Board games come and go but rarely does one stick around for as long as Monopoly has. Parker Brothers began selling the game in 1935 and was sold to Hasbro in 1991 who has worked hard to keep the game relevant despite the fact that players can buy property for as little as $60.
This year marks the game’s 90th anniversary and over the years…
- More than 300 licensed versions of the classic board game have been produced.
- A variety of “spin-off” games have been made (some hits and misses) including boardgames (such as Advance to Boardwalk, Monopoly for Sore Losers and even the adult Monopoly Board Crawl drinking game), card games (Monopoly Deal, Free Parking and Express Monopoly) and dice games (Monopoly DICED! And Don’t Go to Jail).
- Partner Scopely is responsible for the biggest mobile game launch in 2023: Monopoly go!
But this year, Hasbro is going back to where it all began with a refreshing of the original game and three new expansion packs: Go to Jail, Buy Everything and Free Parking Jackpot.
“These expansions not only provide quick-turn gameplay but also add twists by giving players a chance to win money, collect new cards to get away with mischief, and unlock opportunities to buy every space on the board – you can even buy the bank!” states Hasbro.
(Hasbro)
The toy company has done a lot of research into how fans and families currently play the game, and they decided to build on that. For instance, many people have made their own rules regarding how the “Free Parking” space was to be used where players who land on that square usually gain extra cash. Instead of telling fans, “That’s not how the game is played,” Hasbro has embraced those ideas.
“Monopoly is more than a board game; it’s a cultural phenomenon that has transcended generations and resonates deeply with players across the globe,” said Brian Baker, Senior Vice President of Board Games at Hasbro. “These all-new expansion packs and the completely redesigned classic board game are a result of deep consumer insights, and I think they truly elevate the Monopoly play experience.”
(Hasbro)
Hasbro says that the expansion packs are designed to be played with the classic version of the game and will make the gameplay faster to an average of 40 minutes instead of an all-nighter. And these are true additions to the game – they are not standalone games. The expansion packs are:
Free Parking Jackpot: This expansion packs also involves the Chance and Community Chest spaces making them “spin spaces.” Players who land on those spaces can spin the spinner to win the jackpot that piles up at the Free Parking space. There are new bonus cards, a new token piece and new chances to get free properties and skip out on rent.
Buy Everything: With this expansion, players can buy every space on the board – even the Go space. Comes with eight new title deeds and a “sale vault” presenting a rotating variety of “game-changing cards.”
Go to Jail: Here, going to jail can actually be an advantage, but “players have to play a little dirty to win.” Each time a player lands in jail, they will be given the opportunity to collect new “corruption cards” allowing them to gain an edge over their opponents. This expansion also includes the Chance and Community Chest spaces where players will need to role new “escape” and “heist” dice.
In addition to the expansions, the classic Monopoly game has been updated slightly with a compact box that will fit more easily in your closet, new graphics, larger tokens, houses and hotels; a new way to store things to keep Monopoly bills neat and crisp. Let’s play!
Main Image: Hasbro
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