Old grid-based puzzle game with snakes that wake up when on the same row/column as you

Question

I'm trying to find an old game:

• Played on an old computer, not sure which kind. (early/late 1990s?)
• Graphics were grid-based and "8-bit-seeming". Locations included plains and caves.
• Movement was grid-based as well. I think the game was turn-based?
• The main character - which you moved around - might've been a gnome? Maybe not, though.
• One of the enemies which I remember clearly is a snake which usually does not move but "wakes up" when you're on the same row or column as it (unobstructed). It would then move (in a straight line only?) towards you. EDIT: Or actually - it might've killed you instantly in this case?

Edit2: I think you could move between "screens" freely. (Aka either it wasn't level-based, or the levels were larger than a single screen)

That's it for any reliable memories, I'm afraid.

Answer 1

Could it have been one of the DROD (Deadly Rooms Of Death) games?

• Played on an old computer, not sure which kind. (early/late 1990s?)

The first game came out in 1996 for Windows 95 and 3.1.

• Graphics were grid-based and "8-bit-seeming". Locations included plains and caves.
• Movement was grid-based as well. I think the game was turn-based?

I think you could move between "screens" freely. (Aka either it wasn't level-based, or the levels were larger than a single screen)

Yes to all of those. The graphics were redone a few years later and then looked like this: still pretty primitive though.

• The main character - which you moved around - might've been a gnome? Maybe not, though.

Beethro Budkin is human, but he's so ugly that you might mistake him for a gnome. In the redrawn graphics he's even uglier.

• One of the enemies which I remember clearly is a snake which usually does not move but "wakes up" when you're on the same row or column as it (unobstructed). It would then move (in a straight line only?) towards you.

The evil eyes (shown in the second screenshot) fit your description except that they aren't snakes. There are also snakes, but they're always awake.

EDIT: Or actually - it might've killed you instantly in this case?

There is another monster type (Aumtlich) that paralyzes you in line of sight, which tends to be fatal, but they first appeared in the third game, released in 2007.

Answer 2

Could it be Paganitzu? It has snakes, caves, turn-based, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF1JKxiu0XU

Answer 3

It doesn't match all of your points 100%, but could you be thinking of Adventures of Lolo or Eggerland which it was based on?

• Played on an old computer, not sure which kind. (early/late 1990s?)
• Graphics were grid-based and "8-bit-seeming". Locations included plains and caves.

It's a NES game from 1989. Mostly in a cave-like castle.

• Movement was grid-based as well. I think the game was turn-based?

Not turn based and movement is free, but objects are originally positioned on a grid.

• The main character - which you moved around - might've been a gnome? Maybe not, though.

No on this point.

• One of the enemies which I remember clearly is a snake which usually does not move but "wakes up" when you're on the same row or column as it (unobstructed). It would then move (in a straight line only?) towards you. EDIT: Or actually - it might've killed you instantly in this case?

The version that kills you instantly definitely exists, perhaps the moving one too.

Answer 4

Could it be Super ZZT?

• Played on an old computer, not sure which kind. (early/late 1990s?)

✅ Released in 1992 and can run on almost any DOS PC.

• Graphics were grid-based and "8-bit-seeming". Locations included plains and caves.

✅ CGA text mode graphics that look very typical of the 8-bit era

• Movement was grid-based as well. I think the game was turn-based?

✅ Grid-based movement. ❌ Not turn-based but runs on a slow enough clock that it might feel turn-based.

• The main character - which you moved around - might've been a gnome? Maybe not, though.

❌ The main character is a blue/white happyface. You do sometimes play as a dwarf in its spiritual successor, MegaZeux. These games have a distinct DnD vibe, so gnomes wouldn't be unusual.

• One of the enemies which I remember clearly is a snake which usually does not move but "wakes up" when you're on the same row or column as it (unobstructed). It would then move (in a straight line only?) towards you. EDIT: Or actually - it might've killed you instantly in this case?

✅ There are snakes. Snakes with sensitivity zero only move when they're rank/file aligned with you. They only deal 10 damage, but on some rooms, being dealt any damage warps you back to the room entrance. You could be remembering this as "death."

Edit2: I think you could move between "screens" freely. (Aka either it wasn't level-based, or the levels were larger than a single screen)

✅ Has an interconnected world made of distinct rooms. Progress is based on finding colour-coded keys and doors.

Answer 5

How about Star Tropics?

I recently started playing this game, encountered some of our snakes, and immediately remembered this question. Here's a YouTube link where the snakes can be seen.

• Played on an old computer, not sure which kind. (early/late 1990s?)

❌ It's for NES but emulators have been around long enough.

• Graphics were grid-based and "8-bit-seeming". Locations included plains and caves.

✅ Late NES graphics, very 8-bit. Has plains and caves. Lots of water.

• Movement was grid-based as well. I think the game was turn-based?

✅ Movement is grid-based but it's ❌ not turn-based at all.

• The main character - which you moved around - might've been a gnome? Maybe not, though.

❌ The main character is a plain old human. Has sci-fi/fantasy plot elements but no gnomes as far as I can tell.

• One of the enemies which I remember clearly is a snake which usually does not move but "wakes up" when you're on the same row or column as it (unobstructed). It would then move (in a straight line only?) towards you. EDIT: Or actually - it might've killed you instantly in this case?

✅ Yup, it has these snakes. They do one heart of damage.

Edit2: I think you could move between "screens" freely. (Aka either it wasn't level-based, or the levels were larger than a single screen)

✅ Indeed. The game is mostly linear but has some minor backtracking. Rarely are you blocked from returning to a previous room until you finish the chapter.