Snakes and Ladders Maths Game
Snakes and Ladders Maths is a free online board game where every roll of the dice starts with a maths question. Race Robo the friendly computer, or a friend on the same device, to the top of the board.
Snakes and Ladders
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- Ages
- 5–12
- School years
- Year 1–Year 7
- Skills
- Adding and taking away within 10 and 20, making 10 and doubles, Adding and taking away two-digit numbers using tens and ones, Times tables to 12 × 10 and the matching division facts
- Time
- 5–15 minutes a game
- Cost
- Free, no sign-up
- Updated
How to play Snakes and Ladders
- Choose the maths (from adding to 10 up to fractions and percentages), who to play against (Robo the computer or a friend) and a quick 48-square or full 100-square board.
- On your turn, answer the question. A right answer rolls the big dice (1 to 6). A wrong answer shows you how to work it out, then you roll the mini dice (1 to 3).
- Get three right in a row for 2 bonus squares. Land at the bottom of a ladder to climb up. Land on a snake’s head and you get a snake challenge: answer it right to charm the snake and stay where you are.
- The first counter to reach the top square wins. Play with a mouse, a touch screen or the keyboard: keys 1 to 4 pick an answer and Space or R rolls the dice.
What your child learns
- Adding and taking away within 10 and 20, making 10 and doubles
- Adding and taking away two-digit numbers using tens and ones
- Times tables to 12 × 10 and the matching division facts
- Multiplying and dividing bigger numbers by splitting them
- Fractions and percentages of amounts, adding tenths, and multiplying before adding
- Counting on along a number track to 100 and taking turns
About Snakes and Ladders
Snakes and ladders is one of the oldest board games in the world, and children already love the drama of a long ladder or a sneaky snake. This version puts a maths question in front of every roll. Getting it right matters (the big dice moves you further than the mini dice) but a wrong answer is never a dead end: the game shows a short worked method, such as “Make 10 first: 8 + 2 = 10, then add the other 3”, before the child rolls. Snake challenges give an extra question at the most exciting moment of the game.
Adding and taking away to 10 suits Year 1, and to 20 suits Year 2. Two-digit adding and taking away is for Years 3–4, with times tables and division for Year 5. Children in Years 6–7 get bigger multiplication and division, fractions and percentages of amounts, decimals and the order of operations. Moving the counter square by square is also good counting practice for younger players, and the board itself is a 1 to 100 number track. The quick board makes a five-minute game; two players on one device can share a game at the same maths level.
Which level should my child play?
| School year | Suggested level |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Add & take away to 10 |
| Year 2 | Add & take away to 20 |
| Year 3 | Two-digit numbers |
| Year 4 | Two-digit numbers |
| Year 5 | Times tables & division |
| Year 6 | Fractions, % & big sums |
| Year 7 | Fractions, % & big sums |
Move up a level after getting three stars two or three times in a row.
🏆 Leaderboard
Full leaderboard →Play a round to get on the board! Create a free account to save your scores.
Free 10-minute Maths Check
Is your child on track in maths?
about 18 questions that adapt as your child answers, matched to the New Zealand Curriculum, with a report of strengths and gaps. Free, no sign-up to start.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play snakes and ladders with maths?
Before each roll you answer a maths question. Answer it right to roll the big dice (1 to 6); answer it wrong and you see how to work it out, then roll the mini dice (1 to 3). Ladders take you up, and landing on a snake gives you one more question to escape it.
Can two children play together?
Yes. Choose A friend (2 players) and pass the device between turns. Each player answers their own questions. You can also play against Robo, a friendly computer player that sometimes gets questions wrong too.
How long does a game take?
The quick 48-square board usually takes about five minutes. The full 100-square board is the classic game and takes ten to fifteen minutes.
Which maths level should my child choose?
Start with the level for their school year in the table above. If they answer almost every question right, move up a level; if many answers are wrong, move down one so the game stays fun.
Can I play with a keyboard?
Yes. Press 1, 2, 3 or 4 to choose an answer and Space or R to roll the dice. Every button can also be reached with the Tab key.
More games you’ll love
All maths games →Add numbers within 10, 20, 100 or 1,000.
Take away within 10, 20, 100 or 1,000.
Practise any times table from 2× to 12×.
Division facts and remainders.
Look, cover and spell words from memory.
Flip cards and find all the matching pairs.
Help your child shine in maths
Practice at home is a great start. Success Tutoring offers personalised tutoring to build skills and confidence.