlds as well. I never thought playing as a snake could be so much fun but Sumo Digital has proven that it can be. Yes I wish it was longer and the camera needs work but what Sumo Digital has put forth here is a strong foundation to build on and I hope I get to go on more journeys with Noodle and Doodle in the future. | Read review |
Thumbsticks | James Sweeting | 4 / 5 stars | 04-12-2017 | The temptation with Snake Pass might be throw the controller down in frustration and walk away, when faced with sheer befuddlement at the controls and the absurdity of wiggling Noodle around some tricky environments. But if you persevere with it – and you really should – you’ll find the gameplay ‘clicks’ surprisingly quickly. And once it does, Snake Pass is a thoroughly enjoyable riff on the retro 3D platformer, brought to life in charming style and with a genuinely innovative approach to traversal and problem solving. | Read review |
TrueAchievements | Megan Walton | 4.5 / 5 stars | 04-14-2017 | Your time with Noodle and Doodle might be a bit short, and some of the camera angles will really have you struggling, but overall it’s a fun and exciting experience that you shouldn’t misssssssss. | Read review |
Twinfinite | Tom Hopkins | 3.5 / 5 stars | 04-05-2017 | While Snake Pass looks and sounds like a 3D platformer of old, the ‘think like a snake’ idea that the gameplay is built around makes it a game that will influence platformers of the future. The puzzle is the movement, and since that movement is so fun and engaging, it makes for enjoyable experience, even if the unreliable camera makes it more frustrating than it should be. | Read review |
Use a Potion | Daryl Leach | 8 / 10 | 03-29-2017 | Snake Pass offers a charming and intuitive adventure that feels unlike any platformer I’ve ever played before. When slithering through the world as Noodle it really feels like you’re controlling this cute little snake – it has such an unorthodox approach in comparison to your typical platformer, but it ensures that gameplay feels uniquely enjoyable. It’s also incredibly beautiful too, with a luscious vibrant world that’s a pleasure to explore. | Read review |
USgamer | Mike Williams | 3.5 / 5 stars | 04-01-2017 | Visually, Snake Pass recalls the Nintendo 64 era of Rare, with a bright and colorful presentation across its fifteen levels. When you dig into the game though, you find a unique set of controls that want to make the player really feel like a snake. If you spend time learning how Snake Pass controls, you’ll find a rewarding, if sometimes uneven, experience. | Read review |
VGChartz | Daniel Carreras | Recommended | 03-29-2017 | It has its frustrations, especially when a mistake is made without there being a nearby checkpoint, but overall Snake Pass is a pleasure to work through. | Read review |
Video Chums | A.J. Maciejewski | 7.1 / 10 | 03-29-2017 | Snake Pass is a deceptively difficult game that’s perfect for gamers who crave challenging new experiences. | Read review |
Game Info
Welcome to Snake Pass; a physical action-puzzle game that sees the player slither, curl and climb their way through increasingly challenging worlds filled with evermore intricate obstacles and fiendishly mind-bending objectives! Snake Pass is the wriggling brain-child of Seb Liese, who originally came to Sumo from Holland to work on the LittleBigPlanet team. His prototype of ‘real snake physics’ captured the entire studio’s imagination and we’re really proud of the results so far!
RELEASE DATES:
DEVELOPER(S):
- Sumo Digital
PUBLISHER(S):
- Sumo Digital
GENRES:
- Platformer, Puzzle
SERIES/FRANCHISE:
- n/a
GAME MODES:
- Single player
GAME ENGINE:
- -
DLC:
- -
BUNDLED IN:
- -
DIRECTOR(S):
- -
PRODUCER(S):
- -
DESIGNER(S):
- -
PROGRAMMER(S):
- -
ARTIST(S):
- -
WRITER(S):
- -
COMPOSER(S):
- -
GAME MODES:
- Single player
GAME ENGINE:
- n/a
DLC:
- n/a
BUNDLED IN:
- n/a
DIRECTOR(S):
- n/a
PRODUCER(S):
- n/a
DESIGNER(S):
- n/a
PROGRAMMER(S):
- n/a
ARTIST(S):
- n/a
WRITER(S):
- n/a
COMPOSER(S):
- n/a
People Also Like
Follow VSG on Instagram
Your go-to for the news, reviews and info you need from the gaming industry. Without access. Without favor. Without interference.