Hasbro Gaming has recently release the modern banking version of the Monopoly game: Monopoly Ultimate Banking. In this edition, there is no more Monopoly money but a brand spanking new debit card and card unit!
This game features an all-in-one Ultimate Banking unit with touch technology that makes the game fast and fun. Both my children enjoy tapping on the card unit and hearing it make sounds related to the game! Instantly buy properties, set rent, and tap your way to fortune.
The set comes with a gameboard, Ultimate Banking card unit, 4 plastic play pieces, 22 blue plastic houses, 49 cards (4 Bank, 22 Title Deed, 23 Event), 2 dice and instructions. In traditional Monopoly, you can play with up to six players. For this version, you can play with up to four players only. It is suitable for aged eight and above.
To start, each player gets a bankcard and the Ultimate Banking unit is to keep track of everyone’s fortunes. It also scans the game’s property cards and can boost or crash the market. It requires 3 AAA batteries which are not included.
Traditional Monopoly play gets amped up with this edition. The game introduces Event cards and Location spaces instead of Chance cards and Community Chest cards. If you land on an Event Space, rents may be raised or lowered, a player may earn or lose money, or someone could get sent to Jail. As for the Location Spaces, it allows players to pay and move to any property space on the gameboard.
Being cashless, I find it makes transactions so much easier and smoother. There is no more exchanging of cash and a banker so it saves time. Also any players can be in charge of the card unit and check their property card anytime they want. I also like the rules for increasing the rent level when anyone lands on your property on the next round. Normally, you will place houses on the board and sometime those houses are accidentally moved. Now with the card unit, everything is remembered.
When you play the traditional Monopoly, the game can go on for a long time and you end up having to cut the game short because no-one goes bankrupt. We love that we can get through a game of Ultimate Banking more quickly as everything moves along more swiftly.
We had a great time playing this game and I am sure many parents will love this game for their children! It is available to buy in good stores and Amazon.
Disclosure: We received the sample for the purposes of writing this review, however all thoughts and opinions remain our own.