Stats:
No. of players: 2-6
Amount of time to play: about 3 hours (number of players may vary this and house rules will extend this)
Age requirements: 8+
Set-up time: 5-10 minutes

Description:
Considered a classic board game by many, Monopoly is the most widely-played commercial game in the world and had been around since 1935. Although the game has been themed and marketed for something just about anyone is interested in, the game and mechanics have remained basically the same.

On your turn, you roll the dice, move your piece and choose whether to buy the property you land on or let the bank auction the property. If you land on a property that is already owned you must pay that player rent. If you pass GO (the space the game started on) you collect $200 or if you land on a Community Chest or Chance space you draw the corresponding card and follow the directions on it. Rolling doubles lets you roll again, but rolling them 3 times in a row lands you in jail. Coincidentally once in jail rolling doubles get you out again or you can opt to pay $50 for your release.

You may also upgrade your properties by adding houses or hotels or trade properties with other players. Once you have all the deeds of one color group you can charge twice the printed value of the rent. Collecting all the deeds in a group also allows you to upgrade these properties (by adding houses or a hotel) and charge even more rent to players that land on your property. You can only upgrade to 2 houses once all properties in the same color group have one house the same applies when upgrading to 3 houses or 4 houses. After purchasing 4 houses you may remove the houses and bay a hotel to replace them to collect the maximum rent rate for that property. Upgrading cheaper properties is less expensive, but you collect less rent.

If you land on a property and cannot pay the rent you can get money a couple different ways. First you can see back your upgrades (houses and hotels) at half the purchase price. Secondly you can mortgage unimproved properties for the amount on the back of the deed. Mortgaged properties are free to land on and no rent can be collected from them. You can buy back the mortgaged properties for the amount of the mortgage plus 10% interest. You can also sell unimproved properties at anytime, but players that buy mortgaged properties must still pay the bank to lift the mortgage.

If you cannot pay the player (or possibly the bank) the money you owe you are bankrupt and lode the game. If owing a player put you into bankruptcy that player gets all your deeds and cash. If you owed the bank more than you had then the bank immediately auctions you properties to the remaining players and keeps your money…better luck next time.

A Quick Review:
I grew up enjoying Monopoly. Even with its long playing time I would enjoy it. Writing the description and review has brought back many good memories. Now that I am older I am playing different games, games that require more thinking from me and less luck. I am not looking for a luckless game that is pure strategy, but Monopoly has a lot of luck involved. You need to land on the right spaces to get the properties you need, this is pure luck. You will be helped greatly by getting the right cards, again pure luck. Other house rules like putting money in free parking and collecting more for landing on GO just add more luck into the game (and make it play longer). There is skill involved in negotiating deals, and maybe it was just people I played with, but deals were rarely made until almost all the properties were sold.

Score and synopsis: (Click here for an explanation of these review categories.)
Strategy 2 out of 6
Luck 6 out of 6
Player Interaction 4 out of 6
Replay Value 3 out of 6
Complexity 2 out of 6
Fun 2 out of 6
Overall 3 out of 6

If You Like Monopoly, Try These Games:

Economy: Modern Art, Acquire, Queen’s Necklace
Auction: Ra, Power Grid, El Grande
Trading: The Settlers of Catan, Bohnanza
Set collection: Ticket to Ride