Ludo is a free online version of the classic dice and token race. It runs in your browser with no download or sign up, works on phones and computers, and keeps working offline once the page has loaded. Play against three computer players or pass the device around with friends.
Inspired by: Ludo, the classic dice and token race that grew out of the Indian game Pachisi.
How to play Ludo
- Pick Vs 3 computers, or choose 2, 3 or 4 players to share one screen.
- Roll the dice. You need a 6 to bring a token out of its yard.
- Move a token forward by the number you rolled. Tap a glowing token to choose which one moves.
- Land on a rival token to send it back to its yard, unless it is standing on a star square.
- Rolling a 6, capturing a token or reaching home gives you another roll. Three sixes in a row lose the turn.
- Get all four of your tokens into the centre first to win.
Controls
- Keyboard: Space or Enter rolls the dice. Arrow keys pick a token and Space moves it. Number keys 1 to 4 also pick a token.
- Mouse: Click the dice area to roll and click a glowing token to move it.
- Touch screen: Tap the board or the dice to roll, then tap a glowing token.
Tips to score higher
- Bring tokens out early. A single token in play is easy to trap.
- Star squares are safe, so park a token there when a rival is a few steps behind you.
- Chase a capture only when your own token will not be left right in front of an enemy.
- Tokens on the coloured home lane cannot be captured, so move them in when you can.
- If two moves look the same, move the token that is closest to being caught.
The story behind Ludo
Ludo comes from Pachisi, a race game played in India for many centuries and often shown in old palace courtyards with a cloth board and cowrie shells. A simplified version with a dice was patented in England in 1896 under the name Ludo, and the cross shaped board travelled around the world. For many Indian families the game means school holidays, power cuts and a loud argument over who rolled a six. Nearly everyone remembers a cousin who always wanted to be the green tokens.
Questions players ask
Is this Ludo game free to play?
Yes. It is free, needs no sign up and has no in-game purchases.
Can I play Ludo with friends on one device?
Yes. Choose 2, 3 or 4 players on the start screen and pass the device after each turn.
Do I need a 6 to start?
Yes. A token can only leave its yard when you roll a 6, and a 6 also gives you an extra roll.
Can I play Ludo offline?
Yes. Open the page once while online and it will load and play without internet afterwards.
How does the computer decide its moves?
It prefers captures, safe squares and getting tokens home, with a little randomness so it is not always predictable.