The history of Ludo
Ludo is the heir of Pachisi, a race game from India played on a cross-shaped board. When it reached Europe in the 19th century, it was simplified and renamed: Ludo in England, les petits chevaux in France. Here is the story of a game several centuries old.
Pachisi, the Indian ancestor
Long before Ludo, people in India played Pachisi. Its name comes from the Hindi word paccīs, which means "twenty-five": it is the highest score you can get when throwing cowrie shells, small shells used instead of dice. The number of shells that land with their opening facing up tells you how far to move.
The exact origins of the game are still debated. Cross-shaped boards have been known since ancient times on the Indian subcontinent, and a board identical to the Pachisi board was found in the Ellora caves, in India. The game is often said to be more than 1,500 years old.
The game of the Mughal emperors
Pachisi was also a court game. According to accounts, the Mughal emperor Akbar played it on large boards laid out on the floor of his palaces, with people as pawns. Courts of this kind were reportedly built in Agra and Allahabad.
Over the centuries, the game spread to many regions, taking on different names and variants. In India, it is still played in many forms, with boards often embroidered on cloth and rules specific to each region.
Arrival in Europe and the birth of Ludo
The game reached Europe in the 19th century, especially England, through the British presence in India. The English simplified it: the cowrie shells were replaced by a six-sided die, and you needed a 6 to bring a pawn out.
In 1896, this version was patented in England by Alfred Collier under the name Ludo, from the Latin ludo, "I play". Easy to learn and very competitive, Ludo quickly won over families.
A family of games all over the world
From the same principle, each country developed its own version:
| Country | Name of the game |
|---|---|
| India | Pachisi (and Chaupar, a close variant) |
| United Kingdom | Ludo |
| United States | Parcheesi |
| Spain | Parchís |
| Germany | Mensch ärgere dich nicht |
| France | Le jeu des petits chevaux |
All these variants share the essentials: a track, pawns to bring home and opponents you can send back to their base.
Les petits chevaux, the French version
In France, the game is called le jeu des petits chevaux, "the little horses game", because its pawns are shaped like horses that leave their stable and must return to it. The board keeps the cross shape: each player has four pawns to move from the start to the finish according to the roll of the die.
The goal is to be the first player to bring all their pawns home. The full rules are explained in our articles on starting a game, playing a game and the end of the game.
A classic gone digital
The game has never stopped evolving. After wooden and cardboard boards, there are now online versions that let you play alone against the computer, with friends or against players from all over the world.
Yet it remains a family game above all, bringing generations together around a board. Its mix of luck, strategy and suspense explains its longevity: anyone can win, but good choices make the difference. To improve, discover our attacking strategies.
Want to carry on the tradition? Play Ludo online for free, right in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Ludo come from?
Ludo descends from Pachisi, a race game from India played on a cross-shaped board. It reached Europe in the 19th century and was adapted under several names: Ludo in England, petits chevaux in France, Parcheesi in the United States.
What does Pachisi mean?
Pachisi comes from the Hindi word paccīs, which means twenty-five. It is the highest score you can get when throwing the cowrie shells used instead of dice.
When was Ludo invented?
Ludo, a simplified version of Pachisi played with a die, was patented in England in 1896 by Alfred Collier.
What is Ludo called in other countries?
Parcheesi in the United States, Parchís in Spain, Mensch ärgere dich nicht in Germany and le jeu des petits chevaux in France, where the pawns are shaped like little horses.