A new version ofPokémonMonopolyhas just hit the tabletop, but it’s surprisingly not just a copy and paste of the classicMonopolygame. Despite being one of the biggest media franchises ever,Pokémonhas surprisingly few tabletop games outside theever-growingPokémon Trading Card Game.WhilePokémonfans growing up in the 1990s may rememberPokémon Master Trainer, most recentPokémonboard games have simply been licensed versions of popular games likeLabyrinthandGuess Who?
Earlier this month, Hasbro Gaming released a new version ofPokémon Monopoly.While two previous licensed editions ofMonopolywere made using Pokémon, this newMonopolygame features several new mechanics that make the game feel very different from a simpleMonopolyre-skin.The result is a different kind ofPokémontabletop game, one that actually tries to capture the feel of thePokémonfranchiseinstead of just being a simple cash grab.
What Makes This Pokémon Monopoly Different
Pokémon Monopoly Has Several Unique Mechanics, Including Battle Options
The originalPokémon Monopolygames were basically Monopoly re-skins, with all the same rules and goals as the original game. In the newPokémon Monopoly,players are actually vying to capture eight different types of Pokémon, which can be collected from various color-coded biomes. The first player to land on a specific biome must pay a Poké Ball fee to claim the area and explore it for wild Pokémon. Players don’t automatically catch Pokémon from these areas - they roll a special die that has a 50/50 catch rate. If players miss an initial throw, they can pay for an extra Poké Ball for another chance to capture the Pokémon.
Once an area is claimed, any other trainer who lands on it has to pay a Poké Ball fee to explore it, similar to paying rent in a normal Monopoly game. However,players also have the option of battling the trainer who controls the biome they landed on. When players battle, each player rolls a six-sided die and adds the number ofall the Pokémonthey’ve captured to the roll. The player with the highest roll wins, with ties going to the player who controls the area. As a note, trainers can’t try to seize an area if a player controls both areas of the same color.
Is Pokémon Monopoly Any Good?
Better Than Its Predecessors, But Some Flaws & Frustrations Remain
The capture and battle mechanics makePokémon Monopolyfeel very different from normalMonopoly, a game that’s largely dependent on area control and quickly becomes dominated by one or two players.A player can still achieve their goals even if they don’t control many areas, although they’ll need to figure out a way to collect a steady stream of Poké Balls as a result. Because players add all the Pokémon they control to their roll, a player can also simply grab as many Pokémon from their regions to build up their strength and try to bully other players into handing over their land.
Pokémon TCG Pocket’s Deadliest New Combo Comes From Two Unexpected Pokémon
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has an incredibly potent new card combination that can literally max out damage in the right circumstances.
Still, there are some major drawbacks toPokémon Monopoly.The game is largely luck-dependent, as even a player who controls a lot of land can still have a series of unlucky rolls when trying to capture Pokémon. The game also still has a large amount of power imbalance similar to the originalMonopoly. A player who controls a lot of land will control the Poké Ball resources, while players who have lots of Pokémon can bully those who don’t. If you don’t like the unfairness baked into the originalMonopoly, you’re not going to likePokémon Monopoly.
Will There Be More Pokémon Board Games?
Pokémon Monopoly Bodes Well For The Future
While many other video game franchises have had ambitious board game adaptations,Pokémonhas largely lagged behind until recently. While thePokémon Trading Card Gameis one of the biggest card games in the world, andPokémon TCG Pocket’s new Mythical Island cardscontinue growing its new digital counterpart, there are surprisingly few other tabletop games that really delve into the world ofPokémon. In fact,Pokémon Monopolyis one of the first board games to really try to capture the spirit ofPokémonin a meaningful way in years. That bodes well for the future of tabletop games, especially if other publishers can find a unique and engaging way to adapt the franchise through board games.
WhilePokémonhas kept a tight lid on tabletop adaptations,it seems to be loosening that grip in recent years.Pokémon Labyrinthwas released a couple of years ago, and now we have aPokémon Monopolygame that feels more like aPokémongame than a simpleMonopolygame. Currently, there are no otherPokémonboard games announced for release, but we have a feeling that morePokémontabletop games could be making their way onto shelves in the not-too-distant future.
