How to Play Monopoly Empire

Co-authored by Our Family Plays Games

Last Updated: June 20, 2024

Monopoly Empire is an interesting spin on traditional Monopoly that requires players to obtain brand billboards for their towers to win the game. The object of the game is to be the first player to fill up your tower with billboards. Player buy billboards when they land on a corresponding space and bid on billboards that other players do not want. Players may also perform a sneaky swap if they roll the handshake icon. Learn how to play Monopoly Empire and play a game with friends and family soon.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Setting Up the Game

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1
Shuffle the cards and place them on the board. Shuffle the deck of Chance cards and the deck of Empire cards and place them in their designated spots on the board. The Chance cards are similar to the Chance cards used in regular Monopoly. The Empire cards are similar to the Community Chest cards in Monopoly, which often give you advantages that may help you win the game. ^{[1]
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- You will get two Empire cards at the beginning of the game.
- A complete game set will include:
  - 1 Monopoly Empire board
  - 4 Towers
  - 6 game tokens
  - 30 Billboard tiles
  - 6 Office tiles
  - 14 Chance cards
  - 14 Empire cards
  - Monopoly money
  - 2 dice
The brand billboard tiles have specific places all around the game board. Look for these spaces and match the billboard tile to the billboard space. For example, the Coca-Cola billboard tile should go on the Coca-Cola billboard space. You will be competing against your fellow players to obtain these tiles and fill up your tower first. ^{[2]
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The Water Works and Electric Company tiles have a specific spaces on the board where you should place those tiles until someone purchases them. There is one space for all four of the Water Works tiles and one space for all four of the Electric Company tiles. ^{[3]
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The only tiles that you do not place on the board are the six office tiles. Leave these tiles off of the board along with the dice. You can put them off to the side or have someone be in charge of them. ^{[4]
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5
Choose a player to be the banker. The banker is in charge of handling transactions, managing auctions, giving players money when they pass “GO,” and collecting fees and fines. Make sure that the person you choose to be the banker is willing and able to perform all of these tasks. ^{[5]
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- Have the banker give everyone $1000 to start the game (one $500, four $100s, and two $50s).
Everyone starts the game with two Empire cards. Look at them, but don’t share them with your fellow players. Wait until your turn to use them. Each player will also need a tower. The object of the game is to be the first one to fill up your tower with billboards. ^{[6]
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Once everything else is set up, you can have players choose their game tokens and place them on the board. The game tokens in Monopoly Empire include a game controller, racecar, coke bottle, film slate, motorcycle, and French fries. ^{[7]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Playing the Game

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1
Understand the object of the game. In Monopoly Empire, the first player to fill up his or her billboard with brand billboards wins the game. Therefore, you want to buy as many brand billboards as quickly as you can to fill up the spaces in your board. When other players land on billboard spaces that you own, they will have to pay you the amount of money you’re your billboard height reaches on your tower. ^{[8]
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- If a player runs out of money, they do not go bankrupt as in regular Monopoly. That player simply takes the top billboard piece from his or her tower and gives it to the player who requires it. ^{[9]
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Before you start the game, decide who will go first. The official rules for Monopoly Empire state that the youngest player gets to go first. If you prefer, you can also determine who goes first by rolling the dice and seeing who gets the largest number. Follow a clockwise pattern for turns. ^{[10]
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3
Take your turn. When it is your turn to play, you will need to complete a specific set of actions. Perform these actions on every turn in the same order. Your turn will be a little different every time based on the space you land on. During your turn, perform each of the following actions: ^{[11]
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- Roll the dice. Take up to three turns if you roll a double (unless you go to jail for rolling a double three times). For example, if you roll two sixes, then move 12 spaces and perform an action for that space. But then, roll again and move again and perform another action.
- Move your token the number of spaces you rolled. For example, if you roll a 10, then move 10 spaces
- Perform an action for the space you land on. For example, if you land on a billboard tile that is available for purchase, then you can purchase it.
4
Follow the instructions when you draw a Chance or Empire card. Whenever you land on a Chance or Empire card space, you will get to draw one of these cards. In general, you will need to use Chance cards right away, but you can save Empire cards until you want or need to use them. ^{[12]
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- For example, if you get a “Get Out of Jail Free” card, then you can hang onto it until you need it. Please note, there is no limit to the amount of Empire cards that can be played during a turn. For example, if someone plays a "Just Say No" card, the other opponent could also play a "Just Say No" card should they have one in their hand.
If you happen to land on a billboard that you do not want to buy, then that tile will be up for auction. The banker is in charge of managing the auction and the bidding starts at $50. All follow-up bids must be in increments of $50, such as $100, $150, $200, $250, etc. The highest bidder gets the billboard and must pay the amount that he or she bid to the bank. ^{[13]
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6
Use the sneaky swapper option on the dice. If you roll the handshake icon on one of your dice rolls, then you can perform a sneaky swap as one of your turn actions. This means that you can exchange two topmost billboard tower tiles. For example, you can exchange your topmost billboard tile with another player’s topmost billboard tile, or you can swap the tiles of two other players. ^{[14]
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- Using the sneaky swap is optional. If you do not want to use it, just move your piece the number of spaces that that you rolled on the other die. If you do use the sneaky swap, then do not move this turn.
The player who fills his or her tower first wins the game. Keep playing until someone does so. Monopoly Empire takes about 90 minutes to play, but it may take longer for someone to win the game. ^{[15]
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Is there a way or a game mode to play faster?

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Playing Monopoly faster depends on your fellow players. If everyone is eager to speed things up, the game will naturally progress at a quicker pace. Conversely, if you're with individuals who tend to take their time, exhibiting what's commonly known as analysis paralysis, the game may move more slowly. The speed of the game is determined by the collective approach of the players. While playing solo allows for a faster experience, in a group setting, the pace is influenced by the playing style of those involved.

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How much money do you get for passing GO?

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The amount you collect will depend on your tower's current value. The higher your tower (the more billboards you've collected), the more you earn.

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Do I have to go around the whole board first before I start buying billboards?

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No, you do not have to go around the whole board before first buying billboards. You can buy billboards on the first space you land on.

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Try pairing younger players with older players if you have young children who want to play, since this game is meant for players ages 8 and up.

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How to Play Monopoly Empire

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