Ludo with Friends

Jumping into Ludo with Friends, I was instantly enticed by its claim of a contemporary take on the royal game of Pachisi. You can play either against automated opponents or take on people from around the world, and the whole thing strikes a fine balance between classic gameplay and a digital social twist. The name may be a bit misleading, though, with a few users complaining about how there’s no option to directly challenge your IRL friends to a match in the game — which is hardly a deal breaker for a game that’s otherwise very charming.

It features a simplified board design, aiming for easy gameplay over flashy graphics. This, some may find quite appealing, others will content for a little bit more flare. The avatars bring a fun level of character to the game as inexplicable as they end up being, and it does not go unnoticed. Competing against AIs was fun, and by the time I got to the online mode to go up against other worldwide players, the stakes were high. But I still found myself wishing for the ability to set up private lobbies to enjoy game nights with friends in a more personalized setting.

Ludo with Friends finds a nice balance between nostalgic board game fun and online convenience (though it has some areas for improvement too). It may not be the "funniest" game to exist, but it definitely offers entertainment and a touch of lively competitiveness to anyone trying to kill some time. As for casual gamers and people looking to give a childhood favorite a modern rehash, consider this a solid choice.