It’s family game night and you are standing there looking at the board game shelves trying to decide on a fun family game or two to play with the kids. But what do you choose? Sometimes too much choice can be confusing. Well, let’s make it easy. Why not go for an old classic and family favourite such as Ludo. It is quick to play, always fun and can be played by anyone, anywhere, anytime.
Like Snakes & Ladders, Ludo (also known as Parcheesi / Pachisi) is another classic board game that originated in India and has been around for centuries. I have always known this game as being called Ludo but in the UK it can also go by another name, Uckers (generally played by the Royal Navy and has more rules). Like Snakes & Ladders, Ludo was another favourite game of mine growing up.
Ludo consists of a board with a criss-cross track, 4 differently coloured circles (one in each corner) and a centre home/finish circle. It is a game for 2-4 players, age 3+ and the idea to get all your 4 pawns home before the other players.
In the box:
- Game Board
- 16 Pawns (4 of each colour)
- 1 Die
- Instructions
It is an easy game to learn and play, roll the die and race around the track. Well, not so fast, Ludo is a game of strategy as well as luck. Players must complete a full circuit of the track before entering the home straight to get to the finish. But along the way, there are many twists; you might find yourself blocked by an opponent or captured and sent back to the start. That’s what makes Ludo so exciting and unpredictable. You never know what will happen next!
Setting up the game to play is simple. Each player selects their colour of pawns and places their four pawns of the corresponding starting circle in the corners of the board. That’s it. Roll the die and the player with the highest number gets to start, with play then going clockwise around the board.
To start, players must roll a six to get their first pawn out of their start area (the coloured circle on the corner of the board that matches the pawns). Only a six can get a pawn out of the starting area. Any player that throws a six also gets another roll of the die. Players move their pawns around the track according to the number rolled. Players can not land pawns of the same colour on the same square, and if a player lands their pawn on a square with another coloured pawn, that pawn is captured and sent back to its starting circle. To win, you must get all four pawns home to the centre circle and you must roll an exact number to get each pawn home (if you have 2 squares to get home, you MUST throw a 2, 3 will not do it).
Overall, Ludo is great family fun. It is a game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from kids to adults. It is easy to learn and play, but also requires some skill, strategy and a bit of luck to win. Perfect for encouraging friendly rivalry. With a playing time of 20-40 minutes, a few rounds can easily be played.
Ludo is a great game to have on the board game shelves (or cupboard) and I highly recommend it to anyone that loves simple board games. There is a reason it has been around so long; it is fun and enjoyable and has proven to be a timeless classic.
Whether you are looking for a game to play on a rainy day, a game night or just something to entertain the kids during school holidays, Ludo is a great choice.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £12.99
Available to buy from Amazon here.
DISCLOSURE: All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review uses an affiliate link which I may receive a small commission from if you purchase through the link.
