Unpatriotic opinion: Monopoly is not a good game! (Monopoly)

Member Name: Linnyg

Product:	Monopoly
Date:	13/07/09 (11 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun for a family get together

Disadvantages: Many other games are much better, and shorter

Monopoly is the game everyone thinks of when you say 'board games' but when you have played a few 'proper' board games (look up Settlers of Catan) you quickly realise what a poor game it actually is. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy playing it ocassionally but it has too many downsides.

The basic roll and move dynamic can become boring after the initial flurry of buying properties after which there are very few decisions to be made. The games often go on for hours and few of our games carry on until their proper conclusion, with one player usually becoming bored and giving up.

The only real skill in the game is the deals you do with other players. If you don't manage to get a set of properties then you have absolutley no way to win, assuming the other players can play even slightly competently, but you know that the game will still go on for ages. Nobody is going to trade to give you a set when they already have a set (if they know how to play). Once players have sets those with the best sets will generally win (for example the oranges are the best set on the board as they are landed on most frequently, being after jail).

It can be fun to play at a family get together and the trading can be amusing, trying to persuade people to deal with you. But overall the game is too long for the skill or interest factor.

Summary: Do yourself a favour- check out some other board games