Alternative Monopoly Rules: Add Spice to the Traditional Game

Classic Games / By
alternative monopoly rules

Ready to shake up your next game night? These Alternative Monopoly Rules will flip the classic game on its head! Dive into our guide to discover how to make your Monopoly session more unpredictable, wild, and consistently fun.

Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

Alternative Monopoly Rules

There are many different ways to play Monopoly in an alternative way. Some people choose to play with different rules, such as allowing players to trade properties or to buy houses and hotels on the same turn. Others choose to play with different pieces, such as using dice instead of cards to determine who goes first. And still others choose to play with different goals, such as trying to collect all of the railroads or all of the utilities.

Read on for lots of options!

alternative monopoly rules board

Benefits of Alternative Monopoly Rules

There are many benefits to playing Monopoly with alternative rules. These benefits include:

More challenging: Alternative rules can make the game more challenging by adding new elements or changing existing rules. This can make the game more exciting and engaging for players who are looking for a challenge.

More fun: Alternative rules can also make the game more fun by adding new elements or changing existing rules. This can make the game more interesting and unpredictable, which can keep players engaged for longer periods of time.

Fairer: Alternative rules can also make the game more fair by leveling the playing field for players of all skill levels. This can make the game more enjoyable for everyone involved, regardless of their skill level.

New experience: Alternative rules can create a new and exciting experience for players who are tired of the same old game of Monopoly. This can make the game more enjoyable and help to keep players engaged.

Optional Alternative Monopoly Rules

Here are some examples of alternative Monopoly rules:

  • Trades: Allow players to trade properties.
  • Quick Developments: Buy houses and hotels on the same turn.
  • Quick Auctions: Unowned properties are auctioned off when doubles are rolled.
  • Free Parking Bonus: Money collected from Chance Card penalties is collected by the next player to land on Free Parking.
  • Three Dice: Players roll three dice but choose two for movement.
  • Ghost Players: Bankrupt players continue as ghosts affecting the game.
  • Sloppy Dice: $50 penalty for dice rolled off the board.
  • Double Houses and Hotels: Extra houses or a second hotel on properties.
  • Unlimited Doubles: Continuous movement without jail for multiple doubles.
  • Chance Card Direction Reversal: Chance cards can reverse a player’s direction.
  • Monopoly Mercy Rule: Game ends when a player reaches set wealth.
  • Optional Chance Cards: Choice to take or leave a Chance card.
  • Property Auction Rule: Auctions for unpurchased properties.
  • Rent Collection in Jail: Collect rent while in jail.

By changing the rules, the pieces, or the goals, you can create a new and exciting experience for yourself and your friends.

monopoly dice

Auctions

If a player lands on an unowned property and decides NOT to buy it, the property is automatically auctioned between the other players. This helps speed the game up.

Auctions can be held in the traditional way starting at any amount or alternatively start at 50% of the property value.

Another way of conducting the auction is by giving each player a turn to bid:

  • Start with the player who declined to buy the property.
  • Move to the player on the left.
  • The next player can either increase the bid by $10 or pass.
  • Continue until each player has passed.
  • The property goes to the player with the highest bid.

Mortgages

Remove the option for mortgages. If a player needs cash, they can sell the property back to the bank for half the price or make a deal with another player to sell it.

Building and Rent Rules

Alternative building and rent rules can include:

  • Allowing players to build unevenly. Therefore in a set, one property may have all of the houses or hotels whilst another has none.
  • Buildings and hotels can be bought without owning the whole color set at an increased price.
  • Allow players to purchase hotels without having purchased houses first.
  • Houses AND Hotels can be purchased for the same property, therefore making extremely high rents!
  • When in jail rent cannot be collected by a player or is halved to encourage a quick exit.
  • Round all rent values up to end in a 5 or 0. For example $14 would become $15. Some players also combine this rule with removing all $1 bills from the game.

Utilities and Railroads

Treat the two Utility properties as Railroads. This makes them more desirable to purchase as the rent also increases in line with the original Railroad Rent structure.

Higher rents are possible with any combination of Railroads or Utilities:

1 Railroad / Utility$100
2 Railroad / Utility$200
3 Railroad / Utility$300
4 Railroad / Utility$400
5 Railroad / Utility$500
6 Railroad / Utility$600

Alternative Monopoly Rules for a Shorter Game

Monopoly has a reputation for continuing for hours and hours, which for some players is enough to put them off even starting! The rules below should help ensure a shorter game and convince more players to join.

  • Time limit: Agree a set time of 60 to 90 minutes after which the game must end and all players must total their cash and property values to determine the winner.
  • Start with Properties: Give each player one whole set of properties at the start of the game.
  • Quick Building Rules: Reduce the amount of houses needed before a hotel can be purchased.
  • Jail Break: Allow players to exit Jail on the first go.
  • Bankrupt: End the game for ALL players when the first player goes bankrupt. Remaining players then total their worth.
  • Master Player: Nominate one player who can end the game at any point.

How to Implement Alternative Monopoly Rules

There are a few different ways to implement alternative monopoly rules. You can:

Write your own rules.

Find a set of alternative rules online and print them out.

Purchase a game of Monopoly that comes with alternative rules.

Once you have your rules, you can start playing Monopoly in a new and exciting way. Here are a few tips for implementing alternative rules:

Read the rules carefully before you start playing.

Make sure that everyone understands the rules before you start playing.

Be flexible and willing to change the rules if necessary.

Have fun!

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are a number of different ways to play Monopoly in an alternative way. By changing the rules, the pieces, or the goals, you can create a new and exciting experience for yourself and your friends. Whether you’re looking for a more challenging game, a more fun game, or a more fair game, there’s an alternative Monopoly rule set out there for you.

If you are interested in learning more about alternative monopoly rules, there are many resources available to you. You can find alternative rules online, in books, and even in board game stores. You can also find alternative rules by talking to other Monopoly players or by experimenting with different rules yourself.

If you eventually become tired of Monopoly (is that possible?!) check out these suggestions for something new: La Granja, Dead of Winter or Puerto Rico.

FAQs

Are there different ways to play Monopoly?

There are many different ways to play Monopoly. Different variations to the house rules can make the game more exciting or sorter depending on your preference. Each adaption can be used on it’s own or in combination with others.

What is the most overlooked rule in Monopoly?

Players often forget that they can still fully participate in the game whilst in jail. This includes auctions, trades, building houses and buying properties.

What is the snake eyes rule in Monopoly?

The term Snake Eyes refers to rolling two ones. As with any doubles if you roll three in row the player goes to Jail. According to the House Rules the rolling of two ones is no different to any other double.

What is the mercy rule in Monopoly?

The Mercy Rule will often shorten the game by ending it at a pre-determined point. If this condition is met the game ends for all payers and the winner is determined by totalling all wealth including cash and property values. The most common condition used is if a player reaches a certain amount of wealth first. In this case, this player will be the winner.

Scroll to Top