When it comes to family game night, sometimes standing in front of the games shelves trying to decide what game to play can be a daunting task. There is so much on offer and sometimes too much choice can be confusing. Why not go for an old family classic such as Ludo. It is quick to play, always fun and can be played by everyone. There are lots of versions of Ludo on the market, but we have been playing the Bigjigs Toys Traditional Ludo.
Like Snakes & Ladders, Ludo (also known as Parcheesi / Pachisi) is another classic board game that originated in India and has been around for centuries as Pachisi (since 1896 as Ludo). 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 is a cross-and-circle running board game and 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 object of the game is to get all your 4 pawns home before the other players.
In the box:
- Wooden Game Board
- 16 Pawns (4 of each colour)
- 1 Die
- Instructions
Ludo is an easy game to learn and play; just roll the die and race around the track to your home straight. 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!
Game set up is easy. Each player picks their colour of pawns and places their four pieces on the corresponding starting circle at the corner of the board. That’s it. To decide who gets to start the game, roll the die and the player with the highest number begins, with play then going clockwise around the board.
Playing the game is simple. To be able to get a pawn out of the starting circle and onto the track, players must roll a six to get their first pawn out. 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 cannot 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 own starting circle. To win, a player 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 a fantastic family fun board game. It is a game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from kids to adults, families and friends. It is easy to learn and play, but also requires some strategic thinking (when to move a pawn out of the start area, what pawn to move when it is your turn, trying to make the best moves to capture your opponent’s pieces etc.) and a bit of luck to win. Perfect for encouraging friendly rivalry and competitiveness. With a playing time of 20-30 minutes (depending on how many are playing), a few rounds can easily be played.
Ludo is a great game to have on the board game shelves (or in the game cupboard) and I highly recommend it to anyone that loves simple board games. It is a real family classic, a must-have staple of 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
For more information or to buy direct, visit www.bigjigstoys.co.uk. Available to buy from Amazon here.
