Official Chutes and Ladders Rules

Last Updated on June 23, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Chutes and Ladders is a classic children’s board game that combines fun and excitement with a simple, yet engaging, gameplay experience. Players race to the top of the board by climbing ladders and avoiding the dreaded chutes, which send them sliding back down. Here’s how to play:

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Chutes and Ladders kids board game box

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How to Play Chutes and Ladders

Objective

Be the first player to reach square 100, starting from square 1 at the bottom of the board.

What’s Included

  • 1 sturdy bi-fold game board
  • 1 oversized spinner
  • 4 player tokens with plastic stands
Chutes and Ladders kids board game setup with player tokens, game board, spinner, and game box

Game Setup

  1. Insert each character token into a plastic stand. Each player picks a token.
  2. Lay out the board and place all tokens just off the board near square 1.
  3. Each player spins the spinner. The player with the highest number goes first. Play then proceeds clockwise.

How to Play

  • On your turn, spin the spinner and move your token forward the number of spaces shown.
  • The board moves in a zig-zag pattern: left to right for row 1, then right to left for row 2, and so on, ending at square 100 in the top left corner.
  • Only one turn per player at a time.

Ladders

  • If your token lands on a square at the bottom of a ladder (e.g., square 9), move your token up to the square at the top of the ladder (e.g., square 31).
  • Ladders only go up.

Chutes

  • If your token lands on a square at the top of a chute (e.g., square 49), slide it down to the square at the bottom (e.g., square 11).
  • Chutes only go down.

Note: All ladders and chutes begin and end on illustrated squares. Squares in between are regular and played normally.

  • Multiple players can occupy the same square at any time.

Winning the Game

  • To win, you must land exactly on square 100. If your spin would take you past it, your token stays where it is and you wait for your next turn.
  • You can also win by landing directly on square 80 and climbing the ladder to square 100.
  • The first player to reach square 100 wins the game!

Chutes and Ladders is a timeless game that offers fun and entertainment for kids and families alike. Its easy-to-understand mechanics and the thrill of climbing ladders or sliding down chutes make it an enjoyable experience for everyone, no matter their age. The excitement builds with each spin, and no two games are ever the same.

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