The original version of snakes and ladders can be traced back to the 2nd Century AD when it went by the name Moksha Patam. It had a religious significance and dealt with the concept of death and rebirth. The cycle of death and rebirth was endless and only ended when the soul attained moksha or salvation.
By the time it crossed over to England in the 1890s and was made available in its current version, it had undergone a sea change. It took on a more child-friendly appearance to increase its appeal.
The child-friendly appearance is only one of the reasons why the popularity of snakes and ladders endures. Read on to find out more about its popularity and why you should treat yourself to one now.
1. Slip and Slide:
What goes up must come down! This is the law of gravity and snakes and ladders. You may be rejoicing too early if you imagine you have the game in your pocket just by climbing a few ladders.
There is always a snake around the corner, waiting to swallow you and send you quite a few paces back, perhaps even near the start. Imagine thinking you have won only for someone else to be the victor just because of a stroke of bad luck.
The game’s chaotic nature, where nothing can be taken for granted until you reach the finish line, makes it interesting for victor and vanquished alike.
The winner will be delighted with the outcome, while the person on the losing side of a close game will experience much exasperation and disappointment for not making it to the finish.
This is one game where it is possible to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The fickle nature of the game brings people back to snakes and ladders repeatedly as they choose to tempt fate while in pursuit of glory when they play snakes and ladders online in hopes of getting on the leaderboard and earning themselves some bragging rights.
2. Proud To Be Geek:
Once, board games were thought to be the preserve of geeks and nerds. They were always considered to be the unpopular kids at school. Not anymore! With even celebrities taking to board games in a big way, it is now cool to be a board game nerd. In fact, according to Apartment Therapy, Drew Barrymore is quite the chutes and ladders fan, the American version of online snakes and ladders. According to her, this game is a regular fixture on most nights.
Celebrity endorsement of this humble game has propelled online snakes and ladders to the heights of popularity as playing online suits the busy schedule of these celebrities.
3. The Option Of Playing Snakes & Ladders Online
The most apparent reason for its popularity is its main selling point for playing the game online.
When board games made their way onto your smartphone, it gave them a new lease of life. Suddenly, people who had never heard of these games, much less played them, were taken up by the simple joys board games had to offer. The go-anywhere advantage is another reason casual players have taken to the online version of snakes and ladders.
Because online snakes and ladders stuck to the original’s uncomplicated gameplay, it quickly became the perfect companion for long commutes and during drab meetings when people look to sneakily steal a few minutes of snakes and ladders while looking as if they were taking care of ‘official’ business.
Reasons Why Humans Relish Board Games:
Human beings have inherently social traits and look for ways to bond, even if to a limited extent. Board games make this a reality as while playing, conversing with fellow players is a must and, more often than not, flows naturally. The release of dopamine is a beneficial side effect of board games as it activates the brain’s reward center and gives a feeling of accomplishment.
Board games also help the participants unwind when playing and are popular across all age groups. Games like snakes and ladders can be played across generations, which makes it the popular choice for game nights.
Sneak Peek Into Some Board Game Fun Facts:
- The average board game player boasts of anything between 1 and 25 board games.
- The board game industry’s revenue is expected to reach over $4 billion by 2026.
- Board games are well-liked by the Gen Z demographic, with 38% of Gen Z indulging in them.
- The study of gaming is otherwise known as Ludology.
- The familiar idiom “back to square one” most likely originated from snakes and ladders.
Bottom Line:
It is easy to feel that board games would be irrelevant in the digital era. Nothing could be further from the truth as thanks to the internet; the beloved board game is still much sought after.
Playing snakes and ladders online makes it possible to reconnect with family and friends when unable to meet and play over a physical board. Even though it is the next best thing, playing snakes and ladders online helps rekindle beautiful memories of the past.
Gather all your family and friends over a virtual game night for some friendly competition. Making it a weekly affair will give everyone something to look forward to.
Along with snakes and ladders, playing online offers other genres, such as strategy-based that require deep contemplation, to word games for testing your vocabulary. Thus, there is something for everyone.
