The Hindu reported that Ludo was India’s most popular game during the first phase of the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. Ludo’s surge in popularity implies the game provided comforting and stress-relieving effects during that difficult period. Interestingly, this observation proposes a hypothesis that playing Ludo may help build psychological skills. Let’s explore five psychological abilities that the game of Ludo can help us develop.

1. Perseverance: Ludo is often seen as a fun and lighthearted game, leading to the misconception that it can never be stressful. However, Ludo’s rules can induce frustration. For instance, the rule stating that a player can only move their first token out when they roll a six or one can lead to stress in players who are not able to get a token out for extended periods. Yet, it’s rare for players to quit mid-game when stuck. Each dice roll presents a unique chance for the tables to turn. This enables the players to persevere through the game.

2. Visualization: The Ludo game is all about placing the tokens strategically to knock off opponents whenever the time is right. In order to do so, players must visualize the Ludo board in their minds to be able to realistically calculate how many steps they would need to move to outrun their opponents’ tokens. Routinely playing Ludo can help a person practice visualization, which can enhance problem-solving and goal-setting abilities in all facets of life. 

3. Mindfulness: Players must stay present in the moment in order to win a game of Ludo. The game requires awareness of the board, dice rolls, and opponents’ moves. In this way, Ludo strikes an engaging balance between fun and challenge. This absorbs players in the game and limits the mind from wandering into real-life worries since getting caught up and ruminating on problems outside the game can impair performance. The immersive, diversionary nature of Ludo parallels how mindfulness practices aim to anchor one’s concentration in the now. After a Ludo session, people often feel more centered and relaxed.

4. Patience: No matter how exciting or stressful the game may become, each player must wait until their turn to unfold what fate has planned for them. This structured nature of Ludo enables players to practice emotional regulation and impulse control. The more a player plays the game, the better they would become at navigating difficult situations through patience. 

5. Cognition: A player can marginally increase their chances of winning Ludo by correctly judging how many steps to move each token on their turn. Not every dice roll will be favorable for every token’s position. This requires some quick mental math to optimize each move. For example, a player may have one token just outside the home and another nearing the start. A four would advance the farther token while stranding the closer one. A six would be ideal to move the lagging token while sending the other home. Making these rapid risk-reward calculations engages cognitive skills. Over time, regularly playing Ludo can improve abilities like mental math, planning, weighing options, and making strategic decisions. The game’s cognitive challenges keep the mind active and flexible.

Final Thoughts: Playing Lodo can teach us many psychological skills that are not limited to the ones listed above. Nonetheless, playing Ludo can teach important skills that can be applied in various life situations.