A True Classic

There have been a lot of famous brothers over the years - the Wright brothers are credited with inventing the first airplane - but none have invaded our homes and captured our hearts like the the Parker Brothers. Granted, the company was founded by only one brother, George S. Parker, and he originally called it the George S. Parker Company, but eventually his brother Charles joined him (and later, Edward) and the company took on the familiar name of Parker Bros.

Although the company was originally founded in 1883, they didn't release Monopoly - the title that they are undoubtedly best known for - until 1935. A game about monopolies in the midst of the Great Depression? That's probably the funniest thing I've ever heard.

If you're unfamiliar with Monopoly, than get out of your cave, you crazy Martian. The classic board game is arguably - but not by most - the king of board games, leaving games like Sorry to feel sorry for themselves and Clue, well, it needs to get a clue. This is Monopoly baby, and it's as fantastic as it ever was.

I'll Take the Sack of Cash Gamepiece

I didn't even know that there was a sack of cash. Welcome to the umpteenth iteration of Monopoly, the classic game about taking your friends' money. The idea is simple, get as much cash as you can while driving your friends to poverty. I know it sounds rather harsh, but this game rose to fame as one of the best board games for families to all huddle around. It teaches kids the golden rule of economy: if you really want to be successful, own everything.

The rules of the game couldn't be simpler: roll the dice and move your piece accordingly. If you land on a piece of real estate, you have the option of buying it and charging your opponents rent every time they land on it. If someone else already owns it, however, it will be your responsibility to pony up the dough.

There are certain special places around the board, like chance and community chest spaces, which will make you pick a card. That card could contain a cash reward (fake money, of course) or something equally spectacular, or it could cost you money or throw you in jail.

This Digital Age

Oh, computers; what don't you improve? When you first fire this product up and come across the familiar game board, you'll also see a nice display to the right of the screen. This will tell you how much money you have, what properties you own, and whether you have any special tokens like a Get Out of Jail Free card.

To roll the dice, simply click "roll dice" and you're on your way.

It's Monopoly

Fans of the original will find that this is a near-perfect rendition of the beloved classic. All of the core gameplay remains unchanged, but the presentation is ramped up a few notches to make for a gorgeous looking game. This is one of the best ways to enjoy Monopoly, hands down.