Ludo for Telehealth

Ludo is an English board game dating back to the 1800s. Although many people today have not heard of Ludo, most of us have played modern variations on this game like Sorry or Trouble. Basically, players take turns rolling a die to travel around the board into their home. If another player lands on your piece, it has to start over.

This website has Ludo available for free, and you can use this game in telehealth sessions! Instead of creating a unique link, you use screen share and take turns with screen control to make your moves. This game is for two to four players, so it can be done with individuals or small groups. You can opt to have the computer play with you if you want the experience of more players.

Ludo is a game based on both planning and luck – you can’t control what you or the other player will roll, so you inevitably have to practice frustration tolerance when things are not going your way. As with most telehealth games, you are not able to cheat to get ahead, so as a therapist I can stay focused on that positive relationship with my client while still using emotion regulation skills in real time. In the last year, I feel like having this option has actually benefitted many of my clients, and I would argue it could be seen as an improvement on in-person play therapy.

This is a simple game that can be an intervention on its own or can leave room for conversation during play. And as with all virtual board games, you will never lose any of your pieces!