Ludo
Play Ludo Game Online on Mela App

Ludo is a strategic multiplayer board game (min 2 to 4 players) where the players race their tokens or gotis from start to finish as per the rolls of a single dice. Interestingly, Ludo is a simplified version of the ancient Indian board game called Pachisi which was meant to be enjoyed with family and friends including players of all age groups. There are some western versions of Pachisi like Parchis in Spain, Parcheesi from the United States and Uckers, a variation of Ludo played by the Royal Navy on a Ludo board.

Pachisi originated in India in the 6th century and it is also depicted on the boards of Ellora Caves in India. This 6th century game was mentioned in the Indian epic Mahabharata where Shakuni the antagonist rolls the doomed dice to trick the Pandavas and after losing everything, the protagonist Yudhishthira gambles his wife Draupadi and ends up losing her too. Pachisi was also referred as Chaupar during the medieval ages and the classic version was enjoyed by one of the most prominent Mughal emperors of India, Akbar. The game of Ludo took a novel turn when a cubic dice was included and licensed as “Ludo” in England in 1896.

Enough with the history of Pachisi err Ludo, let us now focus on the gameplay.

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Rules to Play Ludo Game on Mela App

A minimum of two, three, or four players can play Ludo individually. Initially, every player’s four tokens are out of play and kept in the player’s yard. The players will then push their tokens on the board (starting squares), and embark on the clockwise journey around the board till it moves to the finishing square. The rolls of a single die control the tokens, and entry to the finishing square needs a strategic roll from the player. The first player to get all their tokens to the finish line wins the game. Check out some important game rules before you begin your Ludo journey:

  • Every player gets a chance to roll a die and the player with the highest roll gets to start the game. Players then proceed to take alternate turns in a clockwise direction.
  • A player must roll a six to introduce a token into play from the stationary position in the yard. The player can draw a token from home every single time they get a 6 unless the home is empty or moves a piece 6 times. The start box consists of 2 own tokens (doubled). If the player doesn’t have tokens in play and rolls a number from 1 to 5, the turn is skipped to the next player.
  • Players can move a token based on the die value rolled. If the player has various tokens in play, he can select a token and move it forward. If a rival’s token is blocking the path, your token will land on the same space to capture their token. It is not possible to go past the token and passes are not allowed. If you are not able to make a move, the turn is skipped to the next player.
  • If a player is unable to draw a token from home, rolling a 6 gives an extra roll in the same turn. If the bonus roll is 6, the player gets another extra roll. The third roll, if comes to a 6 on the die, the player shall not move and the turn is passed to the following player.
  • If the token ends up on a rival’s occupied square, the rival token is returned to the owner’s yard. This token can resume the play only when the owner rolls a 6.
  • A player’s home column squares are the safest as no rival player can enter these squares. It is not possible to jump over after a single rotation and enter your home. You must roll the exact number required to get each token on the home triangle.
Tips & Tricks

Here are some tricks that will establish you as a Ludo master.

  • Open all the token pieces - It is the most straightforward tip to get your coins out of the home base as early as possible.
  • Spread your tokens on the board - If you are looking for a competitive advantage in Ludo, try to focus your energy on spreading your tokens strategically. Example, if you have two tokens in the same square and are surrounded by other players, moving any piece may get your token killed. By spreading your tokens, you can stop other players from winning the game.
  • Attack, Attack, Attack: Attack is the best form of defence when it comes to Ludo, even if you are putting your tokens at risk. Try to keep your soft side aside and unleash your inner beast to adopt an attacking strategy. Though, always remember to calculate the risks before planning your attack strategy.
  • Patience is Critical - Patience is a virtue which can help you win this game. Patience will ensure the safety of your tokens and be in the safe zone.
FAQs
You will need at least 2 players and could be a multiplayer game of upto 4 players.
You have the option to login through your Facebook account and invite your friends to play a game of Ludo together.
The first player to move all the 4 tokens in the home triangle is the winner.
The dice roll is a random number generated by the computer and we do not control or interfere with the dice roll in any capacity. To provide a fair chance to all the participants, the dice roll has been set random and no manipulation is entertained.
Please feel free to contact us on support@melagames.com with your suggestions or feedback.
If you are looking to raise a formal complaint regarding any issue pertaining to fairplay or against a fellow participant, please contact our Support team at support@melagames.com.
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