Building a Classic Snake Game in Python with Pygame

Vipul Malhotra's photo
Vipul Malhotra
·

2 min read

Creating games in Python can be both fun and educational, offering a great way to enhance your programming skills. In this article, we will walk through the development of a classic Snake game using Python and the Pygame library. This game mimics the one we used to play on old Nokia phones. Let's dive in!

Game Features

  • A snake that moves on the screen and grows as it eats food.

  • A scoring mechanism based on the amount of food consumed.

  • Collision detection with walls and the snake's own body.

  • A "Game Over" screen when a collision occurs.

  • Control the snake's movement using keyboard arrow keys.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have the following installed:

  • Python 3.x

  • Pygame library

To install Pygame, run:

pip install pygame

Project Structure

The full source code is available on GitHub. Clone the repository to follow along:

git clone https://github.com/vipulm124/snake-python.git
cd snake-python

Here is an overview of the files in the project:

snake_game.py

This is the main file that contains the game logic. It handles:

  • Setting up the game window with specified dimensions and colors.

  • Defining the snake's behavior, including movement and growth.

  • Handling food generation and detection when the snake eats the food.

  • Detecting collisions with the walls or the snake's own body, leading to a "Game Over" screen.

  • Managing user inputs through keyboard arrow keys to control the snake.

requirements.txt

This file lists the dependencies required for the project, including the Pygame library. You can install the dependencies using the command:

pip install -r requirements.txt

README.md

The README.md file provides an overview of the project, instructions on how to set up and run the game, and any additional information for contributors or users.

Demo Video

Customization Ideas

  • Add levels with increasing speed.

  • Include obstacles for added difficulty.

  • Add a background theme or music.

Conclusion

Building a Snake game in Python is a fantastic way to sharpen your programming skills and understand game development basics. The Pygame library makes it simple to create interactive and visually engaging games. Feel free to modify and extend the game using your creativity.

Happy Coding!

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