Product Review: Monopoly, Spider-Man Edition

If you are a Spider-Man fan, you can do no wrong with buying Parker Brothers' Monopoly the Spider-Man Edition.

How is Monopoly Spider-Man Edition different from Monopoly Classic?

The rules are the same: Buy, rent and sell properties with the goal to become the wealthiest player. Or, as Parker Brothers say on the back of the box: The fate of the city is in your hands!

What is different in Monopoly Spider-Man Edition?

The gameboard spaces and the Deed Cards feature locations you know from the Spider-Man movies, such as the Osborn Penthouse or Aunt May's House. Pictures of all three Spider-Man movies are used evenly across the gameboard. Instead of the 4 railroad spaces you know from the Classic Edition, the Spider-Man Edition uses "Action Gear" - Doc Ock's Arms, New Goblin's Sky Stick, The Green Goblin's Glider, and Spider-Man's Web Slingers.

The money you play with has a Spider-Man theme, too. The highest note is $500 and the lowest $1. The six collectible Spider-Man-themed tokens - Spider-Man in three different poses, Goblin 2, Venom and Sandman - make playing even more fun.

Also, you'll use Apartments and Skyscrapers, instead of Houses and Hotels.

How long is the average Monopoly Spider-Man game?

That depends largely on the number of players. The Monopoly Spider-Man Edition is for 2 to 6 players, for ages 8 and up. A 3-player game is approximately three hours long, but I have once played a five hour game, too. However, inside the official rules booklet you can find optional rules for a much shorter game.

Best features of the Monopoly Spider-Man Edition:

Instead of the Community Chest cards, you'll use red-suited Spider-Man cards. The cards feature messages such as "You receive the Key to the City, collect $200" or "You saved the police chief's daughter. Collect $150 and his sincere thanks."

Instead of the classic Chance Cards, you'll use black-suited Spider-Man cards, with messages such as "Make general repairs on all your battle-damaged property."

What I liked and didn't like playing Monopoly Spider-Man Edition:

The game tends to be too long, especially for younger children. But applying the rules for a shorter game works really well. The shorter game rules reduce the playtime to around 1 hour for a 3-player game.

Also, instead of the 6 different Spider-Man-themed tokens, I found only 5 different tokens in the box, with one being included twice.

I've played the Monopoly Spider-Man Edition at least a dozen times. While it is not essential to have watched any Spider-Man movies to understand the game, it makes for more fun if you recognize phrases and locations on the board. In short, Monopoly Spider-Man Edition is great for the whole family.