It’s not a bad way to learn history if you have someone historically inclined to explain what those pictures or photographs mean. While the theme is an odd one, I can appreciate the classic photographs and drawings included on the board. What this version of Monopoly throws at you are WWII themes you have battles like Iwo Jima and iconography like the one accompanying the Home Front space, which uses the famous picture of Rosie the Riveter.

But absent that history, would a property trading game centered upon the greatest conflict within the last century work? Stranger things have happened. A more cynical mind would say that the board game was so dull they had to come up with another use for the game. There’s an intriguing history behind Monopoly and World War II and how it’s used to help Allied POWs escape. Monopoly World War II – We Are All In This Together One of the main features of the game is being able to play as Ralphie’s Bunny Suit or even the kitschy Leg Lamp, both of which are also a part of the properties including the aforementioned (Red Ryder) BB Gun and the frozen flagpole, the object of a Triple Dog Dare which replaces Chance on the board.ģ. In other words, an iconic board game retheme of an iconic Christmas movie. Its a humorous take on Christmas gives this movie staying power, and the staying power is apparently enough for there to be a Monopoly set based on the movie. Like many classic things around the holidays, you get stories like a Christmas Carol, Miracle on 34th Street, and, of course, A Christmas Story, the tale about Ralphie’s Christmas hijinks as he yearns for a Red Ryder BB Gun. Go to jail and get sent to Guantanamo! But the thing that takes the cake? All that Soviet iconography on the box cover! The Affordable Care Act also materializes in the Health Care Surtax along with other things like the Stimulus package and the bank/auto bailout. There’s Iraq and Afghanistan where Mediterranean and Baltic used to be as well. No surprisingly, the properties are also themed according to campaign-related material or things that happened during his presidency. To start things off, Obamanopoly morphs the Chance and Community Chest cards into simply “Hope” and “Change”. This Monopoly variant is a joke pointed directly at our 44th President, Barack Obama, by seizing upon notable events in his political career. If you’re curious about the weird Monopoly variants out there, here’s 5 worth considering: And for this list, we didn’t even have to dig into some of the more offensive versions like Ghettopoly and Redneckopoly.

While it’s not uncommon to see a Monopoly version of a hit franchise like Star Wars or Lord of the Rings, Monopoly’s marketability has resulted in some pretty bizarre re-themes over the years. With that recognizability and iconicness comes opportunities to do countless rethemes. In spite of that, it’s become an iconic part of the board game landscape, one that’s recognized pretty much everywhere it goes. How else does the whole Free Parking myth continue to subsist? It’s also very bad at ending, and that factor alone may have resulted in turning people away from board gaming altogether.

It also functions as many people’s first serious board game and, in the process, functions as what is perhaps the most heavily house-ruled board game out there. Monopoly is the famous property trading game that features property and little trading.

Monopoly history themes