Okay, let's talk about snakes. Not the scaly kind you find in the garden, but the pixelated, competitive kind that occupy our phone screens in Slither io. This massively multiplayer online game (MMO) is surprisingly addictive and easy to pick up, making it a perfect time-killer for your commute or a quick break.

Gameplay: Grow Big or Go Home (Quickly)

The premise of Slither io is beautifully simple: you control a snake, and your goal is to grow as long as possible. You do this by eating glowing orbs scattered around the map. These orbs appear randomly, but you can also find them by eliminating other players (more on that later).

When you start, you're a tiny little worm, vulnerable and easily outmaneuvered. The bigger snakes roam the map like colossal serpents, gobbling up everything in their path. Don't be intimidated! Size isn't everything (at least, not at first).

The controls are straightforward. You use your mouse (on a computer) or your finger (on a mobile device) to steer your snake. Point it in the direction you want to go, and it will follow. You can also boost your speed by holding down the mouse button or tapping on the screen. Boosting consumes your mass, so use it wisely.

Here's the catch: if your head collides with another snake's body, you die. Your snake explodes into a shower of delicious orbs, becoming a feast for other players. Conversely, if another player's head hits your body, they explode. This is where the strategy comes in.