Frequently Asked Questions

What is Thunder Ludo?

Thunder Ludo is a free online version of the classic board game Ludo. You can play in real time against friends, other players or a computer opponent, with two to four players per game, directly in your web browser.

Is Thunder Ludo free?

Yes. Every game mode is free to play. The game has a virtual currency, coins, which you earn by playing. Coins have no real-world value and can’t be exchanged for money.

Do I need to download anything?

No. Thunder Ludo runs in any modern web browser on phones, tablets and computers. For quicker access, use your browser’s “Add to Home Screen” option to keep it on your home screen like an app.

Do I need an account?

No. You can play as a guest with just a display name, but nothing is saved. If you sign in, Thunder Ludo keeps your wins, losses, level, XP and coins, you appear on the leaderboard, and you can join a clan.

How do I sign in?

Choose the Profile tab on the home screen and sign in with your phone number or your Google account. There is no password to remember.

How do I play with friends?

Tap Create Room, then share the 6-character room code, or the invite link, with your friends. They tap Join a Room on the home screen and enter the code. Once at least two players have marked themselves ready, the host can start the game. Our step-by-step guide covers it in detail.

How many players can play in one game?

Between two and four. Private rooms hold up to four players, Quick Match lets you choose a 2, 3 or 4-player table, and Play vs Bot is a one-on-one game against the computer.

What is Quick Match?

Quick Match finds you a game without needing a room code. Pick a table size and you are matched with other players who chose the same size. If not enough players are found within 20 seconds, computer-controlled players fill the remaining seats so the game can start.

Am I playing against real people?

In a private room, yes: only people with your room code can join. In Quick Match you are matched with real players whenever they are available, but if not enough are found within 20 seconds, the empty seats are filled by computer players. Play vs Bot is always against the computer.

Can I watch other people’s games?

Yes. The Live Games page lists matches in progress, and you can also look up a game by its room code. Spectators see every roll and move in real time but can’t affect the game.

Which rules does Thunder Ludo use?

The standard modern rules. You need a 6 to bring a token out; a 6, a capture or a token reaching home earns another roll; a third 6 in a row ends your turn; landing on a lone opponent captures it; start and star squares are safe; two tokens of one colour form a block that can’t be captured; and finishing needs an exact roll. The full details are in How to Play Ludo.

How long do I have to take my turn?

You have 30 seconds to roll the die and 15 seconds to choose which token to move. If time runs out, the game rolls or moves for you. If only one of your tokens can move, it moves automatically.

What happens if I stop playing in the middle of a game?

The game keeps going and the timer plays your turns. If the game has to roll for you more than five times in a match, or your inactive time on your turns adds up to two minutes, the match ends as a loss for you. Please finish the games you start.

What happens if I lose my connection?

Your seat is held for two minutes, so reconnect within that time to carry on. The game doesn’t pause while you are away, so come back as quickly as you can.

How are the dice rolled? Are they random?

Every roll is generated on Thunder Ludo’s game server using a cryptographically secure random number generator, so it can’t be predicted or influenced from your device or anyone else’s.

Like many online Ludo games, Thunder Ludo then applies a balancing layer designed to keep matches close and moving. It breaks up long streaks of very high or very low rolls, avoids giving three sixes in a row, and gives a much better chance of a six to a player who has been stuck without a legal move for a couple of turns. It also sometimes favours players who are far behind, or a roll that makes a capture or brings a token home, and occasionally holds back a player who is far ahead. The same rules apply to every player.

Because of this balancing, rolls on Thunder Ludo don’t follow the textbook odds of a physical die exactly. Our dice odds guide explains those textbook odds.

How do XP and levels work?

Signed-in players earn XP from every match: 50 XP for a win, plus XP for each roll, each six, each token brought out, each capture (15 XP) and each token brought home (20 XP), with a 30 XP bonus for getting all four tokens home. A loss costs 25 XP. You go up a level for every 1,000 XP, and because losses cost XP, your level can also go down.

What are coins for?

Coins are earned by playing: 50 for a win, 5 for a loss, and a few more for sixes, tokens brought out, captures and tokens brought home. You can send coins to other players as gifts or donate them to your clan. Coins are a virtual currency only and have no cash value.

How does the leaderboard work?

The leaderboard ranks signed-in players by total wins, and you can also view it by level and win rate. Results are recorded automatically at the end of each match; guest games don’t count.

What are clans?

Clans are groups of players who team up under a shared name and tag. Signed-in players can create a clan, search for one to join, and donate coins to it.

Is there a minimum age?

Yes. Thunder Ludo is for players aged 13 and over, as set out in our Terms of Service.

What do you do with my data?

We collect only what we need to run the game, such as your sign-in details, game stats and basic technical data, and we don’t sell personal information. Our Privacy Policy explains exactly what we collect and why, including how advertising on our guides works.

How do I delete my account?

Email us at [email protected] from the address or phone number linked to your account and ask for it to be deleted. You can also ask for a copy of your data.

How do I report a player?

During a match, open the in-game menu and choose Report player. You can also contact us with the player’s username, the room code and a description of what happened.

How can I contact you?

Email [email protected]. The contact page lists what to include so we can help quickly.