About Vines & Ladders

Vines & Ladders is the classic snakes-and-ladders race with a jungle twist: roll the dice, climb ladders, slide down vines, and be first to square 100. Rolling a six earns another roll. Play online with a friend via one invite link, get matched with an opponent, pass-and-play, or race JungleBot.

How to play Vines & Ladders

Vines & Ladders is the classic snakes and ladders race, jungle style. Both players start off the board and take turns rolling one die, moving that many squares along the winding path from 1 to 100. Land at the foot of a ladder and you climb straight up; land on a vine head and you slide back down. Rolling a six earns an extra roll. You need to reach square 100 — a roll that would overshoot leaves you in place. First to 100 wins. Play a friend by link, get matched with an opponent, pass-and-play, or race JungleBot.

Tips & strategy

• It's a race of luck — that's the charm. There's no strategy to memorize, which makes it a perfect quick game with kids, family, or anyone at all.
• Learn the board's hot spots anyway: the big ladder at 28 rockets you to 84, while the vine at 87 drops you all the way to 24. Knowing them makes every roll more dramatic.
• Sixes are double-edged: an extra roll is great, but chain-rolling can march you straight onto a vine. Cheer accordingly.
• The endgame is the tensest part — needing an exact-ish finish means the lead can flip on the last few rolls. It's never over until 100.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an exact roll to finish?

You need to land on or before 100 exactly — a roll that would carry you past 100 leaves you where you are. It keeps the finish tense and comebacks alive.

What happens when I roll a six?

You move, resolve any ladder or vine, and then roll again. There's no limit on consecutive sixes — luck is luck!

Where does this game come from?

It began centuries ago in India as Moksha Patam, a morality game where ladders were virtues and snakes were vices, and became the parlor classic the world knows today.