The Year of the Snake has slithered into 2025, and what better way to celebrate as gamers than by exploring the most memorable snakes in video games. 

From retro classics to modern masterpieces, these serpents have charmed their way into our hearts — and sometimes given us nightmares that make us want to hurl our controllers. Which is your favourite snake?

Snake

Let's start with the OG. If you had a Nokia phone back in the day, you definitely spent hours playing Snake. This game was peak mobile gaming before smartphones took over the world.

Gameplay was simple: eat food, grow, and avoid crashing into yourself. The first game that was truly easy to learn but hard to master.

Trowzer from Yooka-Laylee

Yooka-Laylee was the spiritual successor to the Banjo-Kazooie series (made by the same developers).

As the chameleon Yooka and his bat partner Laylee, you will often run into a quirky character named Trowzer, an adventurous red snake wearing... trousers. He's your go-to guy for abilities, trading them for quills you collect as you explored the game's whimsical world.

God-Devouring Serpent / Rykard from Elden Ring

In FromSoftware's masterpiece Elden Ring, Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy, takes snake bosses to a new level. This terrifying demi-god fused himself with a monstrous serpent to achieve immortality.

Facing him is an unforgettable (and rage-inducing) boss fight with poison and magma attacks. Don't forget to grab the "Serpent-Hunter" spear before diving in.

Great Serpent from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Another FromSoftware big bad guy, the Great Serpent in Sekiro will make your palms sweat. This massive snake is relentless, appearing multiple times to block your path. The payoff? A satisfying one-hit-kill deathblow, along with a crucial item that can change the game's ending.

Noodle from Snake Pass

In this indie gem, you play as Noodle, a bright and cheerful snake navigating tricky puzzles. Unlike most platformers, Noodle doesn't jump.

Instead, you slither realistically just like a snake, wrapping around objects to climb or maintain balance. The unique controls take some getting used to, but that's what makes this game stand out.

Jormungandr from God of War

The World Serpent, Jormungandr, is as massive as he is helpful. Awakened by Kratos and Atreus in the 2018 reboot of God of War, Jormungandr becomes a key ally. In the sequel God of War: Ragnarok (spoiler alert), he even faces off against Thor in an epic showdown.

Ekans and Arbok from Pokemon

The original snake Pokemon, Ekans and Arbok, blew our minds as kids when we realised their names were "snake" and "cobra" spelled backwards. These Poison-types can spit acid and constrict enemies, but they're best remembered as Jessie's loyal partners in Team Rocket's schemes. Shoutout to the other snakes in Pokemon like Onix, Steelix, and Serperior.

Deis/Bleu from Breath of Fire

Part human, part serpent, Deis (or Bleu in earlier titles) is an immortal sorceress from the Breath of Fire series. Known for her devastating combat magic and aloof personality, Deis is a powerful ally... when she feels like helping — a snake with a touch of sass!

Solid Snake from Metal Gear Solid

"Kept you waiting, huh?" Solid Snake is the ultimate human "snake" and one of gaming's most iconic characters. His stealth missions in Metal Gear Solid redefined the action genre. Plus, you can look forward to playing his genetic father, Naked Snake, in the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.

This article was first published in Wonderwall.sg.