A Sampling of Monopoly

By Margaret Duncan, Ed.D.

The Histocrats support the idea of incorporating board-games into your personal life as well as in the classroom.  As such, we are constantly on the lookout for games that we can play for fun.  One of the games that most student own, know how to play and can be incorporated into the classroom is Monopoly.  While this game has its critics, those who say there are far better games than monopoly, it is a game that has stood the test of time.  It is also a game that has been replicated countless times, and so many variations exist.  Let us take a trip around Go so that we can collect our $200.   

Classic Monopoly
Monopoly is a competitive economic based property real estate trading game. The aim is to develop your property and to remain profitable while at the same time forcing your opponents into bankruptcy. Make a move, make a deal, and make a fortune to win it all. There can be only one winner in the Monopoly game—so, will it be you?

The thrill of bankrupting an opponent is addictive, but the player must consider their business decisions wisely. Sometimes it pays to play nice as your fortunes could change with the roll of the dice. Play nasty, and you might find everyone gangs up on you. Experience the ups and downs of the trading game with the classic Monopoly game. Collect complete color sets to build houses, and maybe even upgrade to a hotel. The more properties you own, the more rent you can charge. Chance cards could be worth money, or one might just tell you to Go To Jail. Take a trip around the Monopoly board to see who wins it all.

Collect as many properties as you can, and make deals to get color sets. Build your houses and hotels, and see if you can bankrupt everyone else to win. Keep an eye on your money, because you never know when the dice will land you with a massive rent bill to pay. Sometimes staying In Jail can be the safest place to be, but only after your properties are primed to make you money. You've got to buy, sell and negotiate to win.

Monopoly Variants
Monopoly is an easily recreated and reproduced game.  From Colleges to cities to sports teams to classic movies, you are bound to find a personalized version of the classic Monopoly.  Indeed, when students bring their personal copy of Monopoly to class it is always interesting to see what exactly will show up.  Often the Monopoly variant matches the student’s personality.

The Muppets Monoploy
Celebrate the sensational, inspirational world of the Muppets as you make like miss piggy. Monopoly, the Muppets. Celebrate the sensational, inspirational world of the Muppets as you make like miss piggy and try to own it all in this Muppets collector’s edition of monopoly.

Star Wars Monopoly
This special Monopoly game is filled with Star Wars references replacing Monopoly ones. Instead of houses, you build colonies. The colonies can be rebel (have an X-wing on them) or Imperial (have tie-fighters on them). Instead of hotels, you put Corellian Cruisers or Star Destroyers.

Pythonopoly
In this Monty Python Monopoly-esque game you can quest for the Holy Grail, as knights buy hovels, build castles, take a ride on a Llama, or charge excessive groats for hanging out at your Castle of Aaarrrggghhh. Pythonopoly is based on "Monty Python's Quest for the Holy Grail."

Bankers Game
This is a Japanese version of the ultimate real estate and money management game.  It is published by the Japanese Hanayama boardgame company.

For more info on Monopoly views:
Dice Tower Showdown: Monopoly vs. Power Grid

Pair of Dice Paradise Monopoly Overview

*All product descriptions are from the manufacturer.