Traditional Ghanaian game

Ludu (Ludo)

Ludu — Ghana’s favourite board game

Four tokens, one six, endless family arguments. Ghana’s national pastime.

Players: 2–4 playersAges: Ages 6+Where: Indoors · board + diceTime: 20–60 minutes

Playable now

Play Ludu (Ludo) here — you are Red — tap ROLL

You ● RedLuduGreenYellowBlue

You are Red. Tap ROLL to begin!

0000

Wins on this device: 0 of 0

No game sparks more joy — and more shouting — in a Ghanaian home than Ludu. Descended from India’s Pachisi via the British game Ludo, it has been fully adopted: market stalls sell hand-painted boards, and “rolling a six” is a national catchphrase for good luck.

Race your four tokens around the board and into home before your rivals capture them. Simple to learn, agonising to lose, and the soundtrack of countless Ghanaian evenings, funerals-outdooring afterparties, and shop-front gatherings.

The rules

1Each player has 4 tokens in their yard. Roll a 6 to bring a token onto the track.
2Move tokens clockwise by the dice roll; rolling a 6 earns another roll.
3Land on an opponent’s token to capture it — it returns to their yard (except on starred safe squares).
4Two or more of your tokens on one square form a block opponents cannot pass or capture.
5Tokens must travel the full track and then climb the home column with exact rolls.
6First player to bring all 4 tokens home wins.

How to play & win

1Open aggressively: getting all four tokens out early beats parading one token around.
2Count threats — tokens 6 or fewer squares behind an enemy are in the danger zone.
3Park on starred safe squares when enemies approach from behind.
4Build blocks near your home stretch to stall chasing rivals.
5Save your sixes: use bonus rolls to escape danger rather than advance safe tokens.
6In the home run, exact rolls matter — plan entries so you don’t get stuck one square short.

The cultural story

Ludu in Ghana is a social institution. Barbering shops, provision stores, and taxi ranks double as ludu arenas; major life events — naming ceremonies, weddings, holidays — all feature marathon sessions. Mobile ludu apps with millions of downloads prove the passion has fully crossed into the digital age.

Follow Ludu (Ludo) stories in Ghana news →

Ludu (Ludo) FAQs

How do you win Ludu?

Bring all four of your tokens around the board and into home with exact dice rolls before your rivals do.

What happens when you land on an opponent in Ludu?

You capture their token and send it back to its yard — unless it sits on a starred safe square. Rolling a 6 brings tokens out of the yard and earns a bonus roll.

How many people can play Ludu?

Two to four players, each with four tokens in their own colour.