Review: Monopoly (Nintendo Switch)

Ever heard of Monopoly? Probably, since this classic property-owning board game has been around in various forms since 1903. The first video-game representation came way back in 1985, bringing over 30 versions of the popular game to everything from the Super Famicom to smart devices. Enter the latest version of Monopoly for the Nintendo Switch, simply titled Monopoly.

This isn’t even the first time we’ve seen Monopoly appear on the Switch. I personally haven’t played a console version of the game since the Wii era, but we have several physical boards at home that we pull out over the holidays. It’s a fun and sometimes frustrating experience that inevitably leads to one person dominating the board and having a great time while two or three others end up admitting defeat well before they go bankrupt. 

The purpose of this review isn’t to convince you that Monopoly – the 122-year-old gaming icon – is fun. I’m assuming you already know whether you love it or hate it. My role is to let you know whether this particular version is worth playing. If, like me, you’re concerned about the way a video game captures the feeling of holding dice, swapping money, and moving tokens around the board the way you would in reality, let me put your mind at ease. This Switch version of Monopoly does a great job of bringing those moments to life.

It’s immediately obvious that the developers have tried to recreate the feeling of playing at home with family and friends. The dice make an authentic noise as they’re being prepared to roll. You can hit the A button to shake them harder, propelling them further. It’s tempting to think your numbers will be higher with such a roll, but alas – as in real life – that’s not the case. Still, it somehow feels better to give them a more robust toss. 

Money isn’t exchanged automatically. If you owe rent, you have to press a button to acknowledge this. The money appears on the screen, and you kind of “flick” it to the player to whom it’s owed. It makes the feeling of losing those precious dollars all the more devastating. 

The tokens are the best part of this reality-emulating experience. You can choose from a variety at the outset, like the train, cat, or television. More are unlocked as you play. The cool part is that, after rolling the dice, you control your little token, moving it around the board with ease. You can make it jump, and you can knock over other tokens along the way. It’s such a small detail, but it adds so much personality. And it’s fun.

Something that always strikes me with Monopoly is the frustration that comes with “unfair” dealings. For example, when you land on a property with houses and you’re forced to pay exorbitant rent, or when a third double roll of the dice lands you in jail. This version of Monopoly for Nintendo Switch has you covered there, too, by allowing you to flip the board in frustration. As a virtual experience, the whole thing resets, of course, but the ability to flip and watch the board twirl through the air as it crashes back down at an odd angle is very satisfying. 

If you’re a traditionalist, you’ll prefer the classic mode. But given the virtual nature – and the lengthy time required for a proper round – this Monopoly outing gives you several options to provide variety or speed things up. House Rules are presented as options that allow you to toggle various unofficial rules. Do you send your tax dollars to the Free Parking space for some lucky player to land on? Would you prefer to be able to pass on purchasing or auctioning properties when you first land on them? These and more options are available.

There’s also a Fast Mode, presenting three alternative styles that take about 30 minutes each. You can race to be the first to either own a set number of properties, earn a specific amount of money, or purchase a house. These add a quicker way to play for those who don’t want the full Monopoly experience. If you do want the full experience, you can always save and return to your game later, another nice touch. 

Add to this outing many unlockable dice styles and the ability to change your token’s color, and there’s a lot on offer outside of just plain old Monopoly. I was genuinely surprised by the volume of extras. Not to mention a decent online mode, which means you can join anyone online. You can’t do that with a physical board. 

Overall, Monopoly brings the classic board game to life on the Nintendo Switch. The game remains intact, with easy-to-use controls, optional rules, and modes for faster games. If you’re a fan looking for an interactive electronic version of the game, this could be the one for you.