SnakesandLaddersisanancientIndianboardgameregardedtodayasaworldwideclassic.Itisplayedbetweentwoormoreplayersonagameboardhavingnumbered,griddedsquares.Anumberof"ladders"and"snakes"arepicturedontheboard,eachconnectingtwospecificboardsquares.Theobjectofthegameistonavigateone'sgamepiece,accordingtodierolls,fromthestart(bottomsquare)tothefinish(topsquare),helpedorhinderedbyladdersandsnakesrespectively.
Thegameisasimpleracecontestbasedonsheerluck,andispopular.Thehistoricversionhadrootinmoralitylessons,whereaplayer'sprogressionuptheboardrepresentedalifejourneycomplicatedbyvirtues(ladders)andvices(snakes).Acommercialversionwithdifferentmoralitylessons,ChutesandLadders,ispublishedbyMiltonBradley.