Let’s be honest—Monopoly is a dreadful game. And yet, for reasons beyond comprehension, it continues to be dragged out at family gatherings, causing arguments, frustration, and that one smug player who somehow ends up with all the properties. Thankfully we’ve not played it in years but it’s still eponymous when someone asks “What, LIke Monopoly?” after you say you like board games.
But here’s the thing: Monopoly isn’t just bad because it ruins friendships—it’s objectively a poorly designed game. And to make matters worse, most people don’t even play it correctly.
Monopoly Was Never Meant to Be Fun
Did you know that Monopoly was originally designed as a warning against capitalism? It wasn’t supposed to be a jolly game of buying and selling properties; it was a demonstration of how wealth accumulation crushes everyone except the lucky (or ruthless) few. The game was based on The Landlord’s Game, invented by Elizabeth Magie in 1903 to highlight the dangers of monopolies and the unfairness of unchecked economic power. Ironically, Monopoly ended up celebrating exactly what it was meant to critique.
The problem? Monopoly, as a game, embodies everything that makes capitalism frustrating. If you’re winning, you snowball into greater success with little resistance. If you’re losing, you’re stuck in a slow, painful spiral of bankruptcy. There’s no real comeback mechanic, no way to level the playing field, and no strategic depth beyond “buy everything you land on and hope for the best.”
The Gameplay Is Pure Tedium
Monopoly is slow. Painfully slow. A single game can last hours—and that’s assuming someone doesn’t storm off in frustration, or flip the board over. Turns drag on as players roll dice, move their token, and perform a repetitive sequence of actions: land, pay rent, buy, or draw a card. There’s very little interaction beyond hoping someone lands on your properties and dreading the moment you land on theirs.
Unlike well-designed board games where players are constantly engaged, Monopoly often leaves you staring blankly as other people take their turns. And let’s not even talk about the dreaded late-game, where one player dominates, and the rest are just waiting for their inevitable demise. Where’s the fun in that?
Monopoly Rewards Luck, Not Skill
Great board games reward strategic thinking, adaptation, and clever play. Monopoly, on the other hand, is mostly about rolling dice and hoping for good fortune. Sure, there’s some strategy in trading, but even that is limited by the randomness of the dice. You can play perfectly and still lose purely because you landed on the wrong spots. That’s not strategy—it’s just gambling with extra steps.
Compare that to modern classics like Catan, Ticket to Ride, or Carcassonne, where player decisions shape the outcome. Monopoly? It’s more like watching a slow-motion car crash while someone lectures you about property investments.
You’re Playing It Wrong Anyway
If you insist on playing Monopoly (for reasons beyond reason), at least play it correctly. The fact is, most people don’t. Here are some of the most common rules people get wrong:
1. Free Parking Doesn’t Give You Money
You know that house rule where all the fines go into a pot in the middle, and whoever lands on Free Parking gets a windfall? Yeah, that’s not in the actual rules. Free Parking is just that—a free space to rest. Adding a jackpot just prolongs the game (which is the last thing Monopoly needs).
2. You Don’t Have to Go Around the Board Once Before Buying
Some people play with a rule that you can’t buy properties until you’ve done a full lap of the board. This isn’t real, and it actively ruins the game by making the early turns even more boring than they already are.
3. You Have to Auction Properties You Don’t Buy
If you land on a property and choose not to buy it, the rules state that it must go up for auction. This actually makes the game a little more strategic, as it allows players to grab properties for less than their listed value. But, of course, most people ignore this and just keep passing the dice.
4. Houses Run Out—And That’s Important
Monopoly only comes with a limited number of houses, and if they’re all in play, you can’t build more. This mechanic is meant to add a layer of scarcity, forcing players to plan their builds. But most casual players don’t realise this and assume they can build an unlimited number of houses and hotels.
5. You Can Trade at Any Time, Not Just Your Turn
Many people assume trades can only happen on your turn. Wrong. You can negotiate deals at any point, meaning backdoor alliances and cutthroat deals are all fair game. Not that it makes the game any less tedious.
There Are So Many Better Games
If you want a board game that brings people together without tearing them apart, Monopoly isn’t the answer. There are so many modern board games that offer better mechanics, more engagement, and, most importantly, actual fun. Here are just a few:
- Catan – Resource management and trading that actually requires skill.
- Ticket to Ride – Competitive, but with less chance of flipping the board in frustration.
- Carcassonne – Simple, strategic, and endlessly replayable.
- Splendor – Quick, engaging, and far more strategic than rolling dice and hoping for the best.
- Azul – Beautiful, brainy, and completely free of property-related suffering.
Plus tons more. if you’re looking for ideas follow me on SOcials or read more of this blog.
The Verdict? Let Monopoly Die
Monopoly isn’t a classic because it’s good. It’s a classic because it’s been around forever, marketed aggressively, and forced upon us at family gatherings. It’s outdated, frustrating, and deeply flawed as a game. And the worst part? Even when you win, it doesn’t feel satisfying—it just means everyone else had a terrible time.
So next time someone suggests Monopoly, do yourself a favour: suggest anything else. Your friendships will thank you.