Monopoly Pokemon: All You Need to Know

What is interesting to note is that there are literally hundreds of versions of Monopoly out there, and yes, Monopoly is of course one of the all-time great board games that we all know and love. One of the most popular variations of Monopoly out there, particularly with kids, is the Pokémon version. Pokémon is one of the most popular children’s anime or cartoons of all time, and Monopoly is one of the most popular board games of all time, so it only makes sense to mix the two together.

That said, you might not know how to play Pokémon Monopoly, and that’s exactly what we’re here to teach you right now. Let’s figure out what this board game is all about.

Photo credit: Meagan (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Monopoly Pokemon: How Is It Different from the Original Monopoly?

OK, so the most important thing that you probably want to know here is if the rules are the same with Pokémon Monopoly and the original Monopoly. The simple answer here is yes, the rules and the gameplay are exactly the same, and this is true whether you’re playing Pokémon, Star Wars, or any other of the hundreds of versions of Monopoly. The basic rules are always the same, with all of them.

Pokemon Monopoly does however have a couple of added bonuses, which we will discuss below.

The real difference between monopoly Pokémon and the original version is the theme. The original version is of course all about owning properties and building hotels. On the other hand, Pokémon Monopoly has a Pokémon theme, where everything is related to Pokémon.

Take a look below for a detailed list of exactly what is different with Pokemon Monopoly when compared to the original:

• There are some new rules in Pokemon Monopoly, particularly when it comes to rolling the dice. For instance, if you roll 2 x ones, you can move to any space on the board. If you roll double twos, you get $200 from the bank. If you roll double threes, you get $50 from each player. With double fours, you get to draw a chance card. If you roll double fives, you get a community chest card. If you roll double sixes, you can pick any property that an opponent owns, and then roll the die for it (the higher roll wins the property).
• The game pieces that players play with are replaced with Pokémon characters.
• Instead of regular money/dollars, so-called Poke Money is used.
• Professor Oak cards replace chance cards, and Trainer Battle Cards replace community chest cards.
• Instead of properties, you buy Pokémon, and instead of houses and hotels, Poke Marts and Poke Centers are used.
• The four railroads are replaced with four Poke Balls.

Monopoly Pokémon Kanto vs. Johto: What Are the Differences?

OK, so if you aren’t familiar with Pokémon, what you need to know is that the original Pokémon games featured different regions. One of these regions is the Kanto region and the other is the Johto region. For those of you who don’t know, these are actually both real regions in Japan, the country where the Pokémon game originates from.

The only real differences between both of these versions of Pokémon Monopoly is in terms of the aesthetics. Everything looks a bit different and you get different Pokémon as well. Other than that, the rules are the same.

How to Play Pokémon Monopoly

What we want to do right now is to provide you with a basic explanation of how to play Pokémon Monopoly. Here, we will provide you with the rules and facts about basic gameplay.

Objective

The aim of the game here is quite simple: to buy the most Pokémon and properties in order to become the richest player in the game. It’s all about buying, renting and selling property with the aim of being the last person standing. If you are the last person left with money, then you are the winner.

Game Setup

In order to start playing Pokémon Monopoly, the game must first be set up appropriately:

• Keep in mind that the game comes complete with six tokens, which means that it can be played by up to six people. One player is designated as the bank.
• The game board is laid out, with the Chance and Community Chest cards being placed on their respective areas.
• Each player chooses one of the tokens, the Pokémon characters, to play with, and each player is provided with $1,500 in the beginning of the game, divided into various denominations of bills.

Rules and Basic Gameplay

Now that you know what the goal of the game is and how to set it up, let’s go over some of the gameplay aspects and basic rules:

• Players roll the dice to see who gets the highest number, which determines the order of play.
• Character tokens are placed on the “GO” space.
• Two dice are thrown, and the player moves along the spaces accordingly.
• If you land on an unowned property, you may buy it for the listed price, and if you do not wish to buy it, the property is sold at auction by the bank. If you buy all properties that create a matching color set, you can then begin to build Poke Marts and then Poke Centers, which provide you with increased rent when opponents land on them.
• On the other hand, if you land on a space already owned by another person, you must pay rent to them accordingly.
• Each time you pass GO, you get $200.
• If you land on the Chance or Community Chest spaces, you must pick up the corresponding card and follow the instructions.
• If you land on the Go to Jail spot, or get a Go to Jail Card, you must go directly to jail, and in the event that you pass GO, you cannot collect the $200. To get out of jail, you must roll a double, use a Get out of Jail card, or pay a $50 fine.
• The last player to have money is the winner.

Summary

There you have it people, everything you need to know about playing Pokémon Monopoly. It’s a great game to play, especially for kids.