A snake in that 'ladders' game (5)
I believe the answer is:
adder
'a snake' is the definition.
(adder is a kind of snake)
'in that ladders game' is the wordplay.
'in that' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'ADDER' is hidden within 'ladders game'.
(Other definitions for adder that I've seen before include "poisoner" , "accountant?" , "Venemous snake" , "An arithmetic snake" , "Totter" .)