Snakes are an interesting collection of animals as they are like spiders in that people either like them or absolutely can't stand the sight of them. Thanks to games like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Elden Ring, people are finding that video games are no longer the safe space from snakes that they once believed them to be.
However, virtual snakes can't hurt you, and sometimes they're friendly beings who simply want to fight the stigma, so it's important to know which snakes reign supreme in the world of gaming. Check out some of the most awesome snakes you can encounter in video games.
8 Trowzer (Yooka-Laylee)
The developers from Rare who founded and work at Playtonic Games made their mark on the industry with cute and adorable characters that were humorous and added to the immersion and vibes of the worlds they created. Yooka-Laylee was their first major release and it featured plenty of characters that were reminiscent of older games like Banjo-Kazooie and Spyro the Dragon. Trowzer is an adventurous red snake who comedically wears pants and helps teach Yooka, the main playable character, abilities at the cost of quills you collect throughout.
7 Anaconda (Red Dead Redemption 2)
You may have played Red Dead Redemption 2, but running into the giant anaconda in the wild west isn't something attached to a side mission or point of interest. Unlike much of the other wildlife in the game, you won't have to kill it yourself as it hangs dead on the tree where you can come across it. That location in question is the Scarlett Meadows just south of Pleasance, and the sheer size and orange-brown color of the serpent make it hard to miss. It's unclear if this easter egg is a reference to the film Anaconda, the religious fable related to the Garden of Eden, or perhaps Kaa from The Jungle Book animated film.
6 Kukulkan (Smite)
Most gamers are familiar with League of Legends, but Smite happens to be another multiplayer online battle arena, or MOBA, that has seen elongated success in the genre. The game features dozens of Gods from various mythologies, each with their own move sets and class they belong to.
Kukulkan, Serpent of the Nine Winds, hails from the Mayan pantheon of gods and is a terrifying winged serpent that belongs to Smite's mage class. Kukulkan's strengths are that it can clear minion waves and slow enemy movement, but it comes at the cost of it having rather limited mobility. It doesn't hurt that Kukulkan's ultimate ability is a rather dazzling display of power in a wide straight line in front of it.
5 God-Devouring Serpent/Rykard, Lord Of Blasphemy (Elden Ring)
The newest snake to take over the world of gaming happens to be a cursed human who serves as an optional boss in Elden Ring. Rykard, Lord of Blasphemy is the second phase of a boss fight that starts with you taking stage against a giant snake called the God-Devouring Serpent. He's considered one of the uglier character designs in all of FromSoftware's latest hits and can be quite difficult to look at. Thankfully if your fear of snakes is at an extreme level this boss can be avoided and doesn't need to be defeated to beat the game.
4 Great Serpent (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice)
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was a FromSoftware title (unfortunately published by Activision) that had you take on the role of the titular character, Sekiro. You were a Shinobi tasked with protecting and saving the Divine Heir who went by the name Kuro. The game has you take on several horrifying creatures and haunted spirits, but none caught players more off guard than the initial reveal of the Great Serpent. This albino snake makes multiple appearances in the game, serving as a blockade to your progress, but if you do things in a certain order you'll be rewarded with a satisfying and over-the-top event in which you can bring down the Great Serpent once and for all.
3 Noodle (Snake Pass)
The hit indie title Snake Pass, developed and published by Sumo Digital, had you control a friendly snake named Noodle. The game focused on puzzle-platforming and brought a refreshing set of gameplay mechanics to the genre. Noodle seems to be an Eastern Hognose Snake, sporting a dazzling body comprised of orange, yellow, and black stripes. The game is relatively short, consisting of just 15 levels, and controlling Noodle throughout results in a relaxing and cathartic experience.
2 Jormungandr (God Of War)
Jormungandr often referred to as the World Serpent, is a larger-than-life character that plays a major role in Kratos' journey through 2018's God Of War. He is awakened by Kratos and his son while he is in a deep sleep under the Lake of Nine's surface. Norse Mythology states the giant snake fights Thor, the God of Thunder, during the events of Ragnarok.
This event is the focus of the sequel to the 2018 game, with the name Ragnarok being its subtitle. Fan theories have wildly speculated that the World Serpent's appearance is a bit too similar to that of Kratos and those fans believe a big twist to the story will be that Jormungandr is a different version of Kratos, cursed to live as the World Serpent.
1 Steelix (Pokemon)
Following the release of Pokemon Red & Blue fans were curious to see if the second generation of games would have Pokemon as interesting or cool as the original 151 creatures of the Kanto region. It was quickly clear Johto would not disappoint, especially when the evolution of Onix was revealed. By trading the Rock Snake Pokemon while it held an item called Metal Coat it would evolve into the Steel and Rock-type Iron Snake Pokemon known as Steelix. Its flashy and intimidating design made it a fan favorite out of the gate and to this day many people love how much of a defensive force it is in battle.