Monopoly is one of the most, if not the most, famous board games ever. But sometimes it really can drag on can’t it? What if I told you that you can get all the same fun, but in 15 mins and a small card game? Are you excited? Because in my humble opinion you really should be! Enter Monopoly Deal, the card game with all the fun and drama of Monopoly but without any player elimination or table flipping.

Pray What Is This Quick Monopoly Of Which You Speak?

Monopoly Deal is a card game where you will be doing the familiar trope of collecting sets of houses in the same colour, charging your fellow players rent on them, and if they cannot pay then like the ruthless landlord that you are, you will steal their properties from them in lieu of cash payment and keep them as your own. Sounds just as nasty as the original game, but all over a lot quicker, which in my mind is a great thing.

How Do You Play Monopoly Deal?

The aim of the game is to collect 3 complete sets of properties in order to win. On your turn you will draw cards, and then play up to three cards down. There are money cards, which are simply worth cash. It is important to have a buffer of some money in the bank in case you have to pay for someone’s birthday gift or rent at Liverpool Street station. There are also the property cards, playing these down is essential to winning, but as soon as you play cards down they become a target that your opponents will be eyeing up hungrily and plotting to steal. You also have action cards that will let you draw more cards, charge fellow players rent or steal their properties from right under their nose.

You will spend the game balancing playing down cards to get yourself closer to victory and plotting the demise of your fellow players and trying to engineer a master stroke turn where you steal everything from them. Just at the right time ideally so that you may also win. These grand plans can of course be thwarted if they have a “just say no” card. Consent is important, and you must bow down to the regal Just Say No card, although it really hurts when they crush your capitalist dreams this way.

Who Is This Suitable For?

If you want a game that is small, portable, and familiar enough to you to enjoy quickly then I really think you should take a punt on this Monopoly Deal. I love this game, and everyone I have ever introduced it to has as well. It is ideal as a travel game to throw into your backpack, or to play at the table after dinner. This has all the familiarities of the original that make us feel safe, but whilst actually being a really different game. This is quick, it is punchy, and it is just as mean as its older brother but without the drawn out pain of a 4 hour game only to be mortgaged to the eyeballs and eliminated.

This blog was written by Hannah Blacknell