Ludo King

The quickest way to start is the offline route. No internet connection is needed to play against the computer, and a pass-and-play local mode lets 2 to 6 people share one device. That makes the first match possible without an account or a friend online.

When you want company, the online mode takes 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 players. You can challenge Facebook friends in a private room, and the game includes text and voice chat. A worldwide player search is also available for finding opponents you do not know.

Daily goals are worth checking early. They pay out free dice, coins and diamonds, so they give a first look at the in-game currencies before you consider buying anything.

Ludo King is more than one board. A Snakes and Ladders mode runs for 2, 3 or 4 players, so anyone who grew up with both games gets two classics in one install.

The competitive side is an 8-player tournament. A new Ludo season is released each month, which gives regular players a reason to return. The rules follow the traditional game, so the luck of the dice stays central and strategy comes down to which token you move.

Google Play gives the game 4.1 stars from about 10.3 million ratings, which is a large sample with a middling-to-good score. Daily goals pay out free dice, coins and diamonds, and social chat covers both text and voice.

Ludo King is built around luck and light tactics, so players who want skill-heavy matches may prefer 8 Ball Pool. For card play with friends, UNO! is a good option. Two-player puzzle fans might look at Hangman Words: Two Player Games.

Other choices include 2 Player games, 1 2 3 4 Player Games and Stickman Party 234 MiniGames. These are collections that mix several quick games on one screen, rather than one board played in depth.

Also consider the money model. Ludo King carries ads and in-app purchases, and the free price covers only the download. If you want a game with neither, check each alternative's store page.

Recent updates add social chat with text and voice, worldwide player search, a quick mode, tournaments, and a save and load option for games. They also add support for low-end devices.

Ludo King comes from Gametion (gametion.com) under the package ID com.ludo.king. It is rated Everyone, shows ads, and sells in-app purchases such as extra dice, coins and diamonds, so it is worth checking the permissions and data safety details on its store listing before you let kids play.