Snakes & Ladders is the race game almost every family in the Arab world grew up with. Tokens climb a board of 100 squares one die roll at a time; land at the foot of a ladder and you shoot upward, land on a snake’s head and you slide back down. It is pure luck, which is exactly why kids and grandparents can play it together on equal terms.
The board on Dananeer has 8 ladders and 7 snakes, including a ladder that jumps from 36 all the way to 83 and a snake that drops you from 94 back to 12. The lead can change in a single roll right up to the final square, so every game ends with the whole table watching the die.
Play Snakes & Ladders online for free on Dananeer — on iOS, Android and the web at play.dananeer.io. Invite family to a private room and cheer each other on with live voice and video chat, play across devices with cross-play, or roll offline against bots. There is no real-money gambling.
Components
The game uses a board of 100 numbered squares, one token per player in its own colour, and a single six-sided die. Every token starts off the board, and square 100 is home.
Objective
Be the first player to land exactly on square 100.
How a turn is played
Each turn is a single roll. There is no need to roll a 6 to start — your token enters the board on your very first roll.
- Roll the die and move your token forward that many squares.
- If you land on the foot of a ladder, climb to its top. If you land on a snake’s head, slide down to its tail.
- Play passes to the next player. Rolling a 6 does not give you an extra turn.
Ladders and snakes on the board
A ladder or snake only works if you land on it exactly — passing over one has no effect. Each roll triggers at most one jump. Tokens never block or send each other back, and any number of players can share a square.
| Type | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Ladder | 7 | 30 |
| Ladder | 16 | 33 |
| Ladder | 20 | 38 |
| Ladder | 36 | 83 |
| Ladder | 50 | 68 |
| Ladder | 63 | 81 |
| Ladder | 71 | 89 |
| Ladder | 86 | 97 |
| Snake | 25 | 3 |
| Snake | 42 | 1 |
| Snake | 56 | 48 |
| Snake | 61 | 43 |
| Snake | 92 | 67 |
| Snake | 94 | 12 |
| Snake | 98 | 80 |
The exact finish
You must reach square 100 with an exact roll. If your roll would take you past 100, your token does not move at all and the turn passes. From square 98, for example, only a 1 or a 2 moves you; from square 99, only a 1.
Winning
The first player to reach square 100 wins. Players who finish are skipped, and the game ends when only one player is left who has not finished — so in a 2-player game it ends the moment the first player gets home.
Strategy tips
- There is no strategy in the moves themselves — every roll decides for you — so the fun is in the moment and the table talk.
- Watch out for the snake on 94: it sends you all the way back to 12.
- The ladder on 36 is the biggest on the board, climbing straight to 83.
- Near the end, remember the exact-finish rule: from the high 90s, most rolls will leave you where you are.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a 6 to start in Snakes and Ladders?
No. On Dananeer your token enters the board on your first roll, whatever number you get.
Do you get another turn if you roll a 6?
No. A 6 simply moves you six squares, and play passes to the next player.
Do you need an exact roll to finish?
Yes. If your roll would take you past square 100, your token stays where it is for that turn.
How many players can play Snakes & Ladders?
Between 2 and 4 players, each racing their own token.
Can players land on the same square?
Yes. Tokens never interact — they can share a square, and nobody gets sent back by another player.
Can I play Snakes & Ladders online for free?
Yes. Dananeer lets you play free on iOS, Android and the web, with private rooms for family and friends, voice and video chat, and offline games against bots.
