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Ludo

Roll. Race. Knock them out.

Get all four tokens around the board and home. Land on a rival and send them back to base. Sixes roll again.

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How to play

  1. 1You need a 6 to move a token out of your base.
  2. 2Each roll, pick which of your tokens in play to move.
  3. 3Land on a single opposing token — off a safe square — and it goes back to base.
  4. 4Roll a 6 and you go again; three in a row and you lose the turn.
  5. 5Exact roll to bring a token home. All four home wins.

How to play Ludo online with friends

Ludo is a race game for two to four players, and it's one of the best games to play online because the physical version needs a specific board and four sets of tokens that always go missing. Here, one person creates a room, shares the code, and everyone joins from their own phone with a nickname. No download, no account.

The rules follow the classic game rather than a simplified one: you need a 6 to leave base, landing on a rival sends them home, and you need the exact roll to finish. Games run 20 to 40 minutes, which is a proper session, not a filler.

If someone's connection drops, their seat is held for 30 seconds and they come back with their tokens exactly where they were. Not enough people? The host can add computer players from the lobby.

Ludo rules in full

  • Each player has four tokens, starting in base. A token leaves base only on a roll of exactly 6.
  • Each roll, you choose which of your tokens to move. Even when only one move is legal, you tap it yourself.
  • Landing on a single opposing token sends it back to its base, unless it's on a safe square. Safe squares are each colour's entry square and the four star squares.
  • Roll a 6 and you take another turn. Roll three 6s in a row and the third is forfeited and the turn passes.
  • Tokens go up a private home column before finishing, and there's no capturing inside it. You need the exact roll to land on the final square.
  • First player to bring all four tokens home wins.
  • If no legal move exists, for example all your tokens are in base and you didn't roll a 6, your turn passes automatically.

Tips for winning at Ludo

  • Get a second token out early. Two of your tokens on the same ring square can't be captured, because a capture only works on a single token, and more tokens in play gives you more choices each roll.
  • Park on safe squares when a rival is within six squares behind you.
  • Chasing a capture is usually better than a small safe move, because it costs your opponent a 6 to recover.
  • Save the exact-roll finish for last. Don't run every token home early and leave yourself with one that needs a specific number.

Ludo questions

Can I play Ludo online with friends for free?
Yes. It's free, needs no account and runs in your browser. One person creates a room and shares the code or link.
How many players can play Ludo?
Two, three or four, on the same board.
Do I need a 6 to start?
Yes. A token leaves base only on an exact 6, and rolling a 6 gives you an extra turn.
What happens if someone loses connection?
Their seat is held for 30 seconds. If they don't return, their turns are skipped, and if they come back they rejoin with their tokens exactly where they were.
Can I play Ludo against the computer?
Yes. The host can add computer players to empty seats from the lobby.
Start a Ludo roomJoin with a code

At a glance

Players
2–4
Length
20–40 min · Long session
Ages
6+
Difficulty
Medium
Online play
Yes — join strangers

Ludo guides and articles

If you like Ludo