Snail Walk is a walking game built around one simple rule the others do not have: you can lose. A giant snail follows you along a path, and your real daily step count is the only thing keeping him back. Most walking apps reward you for moving. Snail Walk is the one with a consequence for stopping.
This page explains how the whole game works, start to finish.
The core loop
Everything in the game comes down to a short daily loop:
- Your phone counts your steps, the same way it already does.
- Those steps move your character forward down a shared path.
- A snail named Bob follows behind at a steady pace.
- Walk enough each day and you stay ahead of him.
- Stop walking and the gap shrinks. If Bob reaches you, you die.
That is the entire game. Walk in real life, stay ahead of the snail. There are no levels to grind and no story to follow - just how far you can get before you stop.
Meet Bob, the snail
Bob is a large garden snail. He is calm, slow, and not chasing you personally - he is just going this way. He never speeds up on his own and he never gets tired. He simply keeps coming. The only thing that matters is whether you are walking faster than he is.
Steps are the only mechanic
Snail Walk moves your character using your daily step count and nothing else. It reads that number from Apple Health on iPhone or Health Connect on Android, only after you grant permission. There is no GPS, no location, and no route tracking - the game never knows where you walked, only how many steps you took.
Steps from a Fitbit, Garmin, Apple Watch, or similar device count too, as long as they already sync to Apple Health or Health Connect. Treadmill and indoor steps count the same as any other. Bob does not care where you take them, only that you take them.
Set your own pace
Everyone walks a different amount, so you decide how fast Bob moves. He starts at a middle pace and you can nudge him slower or faster in small steps, at any time, from inside the game. Changes only apply from the moment you make them - they never reach back and change your past. Making the game easier is always free; keeping the snail back should never cost money.
Dying and tombstones
If Bob catches you, your character dies and a named tombstone is placed at that exact distance along the path. Because everyone walks the same path, your tombstone stays there for other players to walk past and find. Then you start again from the beginning and try to get further than last time. Passing players can even pay their respects at a grave they find along the way.
One shared path
Everybody walks the same path, so your progress sits alongside everyone else's. The route is marked with real-world distances - from the length of a parkrun all the way out toward the Moon - so you can see exactly how far you have come. A leaderboard ranks players by the distance they survived. You can read the world field report to see the totals so far and where players have fallen.
Characters and cosmetics
You play as a hooded pilgrim by default, and you can change how you look. Cosmetics - different playable characters, avatars, and tombstone styles - let you stand out on the shared path. They are the fun extras, never a way to walk faster or hold the snail back.
Where to play
Snail Walk is a mobile game for iPhone and Android, live now on the App Store and Google Play. There is no web or desktop version - the whole point is walking around in real life. Comparing options? See our list of the best walking games.
Head to the Snail Walk homepage to get started, or join the Discord if you have questions.
Common questions
How does the walking game work?
Your phone counts your daily steps and those steps move your character forward along a shared path. A giant snail named Bob follows behind at a steady pace. Keep walking each day and you stay ahead of him. Stop walking and he closes the gap. If Bob reaches you, your character dies and leaves a tombstone at that spot.
Does the walking game use GPS?
No. It only reads your daily step count from Apple Health on iPhone or Health Connect on Android, and only after you allow it. There is no GPS, no location, and no map of where you went.
Do treadmill and indoor steps count?
Yes. Steps are steps, wherever you take them - treadmill, hallway, or pacing on a call. Steps from a Fitbit, Garmin, or Apple Watch count too if they already sync to Apple Health or Health Connect.
Is the walking game free?
No - Snail Walk is a paid app with no ads and no free tier. Once you're in, adjusting how fast the snail moves is always free - keeping him back is never something you pay extra for.
Where can I play?
Snail Walk is a mobile game for iPhone and Android, live now on the App Store and Google Play.