Monopoly board game: official rules explained
Monopoly rules explained: buy properties, collect colour groups, build houses and hotels and charge rent until rivals go bankrupt. Plus tips for shorter games.
- Type
- Board game
- Players
- 2–8
- Age
- Ages 8+
- First released
- 1935
- Publisher
- Parker Brothers
Monopoly is one of the best-known board games in the world. Players move around a square board of streets, stations and utilities, buying properties and charging rent to anyone who lands on them. When a player owns every property in a colour group, they can build houses and hotels that raise the rent sharply. The game ends when all players but one are bankrupt. Monopoly was first published by Parker Brothers in 1935, and it was based on an earlier game, The Landlord's Game by Elizabeth Magie. Today it exists in countless local and themed editions. Many families own a copy, and learning the actual printed rules often makes it a better game.
Our verdict
Monopoly is familiar, which makes it easy to start a game with almost anyone. It teaches children about money, counting, buying and negotiating in a playful way. Trading for the last property of a colour group creates real drama, and building the first hotel is a memorable moment. It is not the most balanced modern game, but with the official auction rule and a time limit it becomes faster and more strategic than most people remember from childhood.
What works
- Known almost everywhere
- Teaches basic money skills
- Trading creates exciting moments
What does not
- Games often last too long
- Players eliminated early must wait with nothing to do
How to play Monopoly
All players start with the same amount of money and roll two dice to move. If you land on an unowned property, you may buy it at its printed price; if you decline, the standard rules say it goes to auction among all players. If you land on a property owned by someone else, you pay rent. Owning a full colour group doubles the basic rent and allows you to build houses evenly across the group, and later hotels. Special squares include Chance and Community Chest cards, taxes, the jail and free parking, which in the official rules has no reward. You collect a fixed salary each time you pass Go. Rolling doubles gives another turn, but three doubles in a row send you to jail. If you cannot pay a debt, you may mortgage properties or sell buildings. A player who still cannot pay is bankrupt and leaves the game.
Tips for new players
- Use the official auction rule; it keeps money moving and shortens the game.
- The orange and red groups are landed on often, because many players leave jail toward them.
- Build up to three houses on a group quickly; the third house usually gives the biggest jump in rent.
- Agree on a time limit for family games and count total wealth when it ends.
Good for
Monopoly: common questions
Do you get money for landing on Free Parking in Monopoly?
Not in the official rules. Free Parking is a rest square; collecting money there is a common house rule that makes games longer.
How many players can play Monopoly?
Standard editions support two to eight players.
Who created Monopoly?
Parker Brothers first published Monopoly in 1935. It was based on The Landlord's Game, an earlier design by Elizabeth Magie.
Monopoly belongs to its owners. Playdonya is not connected to them and does not sell this game; the cover is our own illustration.
