How the Snake Game Appeared in Nokia Phones

In the mid-1990s, Nokia was developing a new phone model that would become the brand's first with built-in games.

Finnish programmer Taneli Armanto convinced management to limit the device to a single game to avoid overloading it. He proposed purchasing a Tetris license, but negotiations with the rights holder dragged on, and the project was ultimately canceled.

Searching for an Alternative to Tetris

Armanto sought an intuitive and addictive game. Recalling Blockade from 1976, he decided to use snake mechanics. This arcade game already had numerous clones across various platforms.

Developer Gremlin Industries lost rights to the original game back in 1978 after being acquired by Sony. By the early 1980s, cloning had become widespread, so no license fee was required.

Snake's Success and Nokia's Legacy

In 1997, Nokia released a phone featuring the built-in Snake game. Marketers noted that this game became the key factor driving the popularity of the 6110 model.

Snake became standard equipment on all subsequent Nokia phones, including the iconic 2000 Nokia 3310.