Snakes and Ladders is an online version of the historic, educational board game of the same name that originated in India. This turn-based game is believed to have been used to teach children how to count. It also likely helped them to reflect upon the challenges they could expect in life, which the game represents with ladders and snakes (i.e. their virtues or morality offset by their vices or immorality). A popular board game company later re-branded the game with the name "Chutes and Ladders" because children in some parts of the world were uncomfortable with snakes on the board. This version obviously keeps the snakes.
The player plays against a bot or another player on a board suspended in a jungle setting. The board features jewel-tone colored snakes and wooden ladders. An automatic spin wheel selects the color and player. Each player must roll a die during their turn. The game automatically transfers their piece from numbered space to space with ascending movement. If the die brings their piece to the bottom of a ladder, it slides up the ladder. If it brings their piece to the mouth of a snake, it makes the snake eat and expel them at a lower level. When the die comes up as a six, the player receives an extra turn.
In Snakes and Ladders, the player must reach the last number on the board before their opponent to win. If the die roll unluckily displays a higher number than the number of remaining spaces, the game forces the player's piece to backtrack by the number of spaces equal to the remainder.