TECH FEATURE Digital Ludo King: Would You Play It?

Ludo King is the digital version of the board game your parents and grandparents played on wooden tables. In 2026, it is the most popular “family game” in Nigeria because almost every phone can play it, and everyone—from kids to grandmas—already knows the rules.

The game is like a race. You have four small pieces, called tokens. Your goal is to move all four tokens from your “Starting House” all the way around the board to the “Home” in the centre. The first person to get all four tokens home wins.

How to Play

1. The Magic Six: To start moving, you must roll a 6 on the dice. If you don’t get a 6, your tokens stay locked in the house.
2. Rolling and Moving: Once your token is out, you roll the dice and move that many spaces. If you roll another 6, you get a bonus turn.
3. Kicking Others Out: This is the most exciting part! If your token lands on the exact same square as another player’s token, you “kick” them back to their starting house. They have to roll a 6 to start all over again.
4. Safe Zones: There are squares with a star on them. These are safe zones. If your token is on a star, no one can kick you out.

Why Nigerians Love It

Play with Friends: You can play with four people sitting in the same room using one phone. You just pass the phone around.

Play Online: If your friend is in another city, like Abuja or Port Harcourt, you can send them a code and play together over the internet.

Voice Chat: In the new 2026 version, you can talk to your friends while playing. You can laugh when you kick their token out or complain when you keep rolling a 1!

It’s Free: You don’t need to buy a PlayStation or an expensive computer. If you have a basic smartphone, you can download it and start playing for free.

Tips to Win

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket: Try to get all your tokens out of the house as soon as you roll a 6.

• Stay on the stars: If you see an enemy token coming behind you, try to land on a star square so you are safe.
• Be patient: Sometimes the dice doesn’t give you the number you want. Just keep rolling!