I wasn’t expecting this when I was told I would be covering a classic board game, especially since we were told it was for adults, and it was Monopoly with a twist. I couldn’t resist, but Monopoly: Board Crawl is one of the wildest twists on a classic I’ve seen in a long time.

Hasbro, the absolute legends behind every good classic board game we all grew up with, has decided that the rulebook is not needed, threw it out the window, and created this party makeover of an iconic classic.

These games are known for being family-friendly fun, so seeing them dip more into the adult party-game lane feels both unexpected and let’s be honest, bloody brilliant. Instead of counting cash, you’re counting sips, stealing properties with dares and racing your mates around the board, which turns into a hilarious night. It’s chaotic, clever and exactly the kind of game that shakes up the game nights.

It’s always fun cracking open Monopoly, and this is no exception. When you crack it open, it screams, Let’s party. The box itself screams the modern classic Hasbro glossy finish, bold colours, and a fun nightlife vibe that already tells you shit is about to go down inside.

hen you pull the top of the box off, you are greeted with the classic board game, but with a twist; they’ve swapped the classic real-estate layout to bars, rooftops, pregame spots, and everything in between, which are all printed in vibrant neon-style colours that feel like something straight from a nightclub.

The cards keep the same energy, with a slick, matte finish, crisp icons, and cheeky descriptions that will bring out a giggle. The player tokens have always had a bit of a change up we’re not all racing for the race car, top hat, or the dog, but these are a little bit more party themed with things like a rooster, camera, smiley face, rubber duck, and I’m well aware it’s a cowboy hat, but we’re gonna say an Akubra.

You still get the standard white dice, but this time they have gold pips instead of the standard black ones. I was surprised by the sleek, little package we got; it’s bright, unique, and built to survive a rowdy night of gaming with your best mates.

The game sets out to serve its purpose: a night of chaotic party fun. It doesn’t need power, batteries, or any fancy tech. Hasbro have followed the old saying K.I.S.S., “Keep It Simple Stupid”, which I was all for because nights like these can’t be recreated, and you don’t need tech to help you create those memories.

The board is easy to follow, the cards explain themselves instantly, and there is a rule card if you want to read it, but let’s be serious, who does?

The game performs well because every feature pushes players into constant interaction: buying properties, paying rent, and stealing deeds through dares, then looping back to GO to reset the madness for another pass. The entire game is centred around one simple goal: drinking. You need to collect as many title deeds as you can, paying for everything in sips instead of cash as you pick up properties.

The dares and challenges keep the energy high, especially when you land on someone else’s property, which forces you to take the listed amount of sips or attempt a ridiculous challenge to try and steal the deed. And the “sips as currency” makes for an interesting night if you’re on the adult juice.

If there is something I can fault, it is that the more you drink, the harder it becomes to count, but hey, that’s why we’re born with ten fingers. The chance cards dial up the game by throwing in unpredictable dares and cringeworthy truths, and if you want to skip, well, bottoms up, loser.

The game does keep things short and sweet if you want, with it taking around 30 minutes, which, if you are drinking, can be a lifetime. You can play the game from anywhere with 2 to 10 players, and remember to drink responsibly.

Monopoly: Board Crawl is one of those games that completely blindsides you in the best possible way. I genuinely wasn’t expecting much when I heard I’d be covering a Monopoly spin–off, but Hasbro have gone and delivered one of the most chaotic, clever, and refreshing twists the series has seen in years. It embraces everything we love about the classic whilst throwing us headfirst into a neon-soaked night of dares, sips, and absolute mayhem with mates.

The game comes in at a $29.98 retail price, which is a killer pick-up for the Christmas season. Whether you want to spice up those big family dinners and flip the table on those traditional Christmas dinners, or hunt for a hilarious gift, Hasbro has you sorted.

Written by: Hayden Nelson