Snake Rattle 'n' Roll was developed by Rare members Tim Stamper and Mark Betteridge.

[1] Players maneuver their snakes throughout the level with the control pad and are able to pick up Nibbley Pibbleys by lashing their tongue, which can also be used to attack enemies.

[3] Players can collect various items to help them along during gameplay, such as items that extend the length of the snakes' tongues, provide extra lives and continues, add time bonuses, award invisibility diamonds, speed up the snakes, or reverse their directional controls.

[5] Located throughout the game are "lids" (in the shape of manhole covers) which players can open to uncover Nibbly Pibbleys, items and extra lives, entrances to bonus levels, and sometimes enemies.

[6] Snake Rattle 'n' Roll was developed primarily by Rare employees Tim Stamper and Mark Betteridge.

According to Rare member Brendan Gunn, Betteridge found out how to develop cheap backgrounds that took up little space.

[9] Rare's future creative director Gregg Mayles started with the company play-testing Snake Rattle 'n' Roll.

According to website GamesRadar, the game's compositions revolve around 1950s-era "oldies so old they don’t even get played on the radio anymore".

[11] The soundtracks for the NES and Sega Mega Drive versions were released on vinyl in 2020 by Black Screen Records with liner notes from Wise.

Snake Rattle 'n' Roll first received preview coverage in January 1990 in Nintendo Power magazine.

[18] It was also featured in UK-based magazine Mean Machines, where it received high praise from editors Matt Regan and Julian Rignall.

Regan praised the game's 3D environment, fun gameplay, and level of humor, as noted by the odd objects such as toilet seats.

Overall, they said Snake Rattle 'n' Roll was "one of the most original games seen in years" and was "a firm favourite here in the MEAN MACHINES offices".

[22] Nintendo Power reviewed Snake Rattle 'n' Roll as part of an overview of NES games which the magazine found were overlooked or otherwise did not sell well.

Executive editor Craig Harris also noted the game's high level of difficulty and its excellent soundtrack.

[34] Sneaky Snakes received mediocre ratings from Electronic Gaming Monthly in its July 1991 issue.

Reviewer Steve Harris criticized the game for its awkward controls, lack of originality, and a "zero-grav effect" while jumping.