Snakes and Ladders

A race game with roots in an old Indian board game: roll the die, follow the winding path from 1 to 100, ride ladders upward and slide back down snakes.

How to play Snakes and Ladders

• Everyone starts off the board. On your turn roll the die and move your token that many squares along the numbered path, which runs left to right, then right to left, row by row up the board.
• Land exactly on the foot of a ladder and you climb straight to its top. Land on the head of a snake and you slide down to its tail.
• The first token to reach square 100 wins.
• With Exact roll to finish on, a roll that would carry you past 100 is lost and your token stays where it is. Switch to Overshoot finishes for quicker games.
• Turn on Roll again on 6 to give an extra roll whenever someone throws a six.
• Use Players… to set up to four seats as Human or Computer. A single human plays a solo race, scored by how few rolls it takes.

Controls

• Tap the die or the Roll button, or press Space or Enter.
• Computer players roll on their own after a short pause.

Tips

• There is no strategy in the moves themselves — every roll is luck — which makes it a relaxed game to share with players of any age.
• Near the top of the board, the exact-finish rule can keep everyone waiting for the right number, so close races are common.

FAQ

What are the rules of snakes and ladders?

Roll the die and move that many squares along the path. Landing on the foot of a ladder takes you up it; landing on a snake’s head sends you down to its tail. The first to reach square 100 wins. Options let you require an exact roll to finish and give an extra roll on a six.

Can more than one person play on the same device?

Yes. Open Players… and set two or more seats to Human; pass the device around as the banner shows whose turn it is.

Is my game saved?

Yes. The game is saved in this browser after every roll, so you can close the page and pick up where you left off.