Summary
Fans of theHarry Potterfranchise who also enjoy board games can now combine their two interests with the newMonopoly: Harry Potter Edition. The board game, which takes on the settings of Hogwarts Castle and the village of Hogsmeade from theHarry Potterbooks and movies, is currently available on Amazon.
There are already plenty ofboard games for Hogwarts fans, from games about defending and exploring the castle to ones about tracking down and capturing fantastic beasts. However, this is the first time thatHarry Potterhas struck up an official collaboration with the iconic board gameMonopoly
Produced by Hasbro, the new board game’s arrival was announced in a press release on May 30, the same day it became available on Amazon, although it is expected to hit major retail stores on August 1. Up to six players can assume the role of students at theHarry Potterfranchise’s premier wizarding school, with a goal of collecting the most house points. Much like other versions ofMonopoly, players will move around the board and explore various locations from theHarry Potterfranchise, collecting house points from each other as they go and adding house crests when they have collected all the locations matching a color-coded set. Chance and Community Chest cards have been replaced with the Owl Post, and the description from Amazon and the game’s packaging suggest that red Howler cards may play a pivotal role in these decks, with the ability to jinx players.
Harry Potter Changes the Classic Monopoly Formula
While plenty of thebest versions ofMonopolyshake up the original classic formula, there are plenty ofMonopolyIP crossovers that follow the original game to a T, simply adding on a different aesthetic.Monopoly: Harry Potter Editionseems to walk the line between these two, respecting the classic formula but adding in a few twists. Players are sorted into different Hogwarts houses at the start of the game, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, while the house points are a stand-in for the game’s usual money, the goal of the game has stepped away from trying to force all other players into bankruptcy, instead awarding the win to the player who has collected the most house points once the final location in the game has been investigated.
While it’s certainly not thestrangest version ofMonopolyever to be released, the subtle differences from the base game could provide a fun escape from the regularMonopolyrules.Monopoly: Harry Potter Editionis intended for ages 8 and up and is currently available exclusively on Amazon, where it’s being sold for $39.99.
Harry Potter
When Harry Potter learns that he is a wizard, he enters a world beyond belief. Aside from continuing his studies at Hogwarts with best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, Harry must also face Voldemort and his dark wizarding forces. The Harry Potter franchise is a worldwide phenomenon, spanning seven books, eight movies, three spinoff movies, a stage play, and numerous video games.
