Originally conceived back in the early 20th century under the name 'The Landlord's Game', it's safe to say that Monopoly board games are still one the most popular in the world. But while the classic edition still has its place, there are now over a thousand iterations, including everything from collabs with Fortnite and Friends to boards based on cities and regions around the world.
So, if you're ready to shake up board game night, settle in. Alongside a quick buying guide, we've ranked and reviewed ten bestselling alternatives to the original Monopoly (including the controversial cheater's edition for those who like to bend the rules!), all available from online UK stores like Amazon, Argos, John Lewis and eBay. Who knows? It might even end in peace and harmony this Christmas.
While the original Monopoly is suitable for all ages and numerous players, the same can't always be said for the other versions. Below, we'll highlight the main things to consider before you buy to make sure you take home a game that gets brought out more than just once a year!
First things first, you'll want to look into the gameplay. If you're after something that still utilises the classic Monopoly board, rules and cards but adds a new twist, there are options aplenty. Some make the game bigger, and others, believe it or not, make it longer, while a few reverse certain rules or add new elements such as electronic banking.
On the other hand, if you're buying for a fan of a particular TV, film or game franchise, your decision may be based more on the theme itself. Many of these aren't similar to regular Monopoly at all, switching up the tokens, board and sometimes even the main objective. There's even a card game version if you're looking for something portable.
Connected somewhat to the theme of a Monopoly edition, you'll also want to note the age recommendation if you're looking to pick up something family-friendly. Some versions inspired by certain films, for instance, might include adult elements that raise the rating from the usual 8 years and up to 13 or even 18 and over in some cases.
Likewise, other aspects of special edition boards may alter the difficulty level, making it potentially too tricky to understand or challenging to keep up with for younger players. Of course, this varies from person to person, but it can be a useful guideline to ensure everyone can join in without getting frustrated.
Lastly, it's worth checking how many players the game version can accommodate. Even though many iterations stick to the original recommendation of 2 to 6 players, this isn't the case for them all. You don't want to order something and end up having to exclude several family members.
Unfortunately, unless you plan on pitting the top hat and the Scottie dog against each other yourself, no Monopoly versions are designed for solo play – it's the maximum players where you'll see a difference. The least we've found caps at four players, although don't forget that these can still cater to larger groups if you team up.
Now you've had a quick reminder of what to look out for when choosing a board game – and how these aspects relate to Monopoly editions – it's time to get stuck into our reviews. Even with thousands to choose from, we've managed to narrow it down to ten cracking options we think you'll love.
£19.38
Theme | Classic Monopoly |
---|---|
Gameplay Features | Extra spaces and streets, speed die and bus ticket |
Age Rating | 8+ |
Players | 2-6 |
£17.99
Theme | Fortnite |
---|---|
Gameplay Features | Survival theme, loot boxes, HP tokens |
Age Rating | 13+ |
Players | 2-7 |
£5.27
Theme | Property trading |
---|---|
Gameplay Features | Card game |
Age Rating | 8+ |
Players | 2-5 |
£17.99
Theme | Alternate classic Monopoly |
---|---|
Gameplay Features | Rewarded for penalties, Sore Loser coins, alternative card descriptions |
Age Rating | 8+ |
Players | 2-6 |
£21.99
Theme | Star Wars, The Mandalorian |
---|---|
Gameplay Features | Themed board, The Child tokens, buy and trade objects |
Age Rating | 8+ |
Players | 2-4 |
£30.00
Theme | Elf |
---|---|
Gameplay Features | Themed board, Elf tokens, spread Christmas cheer |
Age Rating | 8+ |
Players | 2-6 |
£20.00
Theme | Classic Monopoly |
---|---|
Gameplay Features | Credit cards and banking unit, flights, trading option, alternative tokens |
Age Rating | 8+ |
Players | 2-4 |
£20.35
Theme | Friends |
---|---|
Gameplay Features | Themed board, character tokens |
Age Rating | 8+ |
Players | 2-6 |
£23.21
Theme | Classic Monopoly |
---|---|
Gameplay Features | Alternative streets, landmarks and tokens |
Age Rating | 8+ |
Players | 2-6 |
£16.99
Theme | Alternate classic Monopoly |
---|---|
Gameplay Features | Undercover cheating, cheat cards, handcuff prop |
Age Rating | 8+ |
Players | 2-6 |
Image | 1 ![]() Hasbro Gaming | 2 ![]() Hasbro Gaming | 3 ![]() Hasbro Gaming | 4 ![]() Hasbro Gaming | 5 ![]() Hasbro Gaming | 6 ![]() Hasbro Gaming | 7 ![]() Hasbro Gaming | 8 ![]() Hasbro Gaming | 9 ![]() Hasbro Gaming | 10 ![]() Hasbro Gaming |
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Name | Monopoly: Cheaters Edition | Monopoly - UK Cities, Towns and Counties Editions | Friends Monopoly | Monopoly Super Electronic Banking | Elf Monopoly | Monopoly: Star Wars The Child | Monopoly for Sore Losers | Monopoly Deal | Monopoly: Fortnite Edition | Mega Monopoly |
Features | Bend the Rules With a Swindler’s Edition | A Super Fun Way to Celebrate Your Town | Guaranteed Laughs no Matter Who's Playing | An Electronic Update With Cashless Banking | Festive Frolics With Everyone's Favourite Elf | For Fans of the Adorable Baby Yoda | A Potential Solution to Family Fall Outs | The Speedy Travel-Friendly Card Game | Totally Thrilling for Ages 13 and Up | Classic Monopoly Goes Mega |
Price | £16.99 | £23.21 | £20.35 | £20.00 | £30.00 | £21.99 | £17.99 | £5.27 | £17.99 | £19.38 |
Theme | Alternate classic Monopoly | Classic Monopoly | Friends | Classic Monopoly | Elf | Star Wars, The Mandalorian | Alternate classic Monopoly | Property trading | Fortnite | Classic Monopoly |
Gameplay Features | Undercover cheating, cheat cards, handcuff prop | Alternative streets, landmarks and tokens | Themed board, character tokens | Credit cards and banking unit, flights, trading option, alternative tokens | Themed board, Elf tokens, spread Christmas cheer | Themed board, The Child tokens, buy and trade objects | Rewarded for penalties, Sore Loser coins, alternative card descriptions | Card game | Survival theme, loot boxes, HP tokens | Extra spaces and streets, speed die and bus ticket |
Age Rating | 8+ | 8+ | 8+ | 8+ | 8+ | 8+ | 8+ | 8+ | 13+ | 8+ |
Players | 2-6 | 2-6 | 2-6 | 2-4 | 2-6 | 2-4 | 2-6 | 2-5 | 2-7 | 2-6 |
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Board games are one of the best family or group activities, especially if the weather's not too great! Cosy up inside with your favourite people and have some fun! From legacy games to escape room board games, we've got tonnes of recommendations for your next games night in.
Boardgame nights are a great way to give the screens a rest and enjoy some wholesome fun with friends and family – and what's better suited to the task than Monopoly? With one of our alternative recommendations, you can pay homage to the classic while keeping things exciting.
Author: Natasha Dziubajlo
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