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Last updated: December 30, 2024
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Monopoly has been around for almost a century, and it hasn’t lost its appeal during that time. You’ll still find this board game in most people’s houses. Of course, a few updates can make even a classic game more appealing. That’s why this game has taken on some new looks and styles, so each of us can find the best Monopoly editions to suit our tastes.
In this review, we’ve looked at seven different Monopoly editions. Our favorite one is the Ultimate Banking Edition, which simplifies the game by getting rid of the money, replacing it with bank cards, and a banking unit to keep track of everyone’s money. This makes it easy for younger members to play without losing the appeal of the game. Other versions we’ve reviewed include some alternate rules or take elements from your favorite TV shows, movies, and even video games, including new locations, tokens, and cards for some extra fun.
When choosing the best Monopoly editions for you and your family, you should check out certain features. The recommended age is one feature since some versions include mature content. The number of players tells you how big of a group you can play with. You may also want to check out what’s new in the box, so you know exactly what you’re getting. As well as the comparison table and the in-depth reviews, we’ve also included a buying guide at the end, to help you choose which of these Monopoly editions are right for you and your family.
"Fans of Marvel, exult since this Monopoly edition has each and every aspect of the game customized to correspond with your favorite comics character."
"Based on the popular video game, this edition is appealing for younger players; in this game, you earn Health Points instead of selling and buying property."
The Ultimate Banking Edition is one of the best Monopoly games ever made for a few reasons. The first is that it doesn’t include any cash at all. Instead, each player gets a bank card, which can be used with the Ultimate Banking Unit to keep track of the money you are earning or spending throughout the game. This makes the game much easier to play, especially for the younger members of the group.
As well as the bank cards, the title deeds can also be scanned using the Banking Unit, so the cost of the property is deducted from your funds automatically. You can also pay rent to others or set them for your own properties.
A new feature is the Event cards and Location spaces, which replace the Chance and Community Chest cards in the original version of the game. These can give you more money, take some away, or even change the property rates.
Another new addition is the auction properties feature. When a player lands on a space they do not want to purchase, the other players can bid on it during a specific amount of time. The last person to bid wins the property at the price on the Ultimate Banking Unit screen.
This game relies on luck rather than strategy, which some people don’t like, but this does speed up gameplay. A game lasts only about 30 minutes for added convenience.
Why is it special?
Innovative technologies, close to real-life cashless payments
The Stranger Things Edition of Monopoly will be a hit with any of the TV show fans in your home. This game starts with Will Byers going missing and continues with the players moving around the board trying to find him. To do so, you have to travel around the board, searching all the Hawkins locations, avoiding the traps to the Upside Down and the Monster in the process.
There are 28 Title Deed cards that match up with locations in the series. These include Benny’s Burgers, Lucas’ House, and Mike’s Basement. You can buy, sell, or trade those locations to aid your search.
There are also other updated cards, including the Walkie-Talkie and Blinking Lights, which are used instead of the Community Chest and Chance cards. Even the houses and hotels have been updated to Forts and Hideouts for an even more authentic feel.
The tokens used to go around the board have two sets to choose from, the 80’s inspired tokens and their darker doubles that have been “ripped from the Upside Down”. There are eight of them in all so that you can play this game with a maximum of eight players.
The money is the old-style Monopoly money, which matches the 80’s theme of the show. There isn’t a money holder, though, which makes it harder to keep organized during games or after you put it away between sessions.
Though the Deadpool movie may have an R rating, the Monopoly game leaves out the adult content, making this one of the best Monopoly versions for those who may not be mature enough to see it in theaters.
This game includes a wide variety of Deadpool themed additions. The game board reflects the trademark red and black colors of the main character’s costume, with Deadpool posing in the middle. The tokens are also themed to include the Deadpool logo, a unicorn, a chef’s hat, an ok hand, a taco, and a Deadpool bomb.
Instead of the well-known locations, like Marvin Garden’s and Park Place, the properties have been replaced with Mercenaries and Sweet Rides. You use these spaces to gather your team of allies and cool vehicles to collect money from the other players. You can also sell them or swap them out for an even better team to make even more money.
There are no Chance or Community Chest cards in the Deadpool game. Instead, there are Contract, Pouches, and Dumb Luck cards that include this Marvel characters dry, sarcastic wit while giving you some instructions. There are also Cheap Shot and Low Blow spaces on the board that allow you to steal what you can from the other players.
Even the money has Deadpool’s face on it. There is no money tray to hold it all, though, so it may be hard to keep it all nice and tidy.
The Fortnite Edition is aimed at fans of the popular video game, making it one of the best monopoly sets for the Fortnight fans in your house. Though it uses a similar-looking board, this game is quite a bit different from the original version.
First, it replaces the normal tokens with a variety of Fortnight characters, so you can pick the one you like best to play the game with. The game board has also replaced Boardwalk and the other original properties with well-known locations from the Fortnite game.
Rather than earning money, you earn Health Point chips, so rather than owning property, it’s about survival. Rolling the action die lets you pick up some health packs, damage your opponents, and build some walls. Passing Go unleashes a Storm that you need to try to avoid, or you will lose some of your Health Points. When those are gone, your time in the game is over. The last person with HP wins the game.
Another unique addition to this game is the Loot Chest cards that also give you some perks. These cards, as well as the Location Cards, replace the Chance and Community Chest cards in the original Monopoly game.
The instructions to the game are a bit limited, especially if you aren’t familiar with the video game, though there are videos you can check out to learn how to play the board game if you need a bit of help.
The Rick and Morty Edition has one of the best Monopoly boards around. It is colorful and fun, featuring numerous characters and locations from the first two seasons of this popular Adult Swim series.
The original Monopoly properties have been replaced by some of the best Rick and Morty locations, including Earth spots like Rick’s garage and Harry Herpson High School. There are also some Multiverse locations as well, including Birdperson Planet, Fantasy World, and Gazorpazorp. You can buy, sell, or trade these locations, earning Flurbo currency that features the series’ popular characters.
Included with this game are six collectible tokens, including Rick’s car, Snuffles’ Helmet, and Meeseek’s Box. The normal houses and hotels have also been upgraded to Flooble Cranks and Gooble Boxes for even more Rick and Morty fun.
Instead of the classic Chance and Community Chest card, this cool Monopoly version uses Get Schwifty and Inter-Dimensional Cable TV cards for some twists and turns in the game.
This game has a recommended age of 17 and up, mainly due to some adult language used in the game. Though kids should steer clear, it is a fun game for adult fans of the Rick and Morty show. It can be played with up to six players and can last an hour or more, so be sure to have some free time before you pull out this limited edition version and set it up.
This is the best monopoly game for the cheaters in the group. Unlike other monopoly games, this one not only allows cheating, but it also encourages it. It includes cheating cards that tell you which cheats to try out. These include Free Stay, where you skip paying rent on another player’s property, Slippery Deed lets you steel a title deed from someone else, and Bank Heist, where you steal money right from the bank.
If you complete a cheat without getting caught, you are rewarded. Those who fail are punished, though, so be extra careful when cheating in this game. Larger games are better for cheating, too, since there are more people to watch, while smaller games make cheating rather difficult.
Another feature is the handcuff, which is put on those who’ve been sent to jail for cheating. There is only one of these, though, so if multiple people are in jail, only the first offender gets to wear the cuff.
Though the game is called “Cheaters Edition” you don’t have to cheat to play. You can follow the rules if you like, bend them a bit, or do every cheat that comes your way.
The gameplay is almost the same as the original, where people move their token around the board and buy properties. There are also hotels to buy, though no houses. The person with the most money at the end is the winner.
Any fan of the George R. R. Martin series is going to think the Game of Thrones version is one of the best monopoly special editions available. This game is based on the popular television show, so you can play it while enjoying the show or with friends at any time. It is recommended for 18 and up, though younger players can join in.
This unique edition of monopoly has a wide variety of custom aspects. First is the game board, which replaces the original properties with many locations from the series. This doesn’t include the four corner spaces, though, so Go to Jail, Jail, and Free Parking are still there.
The Community Chest and Chance cards have also been renamed to The Iron Throne and Valar Morghulis cards to fit the GoT theme. The money is now Gold Dragons, and the houses and hotels have been replaced with Villages and Keeps.
Another great feature is the tokens, which are now oversized collectible pieces, including a Dragon Egg, Direwolf, White Walker, Crown, Three-Eyed Raven, and The Iron Throne.
Even the instructions have been updated to match the Game of Thrones, replacing the normal sheet of paper with a stylish scroll tied with a ribbon. The outside of the box is black, while the inside is covered with GoT artwork for you to enjoy as you take out the pieces as you prepare to play the game.
Why are we impressed?
Six collectible tokens
Custom pieces
Themed money
Game rule scroll
What negatives must you be aware of?
Board is a bit flimsy
Four corners same as original
Things to Consider
The game of Monopoly has been around for quite some time, so it only makes sense that the makers have made a few upgrades here and there. These new versions include a few modern touches added to the original game. There are also new board, token, and card designs to reflect popular TV, movie, and video game themes to allow you to enjoy Monopoly on a whole new level. To help you choose the version that suits you best, check out the buying guide below.
How Monopoly gained its popularity
The original version of Monopoly was called The Landlord’s Game, which was invented in the early 1900s by Elizabeth Magie. It was meant to show players the dangers of land-grabbing and how monopolies are created. In 1935, Magie sold her game to Parker Brothers, who then created a board that closely resembles the one used today. At this time, the game gained its popularity since many of the players using it were in financial distress, and the game gave them the fantasy of riches.
This game also became popular for people of all ages. Children enjoyed it because it allowed them to handle money and make some adult decisions concerning investments without any real loss.
Recently, the new versions of the game, like the Game of Thrones Collector’s Edition and the Stranger Things Edition, add some extra appeal to fans of these shows, incorporating different elements like locations and tokens that match the events that are seen on TV, in movies, or video games. This attracts fans in a way that the original Monopoly game may not have been able to do.
Features to consider before buying a Monopoly board game
When choosing a new Monopoly game, there are a few features you may want to consider. This will ensure you’re getting the right version for you and those you plan to play it with.
Recommended age
The recommended age of the best editions of Monopoly tells you the minimum age a person should be to play the game. This is because some of the versions of this game include some content that may not be suitable for younger players. For instance, the Marvel Deadpool Edition has a recommended age of 16 and up. This is because the content of that game reflects the movie and comic book character, who deals with subject matter that may be a bit too mature for younger players.
The Ultimate Banking Edition has a recommended age of 8 and up since the game is easier to play than some of the other versions, eliminating the money and keeping track of banking information for you, so the younger members of the family can just focus on the fun.
Number of players
The number of players usually has a minimum of two, which makes sense since you obviously can’t play any of the Monopoly editions by yourself. The maximum varies, depending on how many tokens are included with the game, which ranges from four to eight in the games we’ve reviewed here.
Though the number of players won’t affect the gameplay too much in most of the above versions, more people playing the Cheaters Edition is better since this game requires stealing from other players. The more players there are, the more distractions there are, which makes it easier to be sneaky.
What sets it apart from other versions
When looking at the best editions of Monopoly, some things set each one apart from the other versions. A popular customization of the game is to replace the original properties with locations that match the version. For instance, the Marvel Deadpool Edtion uses Mercenaries and Sweet Rides in these locations, which you buy, trade, or sell similarly to the original version of the game. There may also be card replacements for the Community Chest and Chance cards as well as new tokens that reflect characters or items that coincide with the game’s new theme. There may even be some rule changes, which we’ll discuss below.
Customized rules
Though the gameplay in many of the updated editions of Monopoly is similar to the original, there are some rule changes in certain versions. For instance, in the Fortnite Edition, money has been replaced with Health Points, which you collect to survive in the game. In the Cheaters Edition, as well as collecting money and properties, you’re also allowed to make some sneaky moves to gain extras, including stealing from other players or the bank. To be sure you’re well-versed in the rules of the edition you buy, check out the instructions. There are also videos that you can watch for a lot of these special editions, just in case there is any confusion.
Three versions are ideal for a company of adults in our reviews. These include the Game of Thrones Collector’s Edition, the Rick and Morty Edition, and the Marvel Deadpool Edtion. These are based on TV shows or movies that do contain some adult content, some of which are incorporated in the game itself, so it is best to keep the kids away when playing these versions, just in case.
Most of the Monopoly editions we’ve reviewed don’t state whether or not they are limited editions. However, the ones based on movies, TV shows, or video games are usually considered limited editions that will stay in production during the theme’s popularity but will likely be removed from production after the popularity dies down. Collector’s editions are also only sold for a limited time.
How long a playing session takes depends on the particular game you’re playing. The ones that don’t include actual money, like the Fortnite Edition and the Ultimate Banking Edition, can last about 30 to 60 minutes, making them great versions for younger children with shorter attention spans. The other versions can take up to 3 hours, depending on how many players are involved in the game.
Wrapping It Up
With so many different versions of Monopoly out there, it may be hard to decide on just one. Of course, we all have our favorites that include new rules and gameplay or our favorite characters.
Our top choice is the Ultimate Banking Edition, which replaces the cash with bank cards, a banking unit, and scannable properties. This version is easy to play, plus includes extras like the location spaces, event cards, changeable rents, and auctions. The games are also shorter, which is great for younger players.
Fans of this TV show will love the Stranger Things Edition. It incorporates the show’s story right into the game, including updated Hawkins locations, Walkie Talkie and Blinking Lights cards, Forts and Hideouts, and the new 80’s-style and Upside Down tokens.
The Marvel Deadpool Edition will appeal to fans of the movie and comic book. It contains humorous elements and a ton of Deadpool-themed additions, including the game board, tokens, properties, and even the money. This version also adds Cheap Shot and Low Blow cards for stealing from other players.