Monopoly GO amassed a large user base on mobile platforms thanks to its fast-paced dice rolling, sticker collection, and continuous player interaction, along with its rewarding collection system.
However, porting these mechanics from smartphone screens to a physical board game is no easy feat. Monopoly GO attempts to recreate classic elements from the mobile version, such as attack, defense, and competitive interactions, but its tabletop experience differs significantly from the version many players are familiar with.
So, is Monopoly GO worth playing compared to the mobile version? EZG delves into its board game design, rules, and core mechanics to explore whether this physical version truly captures the charm of the original.
Derivative Process
Traditional board games have existed for millennia, from chess and checkers to Scrabble and the classic Monopoly. Their enduring popularity stems from their ability to bring together multiple players, providing enjoyment through strategy and interaction.
Monopoly is undoubtedly one of the best board games of all time. Designed by Parker Brothers, Monopoly was released in February 1935 and quickly became a global phenomenon. During its lifespan, it sold over 250 million copies and had over 1 billion players worldwide, its popularity being immeasurable.
Given Monopoly's immense popularity, countless versions have been created over the years. In the smartphone era, with more and more players turning to mobile games, Monopoly GO was born in this environment.
Since its release, Monopoly GO quickly became a very popular casual game on mobile devices thanks to its simple and straightforward gameplay and strong collection, building, and interaction mechanics. However, when this mobile game expanded into the real world with the release of a physical board game version, it sparked considerable controversy among players.
Victory Objective
Monopoly GO board game packaging advertised that the mobile Monopoly GO inspired it. However, the biggest problem is that this board game did not actually reproduce the core experience of mobile Monopoly GO version very well.
The core gameplay of the original Monopoly GO revolves around rolling dice to advance, collecting coins, upgrading buildings, unlocking new maps, collecting Monopoly GO Stickers, and attacking other players' landmarks to steal resources. Competition between players primarily focuses on accumulating wealth and sabotaging opponents.
However, in the physical Monopoly GO board game, your goal becomes stacking four landmark blocks of the same color within your area; the first player to complete a full building wins.
The entire process lacks a robust money system and economic competition; you're ultimately just building a structure, losing the most essential charm of Monopoly series.
In original Monopoly, you won by bankrupting other players; in mobile Monopoly GO game, you gained an advantage by earning money, attacking, and stealing resources. But in this physical board game, you simply complete a building, and then it's over. For players who enjoy strategy and competition, this victory method feels incredibly monotonous.
Rule Design
Besides gameplay objectives, the rule design of Monopoly GO board game has also become a major point of criticism among players. Monopoly GO supports up to four players, each with their own mini-game board. You choose a character marker and determine the corresponding die based on your color.
However, instead of each player rolling their own dice individually, Monopoly GO has one player rolling all four dice simultaneously each round, and all players move based on the result. This design, perhaps intended to simulate the feeling of multiple players simultaneously in mobile games, actually makes players feel a lack of control.
In many situations, your move isn't determined by your own dice roll, but by the results rolled by other players. EZG believes that since everyone already has their own colored dice, allowing each player to roll them individually would not only be more in line with traditional board game logic but also increase player engagement.
If you want a more immersive gaming experience, the mobile version of Monopoly GO is a better choice. If you want to learn more about the latest news on the mobile game Monopoly GO, follow EZG Facebook. We also have limited-time giveaways where lucky players can win free Monopoly GO Stickers.
Game Mechanics
Monopoly GO retains some elements from the mobile game, such as Shutdown, Bank Heist, Chance cards, and Shield defense mechanism. Shutdown mechanism is relatively easy to understand. When a player triggers a zone, they can wait for other players to build landmarks and then destroy their buildings. This gameplay is indeed similar to the attack system in the mobile version.
However, Bank Heist mechanism is one of the most confusing designs in the entire Monopoly GO game. When you trigger a bank robbery, you and another player need to simultaneously choose hidden symbols, including silver coins, cash piles, and diamond rings. If both players choose the same symbol, the robbery is successful, and you can steal one of the other player's landmarks; if you choose different symbols, nothing happens.
While this mechanism attempts to simulate the robbery gameplay in the mobile game, it actually just adds extra steps and doesn't bring any real strategy. In contrast, trading, investing, and money management in classic Monopoly and the mobile Monopoly GO are simpler and more direct, making it easier to create psychological warfare between players.
Monopoly GO also features a massive attack mechanic called Mega Shutdown, which is arguably the most game-breaking aspect. Each player has a Shutdown progress bar; when it reaches its maximum, a Mega Shutdown can be activated.
Once activated, you choose a color, and all other players must remove all landmarks of that color. This means that if a player is close to completing a building, just one block away, another player can potentially reset their progress to zero with a Mega Shutdown.
While this mechanic aligns with the destructive gameplay of the mobile Monopoly GO, in a board game setting, it creates a strong sense of frustration for players. Players might spend considerable time building an advantage only to be instantly back to square one because of a single attack.
The biggest problem with Monopoly GO isn't that it hasn't found its niche. Unlike the classic Monopoly, which boasts a complete economic system and player interaction, Monopoly GO doesn't offer the same thrill of rapid growth, collection, and upgrades as the mobile version. Monopoly GO feels more like a derivative product launched to capitalize on a popular IP.
