Snakes and Ladders

About Snakes and Ladders

The board game every family knows. Roll the die and move that many squares — land on a ladder and climb, land on a snake and slide back down. First to square 100 wins, and you have to land on it exactly. The counter hops one square at a time so a child can count along out loud, which is quietly the whole point.

Snakes and Ladders is one of our board & strategy games for kids. This one plays in the iPhone and iPad app rather than in the browser, but 33 of our games are free to play right here — browse the full library to find them. It is also in our classic games for kids collection.

How to Play

• Tap ‘Roll the die’ and watch your counter hop that many squares.
• A ladder carries you up; a snake takes you back down.
• The robot takes its turn after you.
• Land exactly on 100 to win — overshooting means you stay put.

Tips & Tricks

• Count the hops out loud with your child as the counter moves.
• The board is the same every game, so you can learn where the ladders are.
• You need the exact number at the end — near 100, small rolls are good rolls.

What It Practises

Snakes and Ladders is a counting game in disguise. A child rolls the die, counts the dots, and then counts on that many squares from where their counter stands. Counting on from a number other than one is a key early maths skill, and the counter here hops one square at a time so they can count along out loud.

The board runs from 1 to 100 in a zigzag, so children also practise reading a number grid and seeing how tens are laid out. And because it is all luck, it is a gentle way to learn to take turns and to lose without it being anyone's fault.

• Counting on from a number
• Reading a numbered grid
• Taking turns and handling luck

What Age Is Snakes and Ladders For?

Best for ages 6 to 8. The robot wins some games, and losing a race that was all luck is easier to take at six than at four. Younger children can still enjoy it with a parent beside them counting the hops, ideally on the little board. Six-year-olds can play alone and start counting on in their heads. Older children may find it too simple; Dice Race and Shut the Box use dice in more interesting ways.

Tips for Parents

Ask them to say where they will land before the counter moves. "I'm on 23 and I rolled 4, so…" is the whole maths lesson.

Talk about the exact landing on 100: if they roll too high they stay put. It is a good moment to practise counting back.

Don't rescue them from snakes. Laughing at a long slide is part of learning to lose.

Try It Without a Screen

• Play the real board game, or draw a 10×10 grid on a large sheet of paper and add your own snakes and ladders.
• Make a hopscotch line numbered 1 to 20 and roll a die to see how far to jump.
• Count steps on the stairs together, starting from different numbers.

Snakes and Ladders — Frequently Asked Questions