Ladder Game

🪜 What is a Ladder Game?

The ladder game (also known as Amidakuji in Japan) is one of the most popular fair lottery methods in Korea and Japan, with a history spanning hundreds of years. It uses a structure of vertical and horizontal lines to randomly connect participants with outcomes.

The core principle is based on mathematical permutations. Each horizontal bridge swaps two adjacent positions (a transposition), and these random combinations of transpositions create unpredictable results. This means every participant has an equal probability of receiving any outcome.

Digital ladder games are far more convenient than drawing on paper. Horizontal bridges are automatically placed using a computer random number generator, making it impossible to manipulate results intentionally. It works perfectly for choosing lunch spots, assigning chores, team selection, presentation order, and many more everyday scenarios.

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📖 How to Use

1

Enter Players

Enter participant names on the left. Click ＋ Add Player to add more.

2

Enter Results

Enter the prizes or outcomes on the right. Match the number of players.

3

Generate Ladder

Click Generate Ladder and a random ladder will be created automatically.

4

See Results

Click a player name to animate their path, or click Reveal All to show everyone at once.

💡 Perfect For

🍽️

Choosing lunch spots

When your team can't decide on lunch, let the ladder choose! Enter candidate restaurants as results for a fair decision.

🧹

Assigning chores

Assign cleaning zones in the office or classroom fairly without any complaints.

👥

Team selection

Form unbiased random teams for PE class, workshops, or games.

🎁

Gift exchange partners

Secretly assign gift exchange partners for Secret Santa or similar events.

📋

Presentation order

Create a fair presentation order where no one feels disadvantaged.

🎮

Game character assignment

Randomly assign characters, roles, or factions in board games or online games.

View full guide →

❓ FAQ

Are results truly random?

Yes! Horizontal bridges are randomly generated each time. Even with the same players and prizes, every new ladder gives different results.

Is there a player limit?

No hard limit, but 2–10 players works best visually. On mobile, scroll horizontally for larger groups.

What if player and result counts differ?

If results are fewer than players, missing ones are filled with '?'. Extra results are trimmed to match player count.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes! The site is fully optimized for smartphones and tablets.

Is the ladder game mathematically fair?

Yes, the ladder game is based on the permutation principle. When enough horizontal bridges are randomly placed, every participant has an equal chance of receiving any outcome.

Is my data stored on the server?

No. All data is processed only in your browser and is never sent to or stored on any server. Refreshing the page resets all input data.

Can I view the same ladder again?

Currently there is no save feature. A completely new random ladder is generated each time. If you want to keep the results, we recommend taking a screenshot.

Does it work offline?

The ladder generation and results work in your browser, so basic features work offline once the page is loaded. However, ads and comments require an internet connection.

View more questions →

Players

Prizes