Over the decades, Monopoly has been a favorite pastime for families and friends around the world. With over 200 existing editions, Monopoly made sure there is a variation for everyone. Here, we’ll be discussing the best versions of this classic game. Even though every edition has different rules, the main objective remains the same: become the richest player!
Monopoly Empire Board Game
Pros:
✓ Faster games than the classic version
✓ Allows you to own the current major brands
✓ Easy rules
Cons:
✕ It’s easy to lose the money you’ve made
Characteristics:
● Brand: Hasbro
● Number of players: 2 to 4
● Age: 8 and over
● Duration of a game: 45 to 60 minutes
This version of Monopoly is distinguished by the major companies available for you to purchase. The goal is to be the first player to finish filling your tower with billboards. This is done by buying brands and installing their billboards on your tower. The more billboards you have on your tower, the more money you’ll be able to collect. The first player to complete their tower wins the game.
To start, each player receives a tower, a token, 2 Empire cards, and 1 million dollars. Every time a player lands on or passes the GO space, they receive money from the bank equal to the amount they’ve reached on their tower. Similarly, when a player lands on a brand that’s owned by another player, they have to pay them an amount of money equal to the amount the owner has reached on their tower.
If a player rolls doubles, they play an extra turn, but rolling doubles three times in a row sends the player straight to jail. To get out of jail, the player must pay 100 thousand dollars to the bank, use a Get Out of Jail Free card, or roll doubles. If a player doesn’t want to buy the brand they’ve landed on, then that brand is auctioned off and is given to the highest bidder. If a player owes an opponent an amount of money that they don’t have, then they’d have to sell their brands and their respective billboards. A player is declared bankrupt when they have sold everything and have no money left.
Empire’s dice is special as there is a chance the player will roll a “sneaky swap” which allows them to swap the top billboards of any two players.
Our opinion: This is an exciting game where everyone gets to invest in extremely valuable brands. It allows young children to dream of building a great empire.
Monopoly: Wine Edition
Pros:
✓ Allows you to learn more about viticulture
✓ The player can create their own aromas
✓ A good choice for wine lovers
Cons:
✕ For adults only
✕ Can last a long time
Characteristics:
● Brand: Winning Moves
● Number of players: 2 to 6
● Age: 18 and over
● Duration of a game: 90 minutes
● Game type: Construction, investment, viticulture
This game covers all the activities of a winegrower. Each player will have to acquire vineyards, develop them, then produce and market their wines. The player will be able to build cellars and vaults to store their wine. And they will advertise their products at trade shows.
The objective is to have prestigious wine varieties and make a fortune in the field, taking into account the risks to be taken to lead the brand to the top. It’s all about having a monopoly on wine sales. Whoever goes bankrupt is eliminated from the game. The last player standing is the winner.
Players advance their tokens according to the dice rolls. In the game you’ll find the names of the greatest French vineyards. The game includes 32 cellars and 12 vaults that respectively serve as the houses and hotels of classic Monopoly. Also, the game includes Chance and Community Chest cards which hold a lot of fun surprises for the players.
Our opinion: This game teaches the players the course of wine production and marketing. You’ll control everything, from grape variety to advertising your wine. Wine lovers can immerse themselves in the world that most fascinates them, while beginners get to discover that world through play.
Monopoly Dragon Ball Z
Pros:
✓ The design resembles various elements from the series
✓ Simple rules, not too different from classic Monopoly
✓ Special Chance and Community Chest cards
Cons:
✕ Those looking for more action might be disappointed
✕ Could use more banknotes
Characteristics:
● Brand: Winning Moves
● Number of players: 2 to 6
● Age: 8 and over
● Duration of a game: 90 minutes
● Game type: Property investment
The goal of the game is to become the most powerful player by acquiring popular Dragon Ball Z characters and building Kame Houses and Hyperbolic Time Chambers. As with classic Monopoly, a player who goes bankrupt is eliminated, and the last player standing is declared the winner.
Players will face opposing forces, some of which are represented by the Capsule Corp and Red Ribbon Army cards. Fortunately, they will also find invincible fighters, such as Goku, Gohan, and Vegeta to help them win.
The official currency used in the game is of course the Zeni. Players get to choose from 6 tokens: 4-Star Dragon Ball, Turtle Shell, Trunks’ Sword, Dragon Radar, Capsule, and Saiyan Armor. The game board was also designed to recall the world of the anime.
Our opinion: This is a game that’s meant for true lovers of Dragon Ball Z, but it is not necessary to be a fan of the series to play it. Most of the details resembling the series are just for the pleasure of the eyes.
Monopoly: France Edition
Pros:
✓ Rules are similar to the classic version
✓ Appropriate for all ages
✓ Ability to shorten the games
Cons:
✕ Ordinary, small tokens
✕ Long games, unless players decide to play with faster rules
Characteristics:
● Brand: Monopoly
● Number of players: 2 to 6
● Age: 8 and over
● Duration of a game: 90 minutes
● Game type: Construction, real estate, auctions
Unlike the classic version, this edition takes place in France. The rules have not changed. Throughout their journey, players will buy property, stations, and utilities. They will be able to build houses and hotels, provided they own all the properties of the same color.
Each time a player lands on or passes the GO square, they receive 2 million euros, unless they were on their way to jail. To get out of jail, a player would have to pay a penalty of 500,000 euros, use a Get Out of Jail Free card, or roll doubles. When selling properties to one another, players can negotiate to determine the price of the property.
If they want, players can agree on a specific duration of the game. Which means that when the time is up, every player calculates their wealth to determine the winner. Another way to finish the game more quickly is to end the game when a player goes bankrupt: those who are still in the competition calculate their wealth to find out who the winner is. Either way, the richest player wins the game.
Our opinion: The game has all the charm of classic Monopoly with all the unforgettable sites of France. The duration of the game can be determined through mutual agreement. This comes in handy for those who don’t like long games.
Monopoly Junior
Pros:
✓ Contents designed for children
✓ Teaches financial management
✓ Fast games
Cons:
✕ Setting up the board must be done by an adult
✕ Little children might have trouble understanding the Chance cards
Characteristics:
● Brand: Monopoly
● Number of players: 2 to 4
● Age: 5 and over
● Duration of a game: 30 minutes
● Game type: Management, learning, entertainment
The youngest player starts by rolling the die. They then move their token according to the number indicated by the die. If they land on an amusement space, they buy it and place a ticket booth on the amusement as a reminder that they own it. If a player lands on an amusement space that’s owned by an opponent, they must pay them rent.
When a player draws a Chance card, they have to perform the action described on the card. The amusements include a candy store, pizzeria, zoo, bowling alley, swimming pool, movie theater, arcade, etc. If a player owes an opponent money, but they don’t have that money, and have already sold all of their amusements, they’re declared bankrupt. At that point, the player with the most money is declared the winner of the game.
This edition of Monopoly comes with fun and cute tokens: a dog, cat, boat, and car. To make things easier, each player receives a card to remind them which is their token. The game comes with 12 ticket booths to be placed on purchased amusements. The banknotes are all 1 Monopoly dollars, this encourages the children to do the math by themselves.
Our opinion: The game can be played by toddlers, but could require the supervision of an adult to make sure they follow the rules. After playing a few times, the kids will be able to play the game entirely by themselves.
Monopoly Fortnite
Pros:
✓ Can be played with up to 15 players
✓ The duration of the game depends on the number of players
✓ An alternative to the video game
Cons:
✕ Fragile contents that should be handled with care
✕ The pieces don’t have a storage box
Characteristics:
● Brand: Monopoly
● Number of players: 2 to 15
● Age: 13 and over
● Duration of a game: 45 to 60 minutes
● Game type: Survival, action
The game takes place on a 32 square board, and the properties correspond to locations on the Fortnite map. HP replaces money. Like the video game, the mission is to do your best to survive, overcoming storms and opponent attacks. Any player who runs out of HP is eliminated. The last player standing is of course the winner. Storm and Loot Chest cards
At the beginning of the game, each player chooses the square they want to start on. The tokens are represented by 24 figurines with various Fortnite skins. The game is played with 2 dice. The first die is standard, the other is an action die that dictates an action that must be carried out by the player who rolled it: attacking, healing, placing a wall, etc. Players receive the area they’ve landed on for free, they also collect that area’s corresponding card to indicate that they’re the owner of it.
Aside from bombs and other traps, the most dangerous adversary of all is the storm: a space with a storm card on it causes you to lose HP, which must be given to the bank.
Our opinion: The rules of this edition of Monopoly are completely different from any other version. It’s a thrilling board game, especially for true Fortnite lovers.
Monopoly Friends
Pros:
✓ Entertaining for the series lovers
✓ Suitable for the whole family
✓ Same rules as classic Monopoly
Cons:
✕ Long games
✕ Not for those who are looking for serious games
Characteristics:
● Brand: Hasbro
● Number of players: 2 to 6
● Age: 8 years and over
● Duration of a game: 90 minutes
● Game type: Humor, investment
The rules of this edition are the same as the classic version. It’s the environment that changes: everything is from the iconic TV show Friends. The classic tokens are replaced by funny ones from the show: Joey’s pizzas, Ross’s dinosaur, Monica’s hat, Rachel’s handbag, Phoebe’s guitar, and Chandler’s vest.
The Apartment 20 cards take the place of the Chance cards, and indicate particular actions to be performed. Apartment 19 cards replace the Community Chest cards.
Instead of houses, players will acquire coffee mugs. Instead of hotels, they will get sofas. The journey around the board recalls details from certain episodes of the sitcom.
Players can ride Phoebe’s relaxi taxi, Monica’s sports car, or Joey’s boat. Going to Central Perk is fun, but you have to pick up the tab!
Our opinion: Even those who haven’t watched the sitcom can have a lot of fun playing this game. Humor and relaxation take precedence over financial activities. However, it is still Monopoly, therefore the richest player wins.
Monopoly D-DAY
Pros:
✓ An educational game, reminiscent of the 1944 landings
✓ Suitable for young and old players alike
✓ Published in English and French
Cons:
✕ The story could be too complex for children
Characteristics:
● Brand: Winning Moves
● Number of players: 2 to 6
● Age: 8 years and over
● Duration of a game: 60 minutes
● Game type: Investment, history, strategy
This is a Monopoly edition that allows you to relive the great landings of June 6, 1944. The properties are located on the beaches of Normandy. Players will invest in military camps which replace the houses, and headquarters which replace the hotels. Where you construct your camps and headquarters will play a major role in the outcome of the war.
Players will struggle to survive in a world at war. The 6 tokens symbolize military equipment. The Chance cards are still present, but they’re now named the Allies cards, and the Community Chest cards are now the We Can Do It cards. Each card has actions to be carried out by the player who draws it.
The rules of the game resemble those of the classic version. Eventually, all the players, but one, will go bankrupt. The last player standing is the winner.
Our opinion: The game is intended for the whole family, but children should be accompanied by adults. The players have the opportunity to participate in the military operations, as they would have on D-Day.
Monopoly Cheaters Edition
Pros:
✓ Sparks the imagination of those who like to break the rules
✓ More fun than the classic version
✓ Faster games
Cons:
✕ Each player must watch the others
✕ Encourages kids to cheat
Characteristics:
● Brand: Monopoly
● Number of players: 2 to 6
● Age: 8 years and over
● Duration of a game: 45 minutes
● Game type: Strategy, building, cheating
The goal of the game is to get rich by any means necessary. Unlike the original Monopoly, cheating is allowed in this edition. Robbing the bank is encouraged in this version. You’ll also get to pretend to forget to pay rent, as well as steal from your opponents. Players will also get to skip the spaces they don’t want to land on by changing the result of the dice roll.
The game has 15 Cheat cards which inspire players to perform sneaky actions. However, beware of getting caught red-handed because a caught cheater is handcuffed and thrown in jail. The game comes with a real handcuff that chains a player to the board. A player stays in jail for 3 turns, unless they manage to roll doubles, after that they can roll the dice again and continue playing.
Each time a player cheats successfully, they must reveal after the fact how they cheated. If a player falsely accuses another of cheating, the accuser would have to pay a fine. Chance and Community Chest cards are still present, bringing even more twists to this wild game. The most devious cheater will manage to get rich at the expense of others and win the game!
Our opinion: Since cheating is allowed, the most honest player will usually be the first to go bankrupt. It’s not just about cheating yourself, but you also have to always keep an eye out for when other players try to cheat.
Monopoly: Longest Game Ever
Pros:
✓ A player who goes bankrupt isn’t immediately eliminated
✓ It is possible to pay debt in installments
✓ Allows you to develop investment strategies
Cons:
✕ The game can last a very long time
✕ There is only one die for a board of 120 squares
Characteristics:
● Brand: Monopoly
● Number of players: 2 to 4
● Age: 8 years and over
● Duration of a game: 180 minutes or more
● Game type: Construction, strategy, entertainment
This is a Monopoly version that’s all about extremities. The board is massive and it will take you a very long time to finish a game. The spaces present on the classic board are repeated 3 times in this edition. There are 120 squares to go through. The game has 66 properties for the taking. Even though it’s enormous, the game is played with only a single die.
Appropriately, the game comes with 2 hares and 2 tortoises for tokens. Unlike the classic version, a player who goes bankrupt stays in the game. They have the opportunity to pay their debts in 2 installments. They therefore have the chance to regain what they have lost through Chance and Community Chest cards.
The game ends when one player manages to own all the properties. This means all the streets, statations, and utilities. Until that happens, the game keeps going.
Our opinion: This is a game made for those who have a lot of patience. It teaches that wealth is not acquired overnight. It requires perseverance.
Comparison Table
Monopoly Empire Board Game | Monopoly: Wine Edition | Monopoly Dragon Ball Z | Monopoly: France Edition | Monopoly Junior | Monopoly Fortnite | Monopoly Friends | Monopoly D-DAY | Monopoly Cheaters Edition | Monopoly: Longest Game Ever | |
Age | 8 and over | 18 and over | 8 and over | 8 and over | 5 and over | 13 and over | 8 and over | 8 and over | 8 and over | 8 and over |
Duration of a game | 45 to 60 mins | 90 mins | 90 mins | 90 mins | 30 mins | 45 to 60 mins | 90 mins | 60 mins | 45 mins | 180 mins or more |
Game type | Construction, trade | Construction, investment, viticulture | Property investment | Construction, real estate, auctions | Management, learning, entertainment | Survival, action | Humor, investment | Investment, history, strategy | Strategy, building, cheating | Construction, strategy, entertainment |