Christmas Ludo: Santa, the elf, the snowman and the reindeer race to the tree

How to play

• Each player has 4 pawns in their base (2 in the quick game); a pawn can only come out onto its start square on a six.
• Pawns move clockwise as many squares as the die shows, and after a full lap they turn into their own coloured lane to the finish.
• Land on a square with another player's pawn and you send it back to its base – except on the squares with a star or a snowflake, where everyone is safe; your own pawns may share a square.
• A six gives one more throw, the finish has to be reached exactly, and if no pawn can move the turn passes on; the first player with every pawn home wins.

Why play? It is a classic that grandparents and grandchildren play together – the rules take a minute to explain and the cheers at every capture are the same in every generation. Four people can play on one tablet at the Christmas table, and a single player gets three computer opponents.

Also useful

• Christmas Snakes and Ladders: candy-cane ladders and jolly snakes
• Christmas Reversi: gingerbread cookies against snowballs
• Christmas Checkers: red baubles against white snowballs
• Christmas Chess: Santa, reindeer and trees on the board
• Christmas Sea Battle: sink the festive fleet on a winter sea
• Christmas Four in a Row: red baubles against gold

More on santa.haus

• Christmas quizzesTrivia and emoji puzzles, checked as you play, with sheets to print for teams.
• Christmas bingoa card of its own on each phone, a caller that draws the words, or up to 40 different cards to print.
• Party gamesCharades, “Who am I?” and fifteen one-minute games – played in teams on one phone.
• Advent calendarMake one online and send it: a door a day until Christmas Eve.
• Online Christmas cardPick a picture, write your wishes and send the card as a link. Free, no account.
• Christmas printablesColoring pages, cards, gift wrapping and decorations to cut out – print them at home, free.

Drawing names for gifts too? Secret Santa on santa.haus.