How do you play Snakes and Ladders?

Roll the die and move that many squares. Stop at the foot of a ladder and climb it; stop on a snake's head and slide down to its tail. A six rolls again. First to square 100 wins.

What happens if I roll past 100?

By the usual rule you bounce back: on 98 a five goes to 99, 100, 99, 98, 97. Pick Exact roll when you make the table and a roll past 100 is no move instead.

Can I play with my kids or against the computer?

Yes. Make a table and share the link with family, or let the bots take the empty seats. Two to four players.

Yes, every move is the roll of the die, which is why anyone can win. This board is our own: nine snakes and eight ladders, with the longest snakes waiting in the 60s and 80s.

Do I need an account?

No. Type a name and play — no signup, no download, nothing to install. Making an account is optional and only exists to keep your stats, nickname and preferences across devices.

Yes, all of it. Every game on Board Game Universe is free to play, with no premium tier holding anything back.

Can I play on my phone?

Yes. It runs in a mobile browser on phones and tablets as well as on a desktop — there is no app to download.

How do I play with my friends?

Start a table and send your friends the link. They open it, type a name, and sit down. Moves and table chat happen in real time.

Can I play against the computer?

Yes. Add a bot to any table and it plays a proper game — useful for filling a seat while you wait for a fourth.

Play Snakes and Ladders Online Free

Snakes and Ladders, free online with friends: the classic race to square 100 that everybody already knows how to play. Roll the die and watch your token walk, climb a ladder when you stop at its foot, slide down a snake when you stop on its head, and roll again on a six. Pure luck, so a five-year-old can beat a grandparent. Two to four players, bots fill the empty seats, chat at every table, and nothing to download or sign up for.

2–4 players · ~10 min · free forever · Dice Games

How to play Snakes and Ladders

Everybody starts off the board, beside square 1. On your turn tap the die: your token walks that many squares, following the numbers back and forth up the board.
Stop at the FOOT of a LADDER and you climb straight to the top of it. Stop on the HEAD of a SNAKE and you slide all the way down to its tail. Passing over either does nothing; only where you stop counts.
Roll a SIX and you roll again.
Any number of tokens can share a square. Nobody is ever sent back by another player: the only way down is a snake.
The first to reach square 100 wins. With Bounce back (the usual rule) a roll that goes past 100 bounces back off it: on 98 a five goes to 99, 100, 99, 98, 97. With Exact roll you need the exact number to land on 100, or you stay where you are.

Snakes and Ladders strategy

The basics that turn knowing the rules into winning games — what to do first, what to keep, what to avoid.

There is nothing to decide: every roll is luck, which is exactly why everybody can play and anybody can win. It is a game for laughing at the snakes together.
Watch the long snakes: the ones at 62 and 87 can undo half a game in one roll. Getting past the 80s is the real race.
Near the end, count: with Bounce back, a token on 94 wins with a six, and a one or a four lands it on a snake. The 90s are the snakes' den.
Behind? Do not worry. The ladders at 71 and 80 can carry a trailing player past the leader in a single turn.
Playing with small children? Exact roll to 100 makes the finish longer and more exciting; Bounce back keeps it moving.

Snakes and Ladders FAQ

How do you play Snakes and Ladders?: Roll the die and move that many squares. Stop at the foot of a ladder and climb it; stop on a snake's head and slide down to its tail. A six rolls again. First to square 100 wins.
What happens if I roll past 100?: By the usual rule you bounce back: on 98 a five goes to 99, 100, 99, 98, 97. Pick Exact roll when you make the table and a roll past 100 is no move instead.
Can I play with my kids or against the computer?: Yes. Make a table and share the link with family, or let the bots take the empty seats. Two to four players.
Is it all luck?: Yes, every move is the roll of the die, which is why anyone can win. This board is our own: nine snakes and eight ladders, with the longest snakes waiting in the 60s and 80s.
Do I need an account?: No. Type a name and play — no signup, no download, nothing to install. Making an account is optional and only exists to keep your stats, nickname and preferences across devices.
Is it really free?: Yes, all of it. Every game on Board Game Universe is free to play, with no premium tier holding anything back.
Can I play on my phone?: Yes. It runs in a mobile browser on phones and tablets as well as on a desktop — there is no app to download.
How do I play with my friends?: Start a table and send your friends the link. They open it, type a name, and sit down. Moves and table chat happen in real time.
Can I play against the computer?: Yes. Add a bot to any table and it plays a proper game — useful for filling a seat while you wait for a fourth.