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However, Monopoly isn’t the only economic and tantrum-fueling board game out there. The rise in popularity of tabletop games over the years has created other unique and excellent games that will give fans of Monopoly a whole new experience to sink their teeth into.
10 Acquire
Created back in 1964, Acquire has players invest, divest, and carry out hostile takeovers to own various companies. Vaguely similar to Monopoly and, oddly, Scrabble, players have an array of tiles that they can place on the board. Whenever two tiles join up, a company can be formed with players who created the company earning stock. Players can also gain new tiles just like in Scrabble and purchase additional stocks within that company.
As the game continues, players will strategically invest in the various businesses on the board, trying to own a majority of stock for the largest and most profitable ones. Companies whose tiles connect will then merge and the largest company will absorb the lesser one, increasing in size and profitability. The aim of the game is to acquire the greatest wealth. Fans of Monopolywill recognize familiar tones but will require a more cunning and strategic approach to outmaneuver opponents.
9 Dice City
The kingdom of Rolldovia is in shambles! The capital has been sacked and the Queen has decreed that a new capital must rise to take its place. Players will represent influential families of Rolldovia competing against each other to make their city the next capital.
Dice City is a dice crafting game that has players improve their city by opening up trade routes, recruiting armies, and constructing wonders. Players must use their tactics and wits to manage their rolled dice effectively and place them on the tableau of options in front of them making this game a solid option for those who enjoy Monopoly and building medieval cities.
8 Catan (The Settlers of Catan)
A game that is as well renowned as Monopoly itself, Catan is one of the most celebrated and recognizable gateway games that has gotten many people interested in the board gaming hobby. In Catan, players must become the dominant faction by building and connecting towns, roads, and cities. Each turn, players will roll dice and acquire the resources associated with that dice roll.
Several strategies can be employed from here on out, with players acquiring development cards or utilizing the robber pawn to steal resources. The first player who gets 10 points is declared the winner. Easy to learn and appropriate for all ages, Catan is an extremely accessible board game that has many expansions that add further depth to the fun and strategic choices available.
7 Chinatown
Set in New York, during the 1960s, Chinatown is an economic board game that places a heavy emphasis on negotiation. Players will be negotiating and talking throughout the entire game. Here, players represent business owners trying to build up their respective businesses by placing tiles onto the board. The more tiles connected, the larger the profit. Players win when they have the most money.
Players will need to trade shops, deeds, and money to win. The game appeals to those who enjoy heavy social interaction and making deals as real-time trading and negotiating during game time can become quite hectic and noisy. Played in just six turns, the game has great replayability, and downtime between turns is limited, making Chinatown a very engaging game.
6 Century Spice Road
A game centered around trading spices, Century Spice Road has players acting as caravan leaders delivering spices along the silk road to acquire wealth and glory. During turns, players will be acquiring cards to get different combinations of the four spices featured in the game. These spices can then be used to fulfill certain demands which will award points to players which can then help them to win the game.
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Although being a deck-building game that relies on strategy and utilizing card combos to fulfill demands, this game is very easy to learn and has a broad appeal. With this in mind, it’s a perfect choice for both casual gamers and veterans of the board gaming community alike.
5 Concordia
Concordia takes elements of Century Spice Road and adds a deeper and meatier experience. Set in a peaceful Roman Empire that focuses on the development of the Roman Empire, the game centers around players using action cards to carry out various tasks. As the game continues, players who start with the same action cards can acquire more powerful cards that will award them more points. The game ends when all cards have run out or a player has built their 15th house.
A game that relies on advanced planning and reading one’s opponent, Concordia emphasizes strategy. This game can be perfect for those wanting a greater and richer challenge than Monopoly.
4 Machi Koro
In Machi Koro, players will be developing their city to become the biggest in the region by building public works, collecting revenue from developments, and stealing from opponents.
The game is essentially a city builder that utilizes dice, with players receiving a building’s ability if the result of the dice matches it. But players should be wary, as opponents can benefit from each other’s dice rolls. Players win if they construct all their landmarks first. Fast, quick, and cute to look at,Machi Koro is an ideal game for those who like Monopoly.
3 Lords Of Vegas
In Lords Of Vegas, players are big developers who are attempting to build and profit by building the largest casinos. In line with the theme, players will be using their dice to build, reorganize, and gamble their way to victory. Players can invest in the best development companies and by positioning the best workers in control of the most affluent casinos.
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Players can build or expand their existing casinos, attempt to take over rival-controlled casinos, increase their wealth by gambling, or trade lots with other players. In the end, the player with the most points takes it all.
2 Brass Birmingham
Similar to Monopoly, Brass Birmingham has players walk in the shoes of powerful tycoons during Britain’s Industrial Revolution. Here, players will use money, coal, iron, and beer to build industries across the midlands and north of England. Fun fact! Beer was used to clean machinery as it was considered cleaner and easier to produce.
Players will also connect their industries back to markets and build canals or railways to score more points and make more money. A more strategically demanding game than Monopoly, Brass Birmingham is a delight for any Monopoly lover seeking a more cutthroat economic gaming experience, especially when one steals someone else’s beer resource!
1 Food Chain Magnate
A game about outdoing one’s rivals and becoming the best fast-food chain ever, Food Chain Magnate is a heavy strategy game that emphasizes players building up their company (from cooks to human resources) by using a card-driven system. Players will market, purchase, and hunt down staff members to help their business grow.
Players will market various products and satisfy the people’s desires whilst simultaneously watching their rivals, responding accordingly. A game that can last 2-4 hours or even longer, it should be reiterated that this game (whilst awesome) is a heavy strategy game that will not only make players dream of nuggets and hamburgers, but also leave one’s brain pretty fried as well.
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