Hasbro has released Nintendo-themed versions of Monopoly in the past including Zelda and Mario-inspired editions but the latest collaboration between Hasbro and Nintendo is a whole new way to play the classic board game. Announced on Wednesday, Hasbro and Nintendo revealed Monopoly Gamer Edition.
According to a press release from Hasbro, Monopoly Gamer Edition “will feel familiar yet fresh to both Monopoly and Nintendo fans.” Like the classic game, players will race around the board, this time completing levels (buying property), collecting coins (money) and battling bosses to acquire points and win the game. Instead of thimbles and race cars, players can choose from Mario, Donkey Kong, Princess Peach and Yoshi.
And in another first for the game, each character token will have its own special power. When a player lands on the Super Star board space, it will activate a power such as Peach’s ability to collect rent from the bank. Players can also activate their power by rolling the Power-up die.
“The MONOPOLY GAMER Edition game combines the world of Nintendo with the physical, face-to-face world of the MONOPOLY game,” said Jonathan Berkowitz, senior vice president of global marketing for Hasbro Gaming. “By giving MONOPOLY tokens unique abilities and adding game-play elements such as the Power-up die, we are offering fans an exciting new way to engage with two of their favorite gaming brands.”
The standard edition of Monopoly Gamer Edition will be available in stores in August for the price of $24.99 but like any video game today, there are add-ons. Players can purchase Monopoly Gamer Power Packs (sold separately) which include character tokens such as Luigi, Boo, Rosalina, Wario, Diddy Kong and more. The Power Packs will also be available in August for $2.99 each. The collector’s edition of the game is available now at GameStop for $39.99.
“The MONOPOLY brand has been a staple in the gaming aisle for more than 80 years, and we’re excited to give Mario, Yoshi and other characters the chance to ‘Pass GO’ and bring their powers to life in MONOPOLY GAMER Edition game,” said Tom Prata, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives. “This collaboration is the latest example of Nintendo’s efforts to give fans a variety of fun and surprising ways to interact with their favorite Super Mario characters.”