diff --git a/frontend/src/features/games/snake/engine.ts b/frontend/src/features/games/snake/engine.ts
index 2a3ec80..2dbe883 100644
--- a/frontend/src/features/games/snake/engine.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/features/games/snake/engine.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import type {
 } from './types'
 
 export const SNAKE_BOARD_WIDTH = 16
-export const SNAKE_BOARD_HEIGHT = 18
+export const SNAKE_BOARD_HEIGHT = 34
 
 const DIRECTION_VECTORS: Record<SnakeDirection, SnakePoint> = {
   up: { x: 0, y: -1 },
diff --git a/frontend/src/stores/phone.ts b/frontend/src/stores/phone.ts
index f562dfe..c4efd0a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/stores/phone.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/stores/phone.ts
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ const defaultLocales: LocaleTree = {
       speed: 'Speed',
       speeds: { fast: 'Fast', normal: 'Normal', relaxed: 'Relaxed' },
       start: 'Start Game',
-      swipeHint: 'Swipe, tap the controls, or use arrow keys / WASD',
+      swipeHint: 'Use the arrow keys to steer',
     },
     memory: {
       name: 'Memory',
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/apps/SnakeApp.vue b/frontend/src/views/apps/SnakeApp.vue
index d6d3ecd..ec0aed8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/apps/SnakeApp.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/apps/SnakeApp.vue
@@ -1,13 +1,10 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import {
-  ChevronDown,
   ChevronLeft,
-  ChevronRight,
-  ChevronUp,
   Pause,
   Play,
 } from 'lucide-vue-next'
-import { computed, onBeforeUnmount, onMounted, ref, watch } from 'vue'
+import { computed, onBeforeUnmount, onMounted, watch } from 'vue'
 
 import {
   SNAKE_BOARD_HEIGHT,
@@ -23,17 +20,7 @@ import { usePhoneStore } from '@/stores/phone'
 
 const phone = usePhoneStore()
 const snake = useSnakeStore()
-const touchStart = ref<SnakePoint | null>(null)
 const speedOptions: SnakeSpeed[] = ['relaxed', 'normal', 'fast']
-const directionButtons: Array<{
-  direction: SnakeDirection
-  icon: typeof ChevronUp
-}> = [
-  { direction: 'up', icon: ChevronUp },
-  { direction: 'left', icon: ChevronLeft },
-  { direction: 'down', icon: ChevronDown },
-  { direction: 'right', icon: ChevronRight },
-]
 const game = computed(() => snake.game)
 const boardMotionStyle = computed(() => ({
   '--snake-motion-duration': `${Math.min(
@@ -90,7 +77,9 @@ function stopGameTimer(): void {
 function syncGameTimer(): void {
   stopGameTimer()
   if (snake.game?.status === 'playing') {
-    gameTimer = setInterval(() => snake.tick(), snake.tickMilliseconds)
+    gameTimer = setInterval(() => {
+      snake.tick()
+    }, snake.tickMilliseconds)
   }
 }
 
@@ -99,16 +88,16 @@ function returnToMenu(): void {
   snake.showMenu()
 }
 
+function startGame(): void {
+  snake.start()
+}
+
 function handleKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent): void {
   const directionByKey: Partial<Record<string, SnakeDirection>> = {
     ArrowDown: 'down',
     ArrowLeft: 'left',
     ArrowRight: 'right',
     ArrowUp: 'up',
-    a: 'left',
-    d: 'right',
-    s: 'down',
-    w: 'up',
   }
   const direction = directionByKey[event.key]
 
@@ -125,28 +114,6 @@ function handleKeydown(event: KeyboardEvent): void {
   }
 }
 
-function beginSwipe(event: TouchEvent): void {
-  const touch = event.changedTouches[0]
-  touchStart.value = touch ? { x: touch.clientX, y: touch.clientY } : null
-}
-
-function endSwipe(event: TouchEvent): void {
-  const start = touchStart.value
-  const touch = event.changedTouches[0]
-  touchStart.value = null
-  if (!start || !touch) return
-
-  const deltaX = touch.clientX - start.x
-  const deltaY = touch.clientY - start.y
-  if (Math.max(Math.abs(deltaX), Math.abs(deltaY)) < 18) return
-
-  if (Math.abs(deltaX) > Math.abs(deltaY)) {
-    snake.turn(deltaX > 0 ? 'right' : 'left')
-  } else {
-    snake.turn(deltaY > 0 ? 'down' : 'up')
-  }
-}
-
 snake.hydrate()
 watch(
   () => [snake.game?.status, snake.tickMilliseconds],
@@ -162,8 +129,12 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => {
 </script>
 
 <template>
-  <main class="snake-app" :aria-label="phone.t('Apps.snake.name')">
-    <header class="snake-header">
+  <main
+    class="snake-app"
+    :class="{ 'snake-app--playing': game }"
+    :aria-label="phone.t('Apps.snake.name')"
+  >
+    <header v-if="!game" class="snake-header">
       <span class="snake-brand">{{ phone.t('Apps.snake.name') }}</span>
       <div class="snake-score-card">
         <span>{{ phone.t('Apps.snake.highScore') }}</span>
@@ -226,7 +197,7 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => {
           {{ phone.t(`Apps.snake.speeds.${speed}`) }}
         </button>
       </fieldset>
-      <button type="button" class="snake-primary" @click="snake.start">
+      <button type="button" class="snake-primary" @click="startGame">
         <Play :size="18" fill="currentColor" />
         {{ phone.t('Apps.snake.start') }}
       </button>
@@ -267,8 +238,6 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => {
         class="snake-board"
         :style="boardMotionStyle"
         :aria-label="phone.t('Apps.snake.board')"
-        @touchstart.passive="beginSwipe"
-        @touchend.passive="endSwipe"
       >
         <span
           v-for="(_, index) in game.body.slice(1)"
@@ -306,7 +275,7 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => {
           <template v-else>
             <span class="snake-overline">{{ phone.t('Apps.snake.score') }} {{ game.score }}</span>
             <h2>{{ phone.t('Apps.snake.gameOver') }}</h2>
-            <button type="button" class="snake-primary" @click="snake.start">
+            <button type="button" class="snake-primary" @click="startGame">
               {{ phone.t('Apps.snake.restart') }}
             </button>
             <button type="button" class="snake-secondary" @click="returnToMenu">
@@ -317,18 +286,6 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => {
       </div>
 
       <p class="snake-hint">{{ phone.t('Apps.snake.swipeHint') }}</p>
-      <div class="snake-controls" :aria-label="phone.t('Apps.snake.controls')">
-        <button
-          v-for="control in directionButtons"
-          :key="control.direction"
-          type="button"
-          :class="`snake-control--${control.direction}`"
-          :aria-label="phone.t(`Apps.snake.directions.${control.direction}`)"
-          @click="snake.turn(control.direction)"
-        >
-          <component :is="control.icon" :size="24" :stroke-width="2.6" />
-        </button>
-      </div>
     </section>
   </main>
 </template>
@@ -348,6 +305,10 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => {
   touch-action: none;
 }
 
+.snake-app--playing {
+  padding: 0;
+}
+
 .snake-header,
 .snake-game__meta {
   display: flex;
@@ -507,13 +468,25 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => {
 }
 
 .snake-game {
-  padding-top: 8px;
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0;
 }
 
 .snake-game__meta {
-  height: 43px;
+  position: absolute;
+  z-index: 7;
+  top: 48px;
+  right: 14px;
+  left: 14px;
+  height: 42px;
   justify-content: flex-start;
   gap: 8px;
+  padding: 4px 5px;
+  border: 1px solid rgb(255 255 255 / 9%);
+  border-radius: 22px;
+  background: rgb(8 22 18 / 58%);
+  box-shadow: 0 8px 24px rgb(0 0 0 / 18%);
+  backdrop-filter: blur(14px);
 }
 
 .snake-game__meta span {
@@ -532,28 +505,27 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => {
   height: 34px;
   display: grid;
   place-items: center;
-  border: 1px solid rgb(255 255 255 / 9%);
+  border: 0;
   border-radius: 50%;
   color: #dff6d9;
-  background: rgb(255 255 255 / 7%);
+  background: rgb(255 255 255 / 8%);
 }
 
 .snake-game__meta .snake-game__pause { margin-left: auto; }
 .snake-game__meta .snake-game__back { flex: 0 0 auto; }
 
 .snake-board {
-  position: relative;
-  width: 100%;
-  aspect-ratio: 16 / 18;
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0;
   overflow: hidden;
-  border: 1px solid rgb(167 231 157 / 16%);
-  border-radius: 18px;
+  border: 0;
+  border-radius: 0;
   background-color: #162d26;
   background-image:
     linear-gradient(rgb(255 255 255 / 2%) 1px, transparent 1px),
     linear-gradient(90deg, rgb(255 255 255 / 2%) 1px, transparent 1px);
-  background-size: calc(100% / 16) calc(100% / 18);
-  box-shadow: inset 0 0 35px rgb(0 0 0 / 20%), 0 17px 35px rgb(0 0 0 / 20%);
+  background-size: calc(100% / 16) calc(100% / 34);
+  box-shadow: inset 0 0 55px rgb(0 0 0 / 24%);
 }
 
 .snake-head,
@@ -679,36 +651,22 @@ onBeforeUnmount(() => {
 }
 
 .snake-hint {
-  margin: 9px 0 6px;
-  color: #71867c;
+  position: absolute;
+  z-index: 6;
+  right: 50px;
+  bottom: 27px;
+  left: 50px;
+  margin: 0;
+  padding: 7px 10px;
+  border-radius: 999px;
+  color: #9eb2a8;
+  background: rgb(8 22 18 / 48%);
+  backdrop-filter: blur(10px);
   font-size: 10px;
   text-align: center;
+  pointer-events: none;
 }
 
-.snake-controls {
-  position: relative;
-  width: 132px;
-  height: 91px;
-  margin: 0 auto;
-}
-
-.snake-controls button {
-  position: absolute;
-  width: 42px;
-  height: 42px;
-  display: grid;
-  place-items: center;
-  border: 1px solid rgb(255 255 255 / 9%);
-  border-radius: 13px;
-  color: #cae6d1;
-  background: rgb(255 255 255 / 7%);
-}
-
-.snake-control--up { left: 45px; top: 0; }
-.snake-control--left { left: 0; top: 45px; }
-.snake-control--down { left: 45px; top: 45px; }
-.snake-control--right { right: 0; top: 45px; }
-
 button:active {
   transform: scale(0.96);
 }
diff --git a/sky_phone/config/locales/en.lua b/sky_phone/config/locales/en.lua
index 77388ad..d8b5b30 100644
--- a/sky_phone/config/locales/en.lua
+++ b/sky_phone/config/locales/en.lua
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ Locales["en"] = {
                 readyBody = "Collect fruit, grow longer, and stay clear of every wall.", readyTitle = "Ready to play?",
                 restart = "Play Again", resume = "Resume game", score = "Score", speed = "Speed",
                 speeds = { fast = "Fast", normal = "Normal", relaxed = "Relaxed" }, start = "Start Game",
-                swipeHint = "Swipe, tap the controls, or use arrow keys / WASD",
+                swipeHint = "Use the arrow keys to steer",
             },
             memory = {
                 name = "Memory", backToMenu = "Back to board selection", board = "Memory card board",