Snakes & Ladders
The classic race to 100: climb the ladders, dodge the snakes. Every player rolls from their own phone and the board updates for everyone.
2–6 players · free · no app to installHost a gameSnakes and Ladders is the race to square 100 that most of us learned before we could read. In India it's saanp seedhi, in the US it's Chutes and Ladders, and the rules are the same everywhere: roll, move, climb the ladders and hope you miss the snakes.
Because it's pure luck, a six-year-old has the same chance as their grandfather, which makes it one of the few games a whole family can play without anyone going easy. Here each player rolls from their own phone, the token moves on every screen at once, and nobody has to hunt for a lost die under the sofa.
Two to six people can play on the classic 10 × 10 board, with 9 ladders and 10 snakes. Put the board on a TV for the room to watch, and use the turn timer if someone keeps forgetting it's their go.
How to play
- 1
Setting up
The host picks the house rules and shares the QR code or link. Two to six players join, each on their own phone, and get a coloured token. Everyone starts off the board, so your first roll takes you to that square. - 2
Taking turns
Players take turns in order. When it's your turn your phone dings; tap Roll and your token moves on every screen. There is one die, numbered 1 to 6. - 3
Ladders and snakes
Land at the foot of a ladder and you climb to its top. Land on a snake's head and you slide down to its tail. The longest ladder runs from 28 to 84, the one on 80 goes straight to 100, and the snake on 87 drops you to 24. - 4
Rolling a six
With Roll again on a six switched on, a 6 gives you another roll. A third 6 in a row is wasted and the turn passes to the next player. - 5
Reaching 100
With Exact roll to finish on, you need the precise number to land on 100; overshoot and you stay where you are. With it off, any roll that takes you past 100 counts as finishing. - 6
Winning
The first player to reach 100 wins. The host can choose to end the game there, with everyone else ranked by how far they got, or to play on for places until only one player is still going. - 7
Turn timer and skips
With a turn timer set (20, 30, 45 or 60 seconds), the die rolls itself when time runs out. The host can also skip a turn. - 8
If someone leaves
A player who leaves mid-game drops out of the turn order and is ranked last. If only one player is left racing, the game ends.
Host options
- I'm playing too
- The host gets a token on their own phone. Switch it off to just run the game.
- Exact roll to finish
- On: overshooting 100 means you stay put. Off: overshooting still wins.
- Roll again on a six
- A 6 earns another roll, and a third 6 in a row is wasted.
- When someone reaches 100
- Game ends, or play on for places.
- Turn timer
- Off, 20, 30, 45 or 60 seconds. When time runs out, the die rolls itself.
Hosting tips
- Put the board on a TV so the room can cheer the ladders and groan at the snakes together.
- For a shorter game, switch off Exact roll to finish and set the game to end when someone reaches 100.
- With young children, a 45 or 60 second timer gives them time to find the Roll button without holding everyone up.
- Six players is the limit, so for a bigger group run two games side by side or team up in pairs on one phone.
Questions
Is Snakes and Ladders online free?
Yes. It's free to host and play, with no app to install.
Do we need to download an app?
No. It runs in the phone's web browser. Players scan the QR code or open the link and sign in with Google.
How many players can play?
2 to 6 players, each on their own phone. The host can play or just run the game.
Can we play on a TV?
Yes. Open the TV link from the waiting room on a smart TV or laptop to show the board to the whole room. It's optional.
Do you need an exact roll to win?
That's up to the host. With Exact roll to finish on (the default), overshooting 100 means you stay put. Switch it off and any roll past 100 wins.
What happens if you roll three sixes?
With Roll again on a six on, each 6 gives another roll, but a third 6 in a row is wasted and your turn ends.
What if someone stops paying attention?
With the turn timer on, the die rolls itself when time runs out. The host can also skip their turn.
Is it the same board as the one I grew up with?
It's the classic 10 × 10 layout, with 9 ladders and 10 snakes, including the big ladder from 28 to 84 and the long snake from 87 down to 24.