Monopoly is an iconic board game that has been around since 1935. Since then, it has been a favorite of family and friends to play together. With the world becoming more fast-paced than ever, Scopely recognized the need for a mobile version of the board game so, they launched Monopoly GO.
At the time of writing this article, Monopoly GO had over 10M downloads only on Android, which is a huge feat. It is also #1 in Family games on iOS with 1.4M ratings of 4.8 stars. Such a positive response brings us to the question – why is Monopoly GO so popular and addictive? Let’s take a deep dive into its quick success.
Why is Monopoly GO so popular?
Here are the major reasons why Monopoly GO is so popular worldwide.
A Household Name
Monopoly was already a brand since it went from publishers of Waddingtons, Parker Brothers, and Hasbro over the years. You knew and heard about it even if you hadn’t played the game.
And so when Monopoly GO was released on Android and iOS and made the game available at your fingertips with a multiplayer feature, it took off almost immediately. Nostalgia (as well as advertising) played a big role in its popularity. Side Note: Even if you don’t know the game’s rules, Monopoly Go walks you through the process via the tutorial.
Monopoly Go is a Well-executed App
While there are other games with Monopoly in the name available online and some clones of the concept, they aren’t done as well as Monopoly Go does. The graphics are stellar, the colors are great, and the game runs smoothly even on slightly older phones/devices. This made the game more accessible to a wide range of players. Scopely has also released Scrabble, and they are no strangers to transitioning board games to mobile versions.
Monopoly Go is a Free Game
It’s a free game (with optional in-app purchases), which means the day 1 audience was huge. You don’t have to spend any money to play the game, and if you like it, you will share your experience with your friends and family, leading to even more word-of-mouth marketing. If you see everyone around you playing the game, FOMO emerges.
It Adds a Fresh Twist to Monopoly
Aside from the familiar elements like jail, taxes, collection of properties, building houses, hotels, and chance cards, Monopoly Go introduces minigames that add a fresh twist to the experience. Also, the game has a multiplayer aspect, but having someone you know to play it isn’t necessary. You can enjoy Monopoly Go single-player because the game is designed to keep you hooked and engaged for a long time.
