2–6 players · 10–20 min · Board

Snakes & Ladders online with friends

Snakes & Ladders is one of the oldest board games in the world. It began in India centuries ago as Moksha Patam, a game about virtues and vices, where ladders stood for good deeds and snakes for bad ones. Today it is the first board game most children learn, and it is still the game that gets the whole family laughing, because anybody can win right up to the last roll. On PlayAdda you can play it with friends in other cities: one person creates a room, shares the code, and everyone races to square 100 on their own phone.

How to start a game

1. Tap Start Snakes & Ladders and type your name. You become the host.
2. Send the invite code or link to your WhatsApp group, or let people scan the QR code if you are in the same room.
3. When two to six players are in the lobby, tap Start game.
4. On your turn the Roll button lights up. Tap it, watch your token move, and enjoy (or suffer) the snakes and ladders.

The rules

The board has one hundred squares, numbered in a zig-zag from the bottom-left corner to the top. Every token starts off the board. Players take turns in the order they joined. On your turn you roll one die and move your token forward by that many squares. Your first roll moves you onto the board, so a roll of four puts you on square four.

• Ladders lift you up. If your move ends on the bottom of a ladder, your token climbs straight to the square at its top. On our board the ladders start at squares 4, 13, 33, 42, 50, 62 and 74, and the longest jumps from 50 to 69 or from 4 to 25.
• Snakes bring you down. If your move ends on a snake’s head, you slide down to its tail. Watch out for the snake on 99, which drops you all the way to 41, and the long one from 40 back to 3.
• Sixes give you another roll straight away.
• Exact finish: you must land exactly on 100. If you are on 97 you need a three; anything bigger and you stay put.
• Several tokens can share a square. There is no capturing in Snakes & Ladders; the only danger is the snakes.

The first player to reach square 100 wins. The game ends there and the host can tap Play again to start a fresh race with the same group.

Tips for a better game night

Snakes & Ladders is pure luck, which makes it perfect for mixed ages. A six-year-old has exactly the same chance as their grandfather. That also makes it a great warm-up while you wait for everyone to arrive on a video call. Play a quick race, then move on to Tambola or Ludo once the whole family is online.

If you want to add some excitement, agree on small forfeits: whoever hits the snake on 99 sings a song, or the last player to reach 50 tells a joke. Teachers also use the game to practise counting with young students. Each child can join from a tablet and count the squares out loud before the token moves.

Why play here

Nothing to install and nothing to sign up for. The game runs directly between the players’ browsers, so the room is private to the people who have the code. If your connection drops, open the same link again and you get your own token back where you left it. If the host leaves, another player takes over automatically and the game carries on.

Frequently asked questions

Is Snakes & Ladders free to play here?

Yes. PlayAdda is free, with no coins, no lives and no in-game purchases. The site is supported by a few ads that never sit next to the board controls.

How many players can play?

Two to six. Each player gets a coloured token. If someone drops out, their turns are played automatically after a few seconds so the game keeps moving, and they can rejoin from the same link.

Do I need an exact roll to win?

Yes. You must land exactly on square 100. If your roll would take you past 100, your token stays where it is and the turn passes. This is the classic rule most families play.

What happens when I roll a six?

You move six squares and roll again. Sixes chain, so a lucky streak can carry you a long way up the board.

Can someone cheat by controlling the dice?

No. Before the game, every player’s browser adds a secret random value. Together they decide the dice for the whole game, so no single player, including the host, can choose the rolls. The screen shows a fairness badge once your browser has checked it.

Does it work on a phone?

It was designed for phones first. The board fits a phone screen, and the big Roll button sits under the board where your thumb is.

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