Snakes and Ladders

board games · ancient India · strategy

Ancient Indian origins. Snakes and ladders started in ancient India with a game called Moksha Patam, which means the path to salvation. It was brought to the United Kingdom in the 1890s and became popular all around the world.

How ladders help. When your game piece lands on the bottom of a ladder, you get to climb up to a higher square. This is a lucky shortcut that moves you much closer to winning the game.

How snakes slow you down. If your piece lands on a snake's head, you slide all the way down to its tail, which sends you backward on the board. Snakes are the opposite of ladders and make the game harder.

Roll and race. Players take turns rolling a die and moving their game piece that many squares forward on a numbered grid. The first person to reach the finish square wins the game.

A game for everyone. Today, snakes and ladders is played by millions of kids and grown-ups in countries all over the world. It's simple to learn but fun because you never know what the dice will bring.