Temple Of Snek

Aetheric Games · Pixeljam

Released: Feb 15, 2023
Platforms
Last updated: 15 Sep 2026, 10:02 GMT

Updates & announcements

20 posts

02 Aug 2023Developer post
Snek's 1.0 Half-anniversary
It's almost six months since Snek slithered out of early access! It's hard to believe it's been so long. Back in February, I was so used to working on Temple of Snek that I couldn't really believe it was "finished". Heavy scare-quotes. So this is a bit of a celebration. A half-an
It's almost six months since Snek slithered out of early access!
It's hard to believe it's been so long. Back in February, I was so used to working on Temple of Snek that I couldn't really believe it was "finished". Heavy scare-quotes.
So this is a bit of a celebration. A half-anniversary. I wanted to write about some of the cool things around and since the 1.0 release, in the game, about development, and from the community. And since it's a celebration, we're doing a big 50% off sale - Snek's biggest discount yet - during the Cerebral Puzzle Showcase on 3rd-10th August. So that's an ideal time to grab it off your wishlist or recommend it to a friend!
About six years ago I typed the following into my ideas doc:
Tower of Snek. It's a Snake-like, except you're a giant snake monster defending the Tower of Snek from invading heroes who want to kill your priests and steal your loot. Small tile-based dungeon levels, could be procgen and roguish?
It didn't turn out exactly like that, huh? But the general idea was there. I was thinking of a tower of stacked levels, getting progressively harder as you climb, envisage as a 2D game with pixel-art tiles. This procgen, rougelike idea didn't stick around for long though. It was another couple of years before I decided to try making a basic Snake-like in 3D using spline meshes, purely as a learning exercise, and then I just kind of fell into making Temple of Snek. Version 0.1 was ready for early access in August 2021, and version 1.0 signified the end of early access in February 2023. Through that time the game got UGC with Workshop support, a kind-of-ridiculously-big, interconnected dungeon, and a ton of overhauls to various systems and features.
All of that was driven partly by the players and community, providing feedback and motivation. I'm very grateful to Temple of Snek players, and proud of the community we had through all of early access, and of the game it turned out to be. Cheers! 💚
Here's a list of seven things worth celebrating.
Cerebral Puzzle Showcase
Temple of Snek is joining the Cerebral Puzzle Showcase this week! It's a wonderful, curated collection of "thinky" games, and it's an honour to be included. If you buy one game this week, it should be a gift copy of Snek 😉… but if you buy more than one check out the showcase. There are some free demos too (including the excellent demo debut of the mysterious and puzzling CRT7 by Snek-friend Amicable Animal).
Updates Updates Updates
Throughout early access, there were minor updates every couple of months, as well as milestone updates like Mek-a-Snek (the snek-skin editor), Snek Workshop (the level editor), the hint system, and the three big Story Mode chunks. You can read more about them in the roadmap or change log. Two of my favourite minor updates were the addition of the rats and quetzal birds, and the spooky-scary-skele-Snek Halloween skin.
Version 1.0 ended early access, but it definitely wasn't finished-finished. Since then, there's been a ton of tweaks and new features like:
Pop-up length counter in the HUD.
Panning and zooming the map screen.
Adjusted some puzzles based on player feedback.
Visibility / readability enhancements.
Improvements to ultrawide support.
Improvements to the save system to help you get out of a jam if you accidentally use up all your restarts on the same checkpoint.
A bunch of bug fixes.
Player-made Snek-Skins
Since the Mek-a-Snek editor launched in version 0.2, players have been able to adorn their snek with custom scale patterns. In version 0.4 Mek-a-Snek got Steam Workshop integration for sharing patterns. All the colour patterns people have made resembling real snake species are fantastic, but personally I especially love the more creative ones, such as Lava Snek, by FerreTrip (which works well with the Glo-Snek body), Hotdog by Bubbles, and Arcade Anaconda, by CraftyMutt, as well as CraftyMutts knit patterns, which work well with the Woolly Snek body type, and are the kind I most like to make too.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2933461266
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2964386113
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3006194068
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3006201977
Scottish Games Awards 2022 Nominee
In October 2022 Temple of Snek was shortlisted for an award in the Creativity category of the inaugural Scottish Games Awards. It was a prestigious bunch of nominees. Snek was in very fine company, and I felt very proud!
Interactive Music
The music in Temple of Snek is a huge part of the vibe and character of the game. I think Miles Tilmann did an excellent job of composing compelling, energetic, expressive bops to fit the environments and chapters of the game and assist the rhythm-based gameplay. It's all produced as individual stems, in a way that made it easy for me to script as interactive music to fit the puzzles. If you're not familiar with the game and its music, you can check it out in the demo. Some of my favourite moments are when the interactive music can anticipate that you're about to solve a puzzle and bring in a flourish not just after it's solved, but almost at the time when you realise you're about to solve it. There are a couple of those moments in the demo. Miles's arrangements and support made that possible.
Player-made Levels
Snek Workshop came out in two parts, completed in 1.0, and lets players make their own self-contained Snek puzzles using simplified tools and share them on Steam. It blows my mind whenever I play one of these creations and a player has used the game mechanics in a way I wouldn't have thought of, or poses a puzzle that challenges and intrigues me. I'd have thought I was so familiar with this game that I couldn't be surprised, but that's so not true. Some of my favourite levels on the Workshop are LEVEL 1 by SonySeva, Length Problem by Лёв, Water Room by ~HarrisoN~ and 氧化汞HgOlivere's excellent Binary System - it's very clever.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2936776886
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2914130805
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2912467032
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2947284492
"Very Positive" Reviews
As of writing, Steam player reviews are at 93% positive, out of 78 customer reviews (and 95% of 143 overall) which is amazing as far as I'm concerned. Sure, this bizarre mix of rhythm/metroidvania/realtime-puzzle game isn't going to be to everyone's taste, but I'm really grateful for all the positive reviews and kind words players have given. If you enjoy Temple of Snek and haven't left a review yet, please do! Don't feel that you have to write a lot of words, but it really helps in a big way to get Steam to show the game to more new players. It's still a long way to the 95% of 500 reviews you need for "Overwhelmingly Positive" ... but you never know! Every 👍 helps!
Thank you for checking out this post, and for checking out Snek! Remember to wishlist, review, tell a friend, and if you don't own a copy buy it while it's 50% off, between 3rd-10th August!
Original post
02 Aug 2023Developer post
Update for very wide UI, and the final hint.
Version 1.2.0 is out! This is a small update, but I'm calling it 1.2.0 to signify that it's the end of a series of minor updates that together, feel like a big update. Kinda? 🤣 It's been almost 6 months since 1.0.0, but I'll be posting more about that soon. Version 1.2.0 improve
Version 1.2.0 is out! This is a small update, but I'm calling it 1.2.0 to signify that it's the end of a series of minor updates that together, feel like a big update. Kinda? 🤣 It's been almost 6 months since 1.0.0, but I'll be posting more about that soon.
Version 1.2.0 improves support for ultrawide displays. It should make the UI easier to notice and read when the aspect ratio is greater than 16:9, and it will hopefully stop some reported issues with cropping of vertical FOV.
This update also adds a much needed extra hint in the one place in the late-game where people seem to get stuck the most - how to get onto the platform in the Chamber of the Goddess. Since the movement you need to do to solve that one spans a level transition, it's not simple to show a single hint for the whole puzzle, and previously it only showed the first half. But that meant you needed to know where to go to start the solution, in order to get the hint. Not too helpful! 😰 But now if you request a hint when you're near the end of the puzzle, it'll give you a clue about where to approach it from.
v.1.2.0
Improvements:
Added an extra hint to the Chamber of the Goddess location - the most requested hint on the forums and discord.
Adjusted UI throughout the game to stick to the central 16:9 rectangle when the aspect ratio is wider, which will keep things in proportion and make pop-ups easier to see (such as the length counter, load/save icon and message boxes).
A few other minor UI tweaks and efficiency tweaks.
Fixes:
Fixed a rare bug that could break saves on slower machines due to a race condition.
Fixed Chapter 10 description reverting to Chapter 9 on reloading.
Previously it was possible for the camera FOV to not adjust to changes in resolution and aspect ratio during play, but that should no longer be a problem.
Original post
06 May 2023Developer post
Fix to one-step-at-a-time mode
In one-step-at-a-time mode, as well as tapping the button to move one square, you're supposed to be able to hold a directional button to move continuously, with Snek stopping when you let go of all the directions. At some point in the latter days of early access, a bug crept into
In one-step-at-a-time mode, as well as tapping the button to move one square, you're supposed to be able to hold a directional button to move continuously, with Snek stopping when you let go of all the directions. At some point in the latter days of early access, a bug crept into that mode, and you could only tap, not hold. I've just done a quick fix for that, and one-step-at-a-time mode is now working as it should be. It supposed to be an accessibility mode to make the game more suited to your abilities and preferences, so sorry if it was feeling a little awkward!
v.1.1.3
Fixes:
At some point, the ability to hold down a direction button during one-step-at-a-time mode got broken ... it's now fixed.
Original post
02 May 2023Developer post
the sneakiest update
Nothing to see here, just fixing a broken cheevo, and also changing a lightbulb while I'm here. v.1.1.2 Fixes: Fixed an issue with the sky-light that would happen if you die in the forest and respawn in the temple. Fixed a broken hint trigger, and also fixed the Golden Path achie
Nothing to see here, just fixing a broken cheevo, and also changing a lightbulb while I'm here.
v.1.1.2
Fixes:
Fixed an issue with the sky-light that would happen if you die in the forest and respawn in the temple.
Fixed a broken hint trigger, and also fixed the Golden Path achievement. Coincidence???
Original post
11 Mar 2023Developer post
quick update to avoid a sneak exploit
v.1.1.1 Fixes: Prevented an exploit in the Cantina that could lead you to skipping a puzzle (and an important lesson) in the Labyrinths.
v.1.1.1
Fixes:
Prevented an exploit in the Cantina that could lead you to skipping a puzzle (and an important lesson) in the Labyrinths.
Original post
02 Mar 2023Developer post
v.1.1: like 1.0, but moreso
Version 1.1.0 is here, adding a few little quality-of-life features, as well as a few fixes, on top of 1.0.0 and the previous minor updates. Details below! As always, thanks for playing! Don't forget to leave a review - it really, really helps people to find the game. v.1.1.0 Imp
Version 1.1.0 is here, adding a few little quality-of-life features, as well as a few fixes, on top of 1.0.0 and the previous minor updates. Details below!
As always, thanks for playing! Don't forget to leave a review - it really, really helps people to find the game.
v.1.1.0
Improvements:
Added an achievement for completing Story Mode.
All achievements are now localised on Steam.
Added a pop-up length-counter to the Story Mode and Workshop HUDs, to help you keep track of Snek's length changes.
Attempted to make the introduction of infinite NPC doors more obvious.
In Story Mode, you can now pan the pause screen map.
Added effects to make intersections from magic tiles more obvious.
Increased the maximum reloadable checkpoints from 5 to 8, so you can go back a little further if you need to.
Changed the way checkpointing works to include a limit on the number of consecutive saves you can do on the same checkpoint. If the game detects that you're going in circles over the same checkpoint, it will try to avoid overwriting all your reloads. The number maximum consecutive uses of the same checkpoint is 75% of the maximum reloadable checkpoints (i.e., 6 out of 8).
The puzzle at the end of the Long Corridor has been simplified (by making the platforms equal heights, repositioning the camera and adding some arrows).
Some minor UI changes to make the game more controller and Steam Deck friendly.
Fixes:
Stopped a door from automatically closing in the inner-sanctum, which could previously allow an exploit that skipped an important lesson.
Fixed flipped UVs on the "God Mode" snek head. (That means colours in Mek-a-Snek will apply to the correct side of the God Mode head.)
v.1.0.13
Fixes:
Fixed an exploit in the final puzzle that would allow you to catch the Capitan when you weren't meant to.
Fixed a bug that prevented the final cutscene from playing if you happen to have not skipped the opening cutscene. It's a very silly bug. Don't ask.
v.1.0.12
Improvements:
Added some extra floor arrows to the final guard room puzzle, as it was too difficult for the early game.
Fixes:
Potential fix to the bug that causes Workshop thumbnails to sometimes fail to upload.
Original post
23 Feb 2023Developer post
A small but important patch
Now that snek devotees are beating the temple, a couple of new issues popped up right at the end. This is just a quick patch to push em back down again. v.1.0.13 Fixes: Fixed an exploit in the final puzzle that would allow you to catch the Capitan when you weren't meant to. Fixed
Now that snek devotees are beating the temple, a couple of new issues popped up right at the end. This is just a quick patch to push em back down again.
v.1.0.13
Fixes:
Fixed an exploit in the final puzzle that would allow you to catch the Capitan when you weren't meant to.
Fixed a bug that prevented the final cutscene from playing if you happen to have not skipped the opening cutscene. It's a very silly bug. Don't ask.
Original post
18 Feb 2023Developer post
Small post-launch patch
Just a teeny tiny patch! v.1.0.12 Improvements: Added some extra floor arrows to the final guard room puzzle, as it was too difficult for the early game. Fixes: Potential fix to the bug that causes Workshop thumbnails to sometimes fail to upload.
Just a teeny tiny patch!
v.1.0.12
Improvements:
Added some extra floor arrows to the final guard room puzzle, as it was too difficult for the early game.
Fixes:
Potential fix to the bug that causes Workshop thumbnails to sometimes fail to upload.
Original post
15 Feb 2023Developer post
Version 1.0 is out now!
The Quetzalcoatl update brings Temple of Snek to version 1.0, and out of early access! It's been a long journey - thank you for coming along! Like Snek, this game turned out bigger than I could've imagined, and I hope you enjoy it. The full details are in the change log , but her
11 Jan 2023Developer post
Temple Of Snek Will Leave Early Access on February 15th
Hello All, Snek's long journey is almost at an end! On February 15th version 1.0, the Quetzalcoatl update, goes live and will include: - A Finished version of Story Mode, with new puzzles, locations, music, and an ending to the story. - A Finished version of Snek Workshop level e
30 Nov 2022Developer post
Quick fix! v.0.5.6
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain! This is just a quick patch to deal with a specific bug. v.0.5.6 Fixes: Fixed an issue late in Story Mode where magic tiles would trigger nearby spikes, making the North Labyrinth puzzle solvable again.
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain! This is just a quick patch to deal with a specific bug.
v.0.5.6
Fixes:
Fixed an issue late in Story Mode where magic tiles would trigger nearby spikes, making the North Labyrinth puzzle solvable again.
Original post
15 Nov 2022Developer post
A quick UI patch
Hey snek-fans! Here's a cheeky wee patch that improves a few minor UI things. Nothing major, just some stuff I wanted to get out of the way before I get seriously stuck in to making more puzzles and finishing Story Mode. Here are the details! v.0.5.5 Improvements: Added a text-to
Hey snek-fans! Here's a cheeky wee patch that improves a few minor UI things. Nothing major, just some stuff I wanted to get out of the way before I get seriously stuck in to making more puzzles and finishing Story Mode. Here are the details!
v.0.5.5
Improvements:
Added a text-to-speech option in the Language menu that works with the engine's built-in English voice.
Browsing Steam Workshop from within the game will now automatically filter for skins or levels, depending on which editor you come from.
Made all UI neater and more readable by partially cleaning up and smoothing off the stone texture.
Increased the size of the chapter description font on the Story Mode pause screen.
Fixes:
You can now activate Fast mode after entering the exit of a custom level, as it should be.
Fixed a bug where Snek could drop onto spikes and survive, provided that the tip of her tail dropped onto a water tile at the same time. That was confusing.
Minor fixes to keyboard/controller navigation in Snek Workshop and Mek-a-Snek UI.
Original post
29 Oct 2022Developer post
Viracocha update v.0.5.0
The Viracocha update is here! Version 0.5.0 unlocks the first version Snek Workshop level editor, allowing you to design your own snek puzzles and share them on Steam Workshop. Share your challenges! You can make a fun and/or fiendish puzzle of your own and publish it to the Stea
18 Oct 2022Developer post
Snek Workshop!
Hey folks, hope you're all good! There's a major update on its way: Viracocha (v.0.5.0), coming in the next couple of weeks, which adds the Snek Workshop level editor on the main branch. But you don't have to wait! The public beta branch now has v.0.4.10b, with a beta version of
04 Oct 2022Developer post
Level editor is now in beta!
Hey there BETA GANG and Acolytes of Snek! If you want to try out an early version of the Snek Workshop level editor, you can get it now in v.0.4.6b, on the Public Beta Branch. The password is "TempleOfTest" as always. (See the image below.) You should find that the Snek Workshop
Hey there BETA GANG and Acolytes of Snek!
If you want to try out an early version of the Snek Workshop level editor, you can get it now in v.0.4.6b, on the Public Beta Branch. The password is "TempleOfTest" as always. (See the image below.)
You should find that the Snek Workshop mode is unlocked for you, but if not, just start a new game in Story Mode and then return to the main menu.
We'll be adding more features and releasing new betas over time, up until the next big Early Access update.
✅ What will this 0.4.6 beta version let you do?
You can create, edit and play levels on your own computer.
You can use some of the puzzle mechanics like buttons, spikes, doors, water, heights.
🚫 What can't you do yet?
You can't yet publish levels to the Steam Workshop.
You can't yet download other people's levels (but you could probably share the files directly, if you wanted to).
You can't yet use some of the more complex puzzle mechanics like rails, trails, NPCs, magic tiles.
I'd love to hear your feedback. Don't be too surprised if you find bugs. I'm 100% sure you will, but please do let me know about it, either on here or on the discord.
I'm fairly sure that the file format won't need to change, but just in case don't craft your magnum opus just yet - there's a tiny outside chance that levels created with this beta will become incompatible in the future.
Thanks for your help! 😊
Original post
08 Aug 2022Developer post
Kukulkan update v.0.4.0
The Kukulkan update v.0.4.0 is a small but important step on the Temple of Snek roadmap, and it's out now! Here's what Snek's got for you: Hint system Hints are now available throughout almost all of Story Mode (so far, and also for the future instalment) in the form of a particl
12 Jul 2022Developer post
Beta players can share snek-patterns and get achievements now!
The Kukulkan update is nearly ready, but first it would be awesome if some players could give the beta a test run on real live Steam first! If you want to get the beta and be one of the first to get Steam achievements or share your snek patterns, you'll find the details below. Me
04 Jul 2022Developer post
Price Change On July 11
Hello all, Temple of Snek (both the project and the place) just keeps getting bigger. The Kukulkan update is coming soon, and after that it'll just be a matter of months until the level editor and final installment are on the horizon. It's already a bigger game than I ever imagin
06 May 2022Developer post
a post-Pachamama patch
Just slipping in a quick patch following the massive content splat that was the Pachamama update. Version 0.3.7 addresses these issues: Fixed a potential softlock in Old Garden Camp, where if you reload at just the wrong time, the priestess could forget that she's supposed to be
Just slipping in a quick patch following the massive content splat that was the Pachamama update.
Version 0.3.7 addresses these issues:
Fixed a potential softlock in Old Garden Camp, where if you reload at just the wrong time, the priestess could forget that she's supposed to be helping you.
Fixed a potential softlock near Collapsed Stairs, where you could trap yourself if you went back indoors and then used up your saves.
Improved the camera set-up in a secret area with a "2" in its name.
Snek-proofed a different secret area.
Future-proofed a future secret area.
Removed some unnecessary checkpoints that risked using up your saves.
Changed the way that save games are updated from Coatlicue versions to Pachamama versions, to ensure the update will only happen once.
The animated logo on the title screen will now only play on Windows, rather than glitching out on Proton.
Speaking of Proton - Temple of Snek runs just fine in Proton on Linux or on Steam Deck, if you have one. For now you'll need to select Proton version 6.3-8 in the game's properties in the library.
Original post
02 May 2022Developer post
Pachamama update v.0.3.0
The Pachamama update is now live! Version 0.3.0 is now available, bringing the next big chunk of Story Mode, including: New tile types and puzzle mechanics New NPC types and new dangers New secrets to collect and achievements to unlock There's a bunch of other little improvements
The Pachamama update is now live!
Version 0.3.0 is now available, bringing the next big chunk of Story Mode, including:
New tile types and puzzle mechanics
New NPC types and new dangers
New secrets to collect and achievements to unlock

There's a bunch of other little improvements too, including:
A shiny new body type to unlock in Mek-a-Snek
Improved music system that runs smoother and is more versatile
Faster fast-forward
Various fixes and more!

Did you notice that each Temple of Snek update is named after a deity from a prehispanic culture? Temple of Snek is not set in the real world, so the characters in the game don't represent any specific people, but the goddess Snek has a lot in common with different indigenous South and Central American deities. Pachamama is the name of an earth mother goddess of the Andes. She's the mother of the sun and moon. She's generous and supportive, but will also protect her earth and its children when she has to... like our Snek. It's time to monch some conquistadors!
If you enjoy Temple of Snek, be sure to leave a review (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1208590/) to let people know. If you have an feedback or comments, or a bug to report you can do that using the feedback form in-game (F8) or by joining us on the Discord (https://discord.gg/MBkyN5EvHR). By joining the Discord you can also get in on beta updates and help shape the game with feedback and suggestions.
The next major update will be the Kukulkan update (version 0.4.0), which will include an art pass for all of Story Mode, live achievements and some other unannounced features.
Original post

Updates & announcements

It's almost six months since Snek slithered out of early access!

Cerebral Puzzle Showcase

Updates Updates Updates

Player-made Snek-Skins

Scottish Games Awards 2022 Nominee

Interactive Music

Player-made Levels

"Very Positive" Reviews

Thank you for checking out this post, and for checking out Snek! Remember to wishlist, review, tell a friend, and if you don't own a copy buy it while it's 50% off, between 3rd-10th August!

v.1.2.0

v.1.1.3

v.1.1.2

v.1.1.1

v.1.1.0

v.1.0.13

v.1.0.12

v.1.0.13

v.1.0.12

Final Chapters

Things to Make and Do

v.0.5.6

v.0.5.5

Share your challenges!

Tiles galore!

Lots of Help

Hint system

Live achievements

Mek-a-Snek + Steam Workshop

Friends, not food

Mek-a-Snek

Achievements

Hint system and more

Beta access

The access code is "TempleOfTest".