Hasbro Monopoly Empire with Bonus Card Game

As a parent I want to play games with my kids but when they say "Let's Play Monopoly" I look at the clock and sigh...this is a fast paced version that also opens up conversations about corporations, businesses, advertising....etc...great addition to game night.

I enjoy this version of Monopoly; it is streamlined and simplified. Goal is to buy billboards (aka properties) to fill your tower; the more expensive billboards are longer, and if you get it to the top you win.There are little twists:-One of the dies has the "1" replaced with a "swap" so you can choose to swap your top billboard with someone else's top billboard-- if you decide not to you just use the other die number to move-Income tax has been replaced with Rival Tower tax (you can put an opponent's top billboard back on the board)-Luxury tax replaced with Tower tax (you put your top billboard back on the board).-Free parking allows you to pay $100 to go to any spot on the board.-It costs $100 to get out of jail, $50 if you fail to roll doubles 3x. There is no Railroad spot, so it's 9 spaces on each side rather than 10.-When you land on someone else's property, you pay them their Tower worth (higher the taller your tower is); if you pass Go, you collect your Tower worth.-If you can't afford to pay something you lose or give your billboard instead without giving your remaining cash, so it is impossible to go negative.-If you get a monopoly, you get one free extra 1 space Office billboard. You can also purchase a 1 space Office billboard at any time for $500.-Empire cards are "save and use later cards" (like "Just say no" or "Hostile takeover").-Utilities have 4 one slot billboards that you can purchase if you land there, but no one gets charged for landing there.-There are only $50, $100, and $500 bills.I played it with my wife and my four year old daughter even though the game wasn't made for someone that young; I had to read the empire/chance cards to her and show her when to use them and tell her what bills to hand the bank when she wanted to buy stuff, and even walked her through an auction ("I want to pay $50, will you pay $100? etc) but she enjoyed it (and won both times, with a tiny bit of our help). I expect that it will eventually help her learn simple math (moving with the die rolls, paying with simple $50, $100, and $500 bills). So basically a lot of it is luck (but so is the regular monopoly), but it doesn't matter as much with this version because the games lasted less than 30 minutes each so you're not stuck feeling bad or wanting to quit if you're losing badly. The empire cards add a little bit of decision-making and excitement to the game. I did miss organizing piles of cash (including $1 bills) in the old monopoly and buying houses and hotels (instead in this game if you get a monopoly you get another tiny single slot billboard for free).The bonus card game is basically an exact copy of Pit. Never played the game before but searched for keywords online regarding gameplay rules "yell out what you want" and Google returned Pit. I read the Pit rules and realized it was the exact same game even down to Bear and Bull (Empire and Go to Jail) cards. Instead of commodities you have Empire property and colors.If I could do it again, I might invest in just the base Monopoly Empire game and buy Monopoly Deal instead because Monopoly Deal is just awesome. But I hear Pit is a fun game. I would even consider getting Monopoly Millionaire instead because it seems more complex and involved. But Monopoly Empire is so simplified even my 4 year old had fun playing it. I'd imagine she wouldn't do quite as well with Monopoly Classic or Millionaire.

My 4 year old plays this like a pro! Easy to understand intructions and simple game. Everything came on time as expected and the family really enjoyed the option to play a card game instead for a little more challenge.

Monopoly Empire is a very interesting game. Object of game is to collect the billboards on the board to put on your game piece. First person to fill their piece wins. Sounds easy, not so much, there are other players trying to stop you. Good fun for all ages, but there are a lot of small pieces so kids should be supervised.

Excellent product!

Big hit for my 8yr. old nephew. Although I still prefer the original Monopoly, this version definitely appeals to today's kids and maintains most of the features of the original game.

Great!

The game is easy to understand, easy to play, and does not take an extensive amount of time to finish. Its great for Family Time!