Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains Review

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Monopoly is a classic game that has been around for a long time, and it has seen many variations. This version is the Monopoly we all know and love, but with a fun twist designed to appeal to Star Wars fans.

Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains immerses players in 2v2 or 3v3 combat on a board. The main objective of the game is to gain influence to defeat the opposing team. Players are divided into teams of heroes and villains, in accordance with Star Wars lore. The characters represent various eras of the franchise and include figures beyond just the live-action movies.

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From iconic characters like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker to Rey and Kylo Ren, the game also features lesser-known names such as Cad Bane and Bo-Katan. With a total of twenty-eight characters available across both teams, players have numerous choices, although some characters are locked initially. Additional heroes, dice, and ships can be unlocked through gameplay.

Each character possesses a unique ability that can significantly influence the game. Some characters offer discounts on property purchases, making acquisitions quicker and more affordable, thereby allowing their influence to spread more rapidly across the board. Others have the power to send opposing players to jail, compelling them to roll the dice or pay a fee to escape. These abilities all play a crucial role in developing strategies for winning the game.

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The game board has undergone some changes to align with the new theme. Each property now represents a destination within the empire. Additionally, railways have been transformed into warp gates that allow players to move around the board. The chance cards have also been redesigned to fit the theme.

Two new areas have been added: Canto Bight for gambling and the Cantina for hiring mercenaries. In Canto Bight, players can place bets on the dice to win or lose money. Meanwhile, the Cantina enables players to hire mercenaries who can influence other players and their cash reserves.

The game includes an effective tutorial section that guides players through its various rules and possible outcomes. It introduces several elements that set it apart from traditional Monopoly. One notable difference is that certain events trigger when players pass Go; these events can significantly impact the game, potentially determining the winner. Often, these events involve a dice roll accompanied by a video, which might feature epic moments, such as Rey battling the emperor.

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Another key distinction is that when a player lands on an owned property, they can purchase influence over that property for a specific cost. This cost varies by property tier, determining how much a player must pay to reacquire it from the opposing team.

Landing on an occupied tile will initiate a battle, which is determined by dice rolls. The defender will roll three dice, and the total will be added together. The attacker then rolls their dice; they can either roll them or attempt to toss them at the opponent’s dice in hopes of altering the result. Sometimes this strategy works well, but other times it may fail dramatically.

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Players can view both the map and the balance of power at any time. The balance of power shows the characters’ locations on the map, while the map itself indicates who holds more influence and which properties they control across the board. Additionally, the balance of power shows the number of wins each player has accumulated in Go Events.

The AI in the game is impressive, making it feel like I was playing with a sibling, minus the typical bickering. The AI characters are skilled and play to win, regardless of the chosen difficulty level. The main difference lies in how aggressively they pursue that goal and how they utilise their abilities. It was fascinating to observe their performance across various difficulty levels.

The game can be enjoyed solo or with others, and you can use either a single controller or multiple controllers to enhance the couch co-op experience. Although I didn’t have a chance to try the online component, as I received the game before its release, it should be a fantastic addition to family or friends’ game nights, with gameplay lasting up to around an hour and a half.

(Review code provided to Explosion Network.
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