It's that time of year again, the time where people are probably inundated with games, be it computer games for the latest games console or, a lesser wallet bender, a simple board game for all the family to play, and hopefully enjoy.
And it is the latter that I am going to talk about today, with one particular game which I remember from my childhood, and still enjoy playing today. The game in question is in fact a game called snakes and ladder which is certainly one of the most harmless games that even the youngest member of your family can enjoy.

Firstly, there are many versions of snakes and ladder, such as a Disney version and even a fireman Sam one too, but each one is played in the same way with the playing board itself being more or less the same format, although one or two certain games have fewer squares.
To play the game you only need four counters, two dice and the playing board itself.
The 'normal' board has 100 squares on it, ten along and ten high, with each square being numbered accordingly, and you travel along the board in a zig-zag sort of fashion, starting on the bottom row to square ten, then up a square and along another ten squares, although there are a few obstacles on route, both negative and positive.
These obstacles are in the shape of snakes and ladders, hence the name of the game, which are all different lengths, with each one taking you on a lengthy journey around the board. For example, the shortest ladder may take you up two rows, missing out 20 squares, whilst the longest ladder may take you up several rows, missing over 50 squares, both taking you closer to the finishing line, or square.
But watch out for the snakes as they will drop you right down the board, for example, the shortest snake may take you down 2 rows, dropping back over 20 squares, whilst the longest snake will drop you back over 50 squares, forcing you to have to go through the entire process again.

To actually play the game the players starts on square one, throw the dice and move along the board according to the numbers thrown. Along the way if you land on the bottom of a ladder you go up the ladder to the square that the ladder stops at, but if you land on a snakes head you drop down to the square where the snakes tail is.
This continues until a player reaches square 100, or you could play it where the play continues until each player finishes.

That's it, it's so easy to play, you go up a ladder and slide down a snake, simple as that, but don't think that it's a straight forward game, finishing a game in a matter of minutes. Some games can last quite some time as the snakes are positioned in certain places that, even when you think you're on the home straight, you end up right back where you don't want to be, starting your journey again and again.

It is such as fun game to play and, as I said, even the younger members of the family can play it, as long as you can roll a dice, and have a good effort at counting along a board, then you'll be able to play this game.
But do be aware that it can become a little frustrating, especially if you're a few squares away from the finish line and you land on a snake, which sends you right down the board again, behind all the other players who you'd just spent time laughing at for being so far behind, so now it's their turn to laugh at you.
A game could last for about five minutes, if all goes well and you climb all the ladders whilst avoiding all the snakes, or, on the other hand, if you seem to land on every single snake every time you roll the dice, then a game could last for the rest of your life, almost. But each game is entertaining and will keep the players entertained and maybe a little thrilled too.

As for the price, well, it sells for less than £10.00 which for what could turn into hours of fun for all the family is the best few quid you could spend.
So, if you're not scared of reptiles and have no fear of heights then you'll have no fear playing this game.