In 2025, the iconic board game Monopoly turns the grand old age of 90. Over the past 90 years, many board games have come and gone, but nothing has thrived in the same way Monopoly is, and I want to look into some of the way Monopoly has remained relevant, despite being around for so long.
1. Endless Themed Editions
When I was a kid in the 1980s and 1990s, I remember there being two versions of Monopoly: the generic one that I played with my family, and the kids version that I played with friends. Fast forward to 2025, and there are so many different versions, it can be difficult to keep up.
Over the years, Monopoly has released versions based on towns and cities, movie such as Star Wars, video games such as Animal Crossing, and even football teams, so it doesn’t matter what interests you have, there is a pretty good chance that you will find a version of Monopoly that suits you.
This helps Monopoly to attract new audiences, even when their previous ones “age out” so-to-speak.
Leveraging fandoms and the love for nostalgia is a great way for Monopoly to continue driving sales of their popular game.
2. Pop Culture & Social Media Presence
Not only does Hasbro lean into pop culture with relevant pop culture-related versions of the game, Monopoly holds itself highly, as a cultural icon. People love to share memes about family fights over the game, the infamous “Free Parking” rule debate, and wild house rule variations. Hasbro leans into this by engaging with audiences online and creating buzz across various social media platforms.
3. New Gameplay Variations
We’re all very aware about how much times are constantly evolving, especially around the way we use and consume money. Cash is used less often, and we’ve transitioned through various other methods of payment. Monopoly reacted to this by releasing versions of the game that do not use cash.
Not only that, but the way we consume pretty much everything in our lives has also changed immensely, and as such our attention spans have changed with it.
Monopoly has clearly paid a lot of attention to changing trends by introducing spin-offs that follow those modern changes, including:
- Monopoly Deal (a fast-paced card game version)
- Monopoly Live (a virtual hybrid, generally found on gambling websites)
- Monopoly Speed (a 10-minute version for people who hate how long the original takes)
This keeps Monopoly relevant to different kinds of players, from casual gamers to hardcore collectors.
4. Digital & Mobile Adaptations
Technology has changed immensely since Monopoly first hit shelves. Unlike many other board-based games, that have failed to keep up with the changes, Monopoly has managed to adapt itself to fit with tech, including the creation of mobile, console and even VR versions.
Now, not only can you play amongst your closest friends and family members, you can also play with friends (perhaps ones you don’t even know) in multiplayer modes across the internet. The mobile app also has daily challenges, micro-transactions, and online tournaments, adapting to modern gaming trends.
Adapting to ongoing changes help the brand to stay relevant in a very tech-driven world, that has seen many once popular businesses disappear, because they were unable to keep up.
5. Limited & Luxury Editions
One of the smartest things that – I feel – Monopoly does to stay relevant, is it taps into both nostalgia and exclusivity with high-end releases, such as:
- Monopoly for Millennials (which humorously mocks the struggles of young adults, by replacing Mr. Monopoly with an actual Millenial)
- Gold-Plated & Collectors’ Editions (which adds another depth for collectors of the original game)
- Bespoke City Editions (which bring local pride into the mix, many towns and cities have had a version made at some point over the past few years)
Luxury editions appeal to status-conscious collectors.
6. Clever Marketing & Event Partnerships
These days, people don’t want to play a game at home, they want to experience something; this has been proven by the rise of Escape Rooms, alongside both TaskMaster and Crystal Maze-based Experiences. This has led to the creation of Monopoly-themed escape rooms and even city-wide real-life Monopoly games, which help to keep the game firmly at the forefront of experience games.
7. The Infamous Monopoly Arguments
Love it or hate it, Monopoly sparks strong opinions. The fact that it causes family feuds, debates over the rules, and arguments about unfair deals only makes it more of a conversation starter. This controversy keeps it relevant, generation after generation.
I – like so many other people – grew up playing Monopoly. My older brother was awful to play against, because he played to win and he was absolutely ruthless. I, on the other hand, never really understood how to properly play the game and basically just winged it for my entire childhood, and resolved to permanently lose (unless I cheated, which I most definitely never did…!!)
Whether you love or loathe the game, Monopoly isn’t just a board game – it’s a masterclass in building brand longevity. By constantly evolving with popular culture, technology changes, and consumer trends, Hasbro has guaranteed Monopoly’s position as a classic game in homes across the world. And, of course, a guarantee cause of family squabbles for generations to come.