Ladder Game - Fun Online Random Picker
Use the ladder game to decide order, teams, or penalties. Animated results reveal! Perfect for parties, team building, gift exchange. 100% free.
About This Tool
The Ladder Game (Sadari-tagi) is a classic Korean random selection game where participants are assigned to outcomes through a ladder-shaped grid with hidden horizontal bridges. It is commonly used for fair decision-making: assigning tasks, choosing who pays for a meal, determining presentation order, and settling friendly disputes.
How to Use
- Set the number of participants and enter names (2-12 players).
- Enter result items. Use preset buttons for quick setup.
- Click 'Build Ladder' to generate a random ladder.
- Click 'Reveal All' to see animated results for everyone.
- Use 'One by One' mode to reveal individual results for more suspense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the ladder game work?
Vertical lines are created for each participant, and random horizontal rungs are placed between them. Starting from the top, you move down and switch direction whenever you hit a horizontal rung, landing on a final result at the bottom. The rungs are randomly generated to ensure fair results.
How many players can participate?
You can have 2 to 12 players. You can freely edit participant names and results to suit any occasion.
Can I reveal results one by one?
Yes! Enable 'One by One' mode and click on a participant's name to reveal just their result. Great for building suspense at parties or team events.
Can I share the results?
Yes, after results are revealed, use the 'Copy Results' button to copy text, or share directly via Kakao, Facebook, or Twitter.
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How It Works
The ladder game constructs a vertical grid with N columns (one per participant) and a configurable number of horizontal rungs (bridges) placed randomly between adjacent columns. The bridges are generated using a pseudo-random algorithm (Math.random() or the Crypto API for better randomness) that ensures no two bridges overlap at the same row between the same pair of columns.
When a participant starts at the top of their column and traces downward, they must follow any horizontal bridge they encounter, moving to the adjacent column before continuing down. This creates a permutation β a one-to-one mapping from starting positions to ending results.
Mathematically, any permutation of N elements can be decomposed into adjacent transpositions, which is exactly what the ladder bridges represent. The randomness of the outcome depends on the number and placement of bridges. With sufficient bridges (typically 1.5Γ to 2Γ the number of columns), the resulting permutation approaches a uniform random distribution, making the game fair for all participants.