Ludus

Ludus is a roll‑and‑write print‑and‑play game that originated as a charitable effort to keep Ludus Luderia, Brazil's first boardgame café, afloat during the COVID‑19 crisis. Players become shelf‑organizers, trying to place games from six categories – Kids, Family, Party, Strategy, Thematic and War – without letting heavier titles crush lighter ones. Each round, two dice are drafted openly; one determines the category and the other the format (box, card, etc.) of the game to be drawn onto the player's shelf sheet. The drawing is done with pen and pencil, following roll‑and‑write mechanics, and strategic dice choices affect scoring and future placement options. The game ends when a player fills the fourth slot on their shelf. Final scores come from completed categories, diversity of niches, and fully occupied shelves. A solo mode challenges a single player to improve their score over successive attempts. Light on weight (2/5), quick to play (15‑45 minutes), and supporting 1‑4 players, Ludus suits fans of fast puzzles, simple resource management, and a dash of luck. Being paper‑and‑pencil, it’s cheap to produce, yet the theme of organizing a "game library" adds a charming twist that appeals to boardgame enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys tidy‑up challenges.