Who Invented Ludo? Discover the History of the Classic Game

Whether it's a fun family get-together or a leisurely Sunday afternoon, chances are that you have picked up the colourful Ludo board and set up the gotis for the players. Ludo is a game that has brought laughter into homes, friendly quarrels and unforgettable memories. However, this simple board game has a surprisingly complex history, one that stretches back more than a millennium.
 

However, Ludo is not a mere invention of the British; it lies deep in the ancient Indian tradition, mythology, and royalty. Then, who invented Ludo? And how did it develop from a simple pastime played at home, transformed over centuries into organized tournaments?
 

This article delves deeply into the history of Ludo, exploring its development, and origins, and revealing its profound cultural and historical foundations.

To get a picture of who invented Ludo game, let's turn back the clock and step back into the historical depths of India:

It was Pachisi before Ludo. The game, which dates back to the sixth century, was more than just a recreational activity. A popular cultural icon, Pachisi plays a significant role in the Ludo game origin. The Hindi word "Pachis," which means twenty-five, represents the maximum possible score from a toss of cowrie shells (instead of dice), hence the name Pachisi.

In a contemporary sense, Pachisi was not a board game. Rather, it was frequently performed on expansive fabrics, occasionally even embellished with elaborate embroidery or painting. The game was played in larger quantities in royal courts, with rulers such as Akbar utilizing actual individuals as game pieces in the courtyards of their palaces. Power, diplomacy, skill and wit were the key components of their game.

With each arm signifying a player's path, Pachisi's structure was a cross shape. Depending on how many cowries they threw, four players would compete in two teams to move their pieces around the board. Pachisi was full of tactical decisions, in contrast to the condensed form we are familiar with today. Like chess meets Ludo, you can strike out at an opponent, block them, or establish alliances.

Nor was this merely for amusement. Because it was unpredictable, influenced by skills (the dice), and nevertheless required talent and strategy, the game was viewed as a metaphor for life. Ordinary folks enjoyed it at festivals and get-togethers, and royals played it to hone their minds.

Pachisi isn't just found in history books — it's woven into India's spiritual and literary fabric. Here are a few fascinating places it pops up:

In the Mahabharata: 

• The well-known dice game between Yudhishthira and the Kauravas is very critical in the epic. Although it is not exactly Pachisi, it indicates the cultural essence of the games based on dice strategies.
• Exile, war, and finally the rise of dharma were the results of that one dice roll. Excellent material for a board game!

In Hindu Mythology:

•  A common depiction of Shiva and Parvati playing a similar game represents the way the divine forces participate in the cosmic play (lila).
• According to certain legends, Lord Krishna engaged in similar games with the gopis, connecting play, joy, and divinity.

In Cultural Folklore and Art:

• There are murals in temples all over South India that depict people gathering around what looks to be a Pachisi board. 
• The game is frequently portrayed as a representation of love, talent, and skills in folk songs and village stories.
• It is not unusual to find references to cowry-based strategic games in ancient Tamil and Telugu literature.

During colonial authority, the British were interested in Pachisi as it spread throughout India. The game's name and cultural reach underwent a shift, in addition to its rules and design.

Alfred Collier, a British man, submitted a patent application for a condensed, indoor-use version of Pachisi in England in 1896. According to Ludo game history, he substituted a six-sided die with a dice cup for cowrie shells, and he printed the game on cardboard with clean squares and vibrant colours in place of cloth boards. This design was ideal for British drawing rooms because it was simpler to mass-produce and cleaner.

And just like that, Pachisi got a Western makeover — and a new name.

"Ludo" is derived from the Latin word "ludus," which means "I play." It was straightforward, memorable, and closely adhered to the British naming standards of the day. Marketing, teaching, and selling Ludo was simpler, especially for European families and children.

The essence of Pachisi was preserved, but many of its more intricate tactics were dismantled. Individual competition replaced team-based planning as the game's main focus. Rather than using layered strategies, it became more about skills. Its allure persisted, though, which is evidence of how powerful the original idea was.

From the royal courts of India to the parlour rooms of Victorian England, and finally to the plastic boards seen in living rooms all around the world, the narrative of Pachisi to Ludo is one of adaptability.

• Played on embroidered fabric, with live players in some situations, and featuring intricate rules that included alliances and strategy, Pachisi was rich in culture and sophistication.
• That core was given a contemporary makeover by Collier's version (Ludo), which included plastic tokens, a more accessible board, and a simpler movement.
• From the UK to Africa, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and beyond, Ludo origins eventually became a staple in kitchens. Paradoxically, decades later, it made a comeback to India, albeit with a new name that was recognizable.
   

Ludo is more than just a board game in many respects; it's a cultural simulation of an old Indian tradition that has been reinterpreted and modified over time.

Much before Ludo was made an essential piece of familiar game play in the whole world, the ancestor of Ludo, i.e. Pachisi, was the soul of Indian society. Thought to have been created sometime in the 6th century CE, Pachisi wasn't simply a game, but a means to establish the values, mindset and storytelling tradition of old India.

It is believed that Pachisi originated in northern India, most likely in the early Middle Ages. The name is based on the Hindi word, Pachis, meaning twenty-five, referring to the maximum that is possible to throw with cowrie shells as ludo dice. It extended beyond the numbers game, however. The extremely philosophical spirit that life is a mixture of skills and free will, of strategy determining the moves and skills determining the dice, was the spirit of Pachisi.

This game wasn't only for the average person, either. It thrived in the courts of Indian royalty. In his palace at Fatehpur Sikri, Emperor Akbar, one of the Mughal emperors in India, famously had a huge Pachisi board carved into the floor. In an exhibition of wealth, grandeur, and the value of play as political and intellectual instruction, he used his courtiers as pieces in a game involving live human tokens.

Pachisi was not a royal game only since it was played on village squares, temple courtyards, and even in religious narratives. The history of Ludo game reflects this widespread cultural presence as a whole, making it a game played at festivals, at weddings, at family functions, and usually used as a social bond between generations.

The board was of a cross shape, which could be stitched in cloth or drawn on stone. Each player had his or her four arms signifying his/her path that united in the centre. There were four pieces, and each player moved their pieces depending on the throwing of either six or seven cowrie shells.
 

In contrast to Ludo's straightforward turn-based gameplay, Pachisi promoted team strategy, including alliances, blocking, and attacking. Players had to cooperate, read the board, and predict the moves of their opponents in this social and intellectual game. Winning required strategic manoeuvring and calculated risk-taking; there were no shortcuts.

The history of Ludo was an interesting time trip that went through royal palaces and sacred epics to smartphones and competitive gaming platforms. The following timeline follows the development of this old Indian pastime, with the game cornering the stage of being a career of a globalized game, to finding its way into the area of online skill-based gaming and digital platforms.

Ancient Era – Birth of Chaupar and Pachisi (c. 4th to 6th Century CE)

Chaupar and Pachisi became strategy board games in ancient India and were played using cowrie shells on cloth boards, in the shape of a cross. These games did not simply include entertainment but were indicators of philosophical thought on skills and free will.

Mythological References – Dice Games in Indian Epics

Indian mythology has a strong connection to dice games. The game of dice is a pivotal moment in the Mahabharata's story, representing skills, dishonesty, and moral complexity—all concepts that are reflected in traditional gaming.

Medieval India – Cultural and Royal Integration (7th to 16th Century)

Pachisi gained popularity throughout the court, especially among the Mughals. At Emperor Akbar's palace at Fatehpur Sikri, there was a life-sized Pachisi board with live-action games with nobles as pieces.

British Colonial Era – Ludo Invention (1896)

Alfred Collier, an Englishman, received a patent for a condensed form of Pachisi in London. To make the game board easier to make and teach, he standardized it and substituted a six-sided die for the cowrie shells. Ludo, the name of this version, is taken from the Latin word "ludus," which means "I play."

Early 20th Century – International Spread

Ludo quickly spread throughout Europe, Africa, and the Americas after gaining popularity in the British Empire. It became a common board game, especially among families and kids.

21st Century – Digital Reinvention

Ludo is an example of a digital game that started with mobile applications, went through multiplayer versions, autopilot mechanics and social elements. It is nostalgic in value, and with new accessibility, it once again became a worldwide hit.

Ludo has evolved into a competitive, skill-based experience in the online gaming market. Free-to-play Ludo formats are now available on popular platforms like Zupee, where players engage in timed or point-based challenges. Rules and game design have been enhanced to ensure active participation, fairness, and adherence to responsible gaming guidelines.

The popularity of Ludo has prompted a number of regional modifications, each adding a distinctive twist to the game's core rules. Some notable global variances are as follows:

• Pachisi (India): The original game features a cross-shaped board, cowrie shell dice, and is traditionally played as a strategic team game. It is deeply rooted in Indian culture and associated with mythological references.
   
• Chaupar (North India): A more elaborate form of Pachisi, Chaupar was often played by aristocracy. It has a different board layout, slightly modified rules, and involves more complex strategic play.
   
• Ludo (United Kingdom): Alfred Collier patented this simplified version, which replaces cowrie shells with dice. It features a square board with colourful pathways and simplified rules, making it easy for children and families to play.
   
• Parcheesi (United States): An American adaptation of Pachisi created in the late 19th century. Its board design and mechanics differ slightly and are tailored for Western audiences.
   
• Uckers (United Kingdom, Royal Navy): A lively and competitive naval version of Ludo, complete with unique terminology and unwritten codes. It remains a favourite casual pastime among sailors.
   
• Mensch ärgere Dich nicht (Germany): Translated as “Man, Don’t Get Angry,” this German variant is visually similar to Ludo but simpler in mechanics. It continues to be widely enjoyed across German-speaking nations.
   
• Petits Chevaux (France): This French variant often features a circular track and horse-shaped pieces, making it a popular choice for children and parlour play.
   
• Ludo King / Ludo Supreme (India and Global): Modern mobile-based Ludo apps that bring traditional gameplay into the digital era. They offer engaging formats, online multiplayer modes, and interactive tournaments, helping introduce Ludo to a new generation of gamers worldwide.