Free worm games on Android are mostly arena games: you steer a worm, eat to grow longer and avoid crashing into others, as in slither.io and Worms Zone. Seven of the ten listings here say they play offline, which helps on journeys. All are free to install, and one is rated Teen.
Worm games are a lovely bit of design. You can explain one in a sentence, your little worm eats dots and gets longer, and yet a single round can have you holding your breath as a giant curls round you.
I read the Google Play listing for each of these ten and noted who makes it, the installs, the ads and in-app purchases labels, the rating and any offline wording. The order isn't a ranking.
A quick warning before you start: lots of these look almost identical in the store. The developer column below is the easiest way to tell them apart.
Worm and snake games compared
| Game | Developer | Google Play installs | Ads / in-app purchases | Offline wording on the listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worms Zone .io - Hungry Snake | CASUAL AZUR GAMES | 500M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| slither.io | Lowtech Studios | 500M+ | No ads label, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Snake.io - Fun Snake .io Games | Kooapps Games | Fun Arcade and Casual Action Games | 100M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'Offline io games require no internet connection' |
| Snake Clash! | Supercent, Inc. | 100M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'Play offline with smooth controls' |
| Snake Lite - Snake Game | Hippo Lab | 100M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'You can play offline alone' |
| Worm Hunt | Peaky Muzzle | 50M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'can be played online and offline' |
| Worms Merge-io&idle snake game | Hippo Lab | 50M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'Offline mode - play anywhere, anytime' |
| Wormax.io | Elyland | 10M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | No offline claim on the listing |
| Snake vs Worms: Fun .io Zone | My Games Island - Play game for fun | 5M+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'play this amazing worm game wherever you want with no WiFi' |
| Prehistoric Worm Worlds | Empty Pockets | 50K+ | Contains ads, in-app purchases | 'Offline Play' |
The ten worm games
Worms Zone .io - Hungry Snake
An arcade arena where you collect food and power-ups, grow longer and try to outlast everyone else. It's the most installed game here, at more than 500M.
slither.io
The game that started the craze. You play against other people online, and if your head touches another worm, you're out. It shows no Contains ads label.
Snake.io - Fun Snake .io Games
A modern take on classic Snake with live events online, plus an offline mode. Its listing is clear that you can play without Wi-Fi.
Snake Clash!
Start as a tiny snake, eat food and smaller snakes and grow until you rule the arena. Its listing says it plays online or offline.
Snake Lite - Snake Game
An arena snake game where you collect power-ups and race other players to grow biggest. It's rated Everyone 10+, the only Hippo Lab game here with that rating.
Worm Hunt
Choose between a timed mode with a shrinking arena and an unlimited mode on a huge map. Its listing says it works online and offline.
Worms Merge-io&idle snake game
A mix of arena play and merging, where you combine worms to make stronger ones. Its listing says there's no Wi-Fi needed for single player.
Wormax.io
Pick a worm, eat shiny dots and battle other players in the arena. It's rated Teen, the highest rating here, so it's one for older players.
Snake vs Worms: Fun .io Zone
A casual worm arena with offline play alone or battles against others. Its listing mentions the no Wi-Fi option twice.
Prehistoric Worm Worlds
Something different: a pixel-art game where your prehistoric worm smashes through worlds and evolves with cards. It's rated Everyone 10+.
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Online arenas against offline worms
The original idea, which slither.io made famous, is that every other worm in the arena is a real person. That's what makes it tense, and it's also why slither.io doesn't mention offline play on its listing.
Many newer games add an offline mode where the other worms are run by the game. Snake.io, Snake Clash!, Worm Hunt and Snake vs Worms all say you can play without a connection. It's less unpredictable, but it means a long bus ride isn't wasted.
Tips for staying alive in a worm arena
- Stay near the edge at first while you grow, away from the crowd.
- Circle round smaller worms to trap them, rather than chasing head-on.
- Use your speed boost sparingly, because it usually shrinks you.
- Keep your head away from bigger worms' bodies. A touch ends the round.
- When a big worm is destroyed, its food is up for grabs, so move in quickly.
Ratings and labels for younger players
- Teen: Wormax.io.
- Everyone 10+: Snake Lite and Prehistoric Worm Worlds.
- Everyone: the other seven.
- No Contains ads label: slither.io, though it has in-app purchases.
- In-app purchases: all ten show the label.
Since every game here has a shop, it's worth switching on approval for in-app purchases before handing a phone to a child.
When you want to play head to head
Worm games are fast and reflexive. If you'd like something slower that still needs concentration, this piece on how slide puzzle games help with memory and patience is a good read, and it's honest about the limits.
For a game across the table rather than across an arena, try these 2 player card games for two.
And for a friendly rivalry on the sofa, here are some 2 player Switch games for couples and siblings.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular free worm game?
Worms Zone .io and slither.io both show more than 500M installs on Google Play.
Can you play worm games offline?
Seven listings here say so, including Snake.io, Snake Clash!, Worm Hunt and Snake vs Worms. slither.io doesn't mention offline play.
Is slither.io free?
Yes. It's free to install and shows no Contains ads label, though it has in-app purchases.
Are worm games suitable for kids?
Seven are rated Everyone, two are Everyone 10+ and Wormax.io is rated Teen. Check the rating before you install.
What's the difference between worm games and snake games?
Very little. Most use the same idea of eating to grow longer while avoiding other players' bodies.
Which worm game is a bit different?
Prehistoric Worm Worlds swaps the arena for pixel worlds you smash through, with cards to evolve your worm.
