Highlights
- Monopoly: The Lord of the Rings Edition is a must-have for fans of the movie trilogy, featuring gameplay centered around protecting Middle-earth from Mordor and buying iconic locations.
- The Simpsons edition of Monopoly captures the humor and charm of the show, with classic references and vibrant artwork that will bring a smile to any fan's face.
- Star Wars fans will love the unique board and gameplay of Monopoly: Star Wars Edition, where they can choose to join the Rebels or the Empire in a battle for galactic supremacy. However, the lack of female characters is a disappointment.
Monopoly has become one of the most popular board games in the world, sparking many a rowdy and entertaining evening, whether it's game night or family time. The game has a venerable history too, dating back more than a hundred years. Invented by American game designer Lizzie Magie in the late 1800s, it was patented in 1904 with the general idea based on buying up properties and collecting rent from anyone who landed on them.
The game went through some minor changes after the Parker Brothers acquired it from Charles Darrow in 1935, while the Monopoly we know and love today came into existence after it was bought out by Hasbro in the 1990s. Since then, there have been dozens upon dozens of tie-ins with famous franchises, and below you'll find some of the best editions of Monopoly to have come out.
Updated on August 1, 2023 by Vaspaan Dastoor: There are a lot of Monopoly editions out there, some you may never have even heard of. We've updated this list with one that rewards cheating, and one that Gen One Pokemon fans will adore.
Monopoly: The Lord of the Rings Edition Board Game
One rent to rule them all
Monopoly: The Lord of the Rings Edition could be the perfect edition of Monopoly for fans of the beloved Lord of the Rings movie trilogy directed by Peter Jackson. Playing as either Aragorn, Boromie, Gimli, Legolas, Gandalf, Sam, Pippin, Merry, or Frodo, you'll be buying up properties - like the Mines of Moria - to protect the lands from the evil armies of Mordor.
- Play as members of The Fellowship.
- Neat gameplay addition of The One Ring.
- Features prominent Lord of the Rings locations.
- Could feel more premium.
- More for fans of the movies than the novels.
The Monopoly: The Lord of the Rings Edition is inspired by Peter Jackson's movie trilogy, so this edition of the board game will be a treat for fans of those incredible films and the characters created by J.R.R. Tolkien. You also get eight wonderfully crafted tokens to pick and choose which of the Fellowship you want to play as, with this edition of Monopoly getting the LOTR spin with some gameplay tweaks.
You'll be building outposts and fortresses, instead of the usual houses and hotels. While there's the Path to Mount Doom and the One Ring changing things up as players who control the Ring of Power get special powers. But, player beware! The longer you have the ring the more dangerous it becomes.
Monopoly The Simpsons Board Game
D'oh directly to jail
This Monopoly edition will appeal to fans of The Simpsons, especially those who have fond memories of the earlier seasons. Monopoly: The Simpsons board game features the Fox series' signature humor, characters, and locations. This is a vibrant and light-hearted edition of the popular board game.
- Six gold figurines.
- Vibrant artwork.
- Classic Simpsons references.
The Simpsons has been delighting viewers for decades, and this Monopoly: The Simpsons edition will light up players with dozens of references and callbacks. Featuring figures that aren't your obvious choices, the included tokens recall classic Simpsons episodes such as Homer as a Monorail conductor, Santa's Little Helper, Bart in his soapbox racer, and more. Houses and hotels have been renamed to Monorail Stops and Stations too, in this colorful edition that'll bring a smile to players.
Monopoly Game: Star Wars Edition
May the Chance be with you
This fast-paced version of Monopoly will have Star Wars fans feeling The Force. With a specially shaped board that might conjure up images of the Millennium Falcon, this Star Wars edition of Monopoly has players on either the side of the Rebels or the Empire as they conquer planets and build bases as they battle for supremacy over the galaxy.
- Features lots of Star Wars details.
- Unique board.
- Genuine Star Wars feeling with Rebel and Empire sides.
- No female characters.
This Star Wars edition is a faster paced version of the classic game. In Monopoly: Star Wars Edition players form teams to buy up planets and build bases around the galaxy on a specially designed board. Force cards could turn the battle in your favor, as you play on either the side of the Rebels or the Empire.
Fight on the Light Side as Luke Skywalker or the Dark Side as Darth Vader; there are 48 bases and 36 Force cards to contend with. It's a bit of a shame there are no female tokens with the likes of Princess Leia or Rey not included, but for those want to play in a galaxy far, far away, this is the Monopoly edition to get.
Monopoly Disney Edition
A Community Chest full of nostalgia
This is the classic Monopoly gameplay that the world knows and loves, but with that added Disney magic and sparkle that generations have come to adore. This special Disney edition of Monopoly features more than 25 Disney films, from classics such as The Jungle Book and The Lion King to live-action such as High School Musical and Hannah Montana.
- Features over 25 classic Disney films.
- You build cottages and castles.
- Traditional Monopoly gameplay.
- Properties could be better themed.
- Gameplay is not very Disney-fied.
The Monopoly Disney Edition features the Disney characters and movies that are so beloved by adults and children the world over. Here you'll find Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Simba, and Baloo, among other classic Disney characters, while there's more recent favorites too, such as Buzz Lightyear, Woody and Nemo. There are six Disney figures to choose from while Tinker Bell will be guiding players along the way.
Monopoly Gamer
Roll Dice To Begin
Monopoly Gamer edition is for the video games fans out there, and here at TheGamer there are plenty of those. Although it should probably be better called Monopoly Nintendo edition, this Monopoly Gamer set features Super Mario Bros. characters like Mario, Princess Peach, and Yoshi, as well as Donkey Kong.Featuring video game-like gameplay, this Monopoly Gamer edition is a fun tweak on the classic Monopoly formula.
- Nintendo figures look great.
- Each Super Mario Bros. character has power-ups.
- Video game vibes.
- Board art could be slightly better.
Monopoly meets Nintendo in Monopoly Gamer edition. Featuring some great looking tokens in the form of well-painted and surprisingly big figures of Mario, Princess Peach, Yoshi, and Donkey Kong, this Gamer edition of Monopoly makes for a fun spin on the classic board game.
Here, two to four players will be battling legendary bosses as they compete to earn points as the player with the highest score wins the game. But you'll also be looking to take down big baddie Bowser at the end. Along the way instead of money you'll be collecting the golden Coins as seen in the Super Mario games while each character come with their own special abilities.
Monopoly Luxury Edition
If you really had all that money
This luxury edition of Monopoly is hefty and solidly built. Crafted from wood and featuring decorative metal plaques, the Monopoly Luxury Edition could serve as a centerpiece in its own right. This is your classic Monopoly, with the traditional tokens (Boot, Dog, Car, etc), but everything has been given a luxurious upgrade.This set is for those who like to feel rich while they buy up Park Lane and Mayfair.
- Upgraded money, houses and hotels.
- Drawers are well made and useful for storage.
- Robust build quality should see it last for generations.
- Expensive.
- Could've used real leather instead of faux.
- Very large.
Officially licensed by Hasbro, the Monopoly Luxury Edition is a quality and luxurious take on the classic board game. The Monopoly tokens are plated and die-cast, and so are the hotels and houses, while the money and cards also get the premium treatment.
Monopoly: Cheaters Edition
Cheaters sometimes prosper
Cheating in Monopoly is something we've all done at some point or another. We've all swiped a $100 or placed out token a bit ahead of the mark to avoid paying rent. This version of the game rewards you for doing so without getting caught, but you'll be cuffed to the board if you are caught.
- Handcuffing players for cheating is fun.
- Tests your deception skills.
Cheating is something everyone does in Monopoly, whether it's straight up stealing money or landing at a spot you didn't roll for. However, should you get caught while playing the Monopoly: Cheaters Edition, you'll be handcuffed to the board. Just remember not to flip it over.
Monopoly: Pokemon Kanto Edition
Gotta' Chance 'em all!
Gen One Pokemon fans will love this collaboration. In Monopoly: Pokemon Kanto Edition you get to choose miniatures of the original three starters, plus Pikachu, Evee, and Jigglypuff. Instead of locations, each block is a Pokemon you encounter and catch. Somehow, Monopoly's formula lends well to that of Pokemon.
- Great for Pokemon Gen One fans.
- Figurines look adorable.
The most surprising thing about the Monopoly: Pokemon Kanto Edition is that it shows just how similar the core features of Monopoly and Pokemon are. Instead of buying locations, you go around the board fighting and catching Pokemon.
FAQ
What is the world's most famous board game?
With the number of games that follow the same formula, localisation, and the number of collaborative editions, Monopoly is the arguably most popular board game in the word.
What is the oldest board game?
Believed to have originated 4,600 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia, the oldest board game in the world is The Royal Game of Ur.
Which is the toughest board game in the world?
The number of advanced strategies used while playing Chess, make it the toughest board game in the world.