Spongebob Squarepants Monopoly
by Amanda Nettgen
(USA)

Game:
SpongeBob SquarePants Monopoly
Download from:
GameHouse (FULL FREE VERSION when you open a trial Fun Ticket account!)
Rating:
4/5
Quick verdict
Fans of the show SpongeBob SquarePants will have a swimmingly good time playing this version of Monopoly. It offers four unique ways to play, with the fundamentals of Monopoly intact for each one.
What's it about?
SpongeBob’s eyes will follow your mouse cursor as you make a selection on the bright and bubbly menu screen.
Contenders can masquerade as Sandy, Patrick, Squidward and of course, SpongeBob. After that, you’ll need to pick from which of the four versions you want to play under: SpongeBob Rules, Monopoly Rules, Squidward Rules or Plankton Rules. I hope you’re wearing your scuba gear, as all boards lie at the bottom of the sea, complete with jellyfish and other marine terrain.
With SpongeBob rules, you’ll get a SpongeBob-themed Monopoly board, but play mini-games at important moments (ex. for passing GO or being sent to jail). No matter the pawn you chose, you’ll see a cute portrait of you character in the mini Monopoly board in the top right.
This miniature board is your quick glance resource to see who owns which properties (yours are highlighted), if anything’s up for mortgage and where your next move will land you. Money stats are constantly compared for each player and a scrolling game history is recorded regularly. There is a timer and last dice rolled display as well.
On your turn, you not only have to hit Roll Dice, but click on a purple clam to release your dice, which is kind of annoying. Your paper doll look-alike in Spongebob Squarepants Monopoly will obey whatever the giant dice read, presenting you with the opportunity to purchase properties if you submarine to them like in regular Monopoly.You’ll play a mini-game where you mash the A button on your keyboard frantically, attempting to lower the cost of the sell. Bought locales sport your character’s personal sold sign throughout the game. If you land on someone else’s property, you play another fastest finger mini-game with clams to lower how much rent you have to pay.
Squidward Rules and Plankton Rules aren’t much different; you still play all the same mini-games, just with Squidward you have the option to move your token OR your opponent’s on your turn (perfect for escorting rivals to a hotel or the luxury tax space) and Plankton is more of a timed game.
In any game, Life Preservers replace Chance cards and Treasure Chest swaps for Community Chest.
Monopoly Rules is the Spongebob Squarepants Monopoly board with no mini-games. You can decide on House Rules for any version, which is nice.
If you run out of money during the game, the computer does automatic mortgaging for you.
Other computer and video board games you might enjoy!
Battleship Fleet Command game (PC)
Blokus World Tour (PC)
Carcassonne board game (XBox 360)
Cafe Mahjongg (PC)
Clue Classic (PC and Mac)
Family Feud (PC game)
The Game of Life (PC)
The Game of Life, Yahtzee and Payday video game (GameBoy Advance)
The Game of Life: Path to Success (PC)
Hasbro Family Game Night (XBox 360 and Wii)
Hasbro Game of Life
Mahjongg XP Championship (PC)
Monopoly (PC game)
Monopoly 3 (PC)
XBox 360 Monopoly game
Risk board game (download for PC)
Risk 2 computer game (PC)
Scrabble (download for PC)
Scrabble Blast! (PC)
Scrabble Journey (PC)
Settlers of Catan (XBox 360)
Skip Bo Castaway Caper (PC)
Spongebob Atlantis Square Off
Spongebob Squarepants Monopoly (PC)
Ticket to Ride game (XBox 360)
Trivial Pursuit Silver Screen edition (PC)
Uno Undercover (PC)
Uno video game (XBox 360)
Wheel of Fortune (download for PC)
Yahtzee (download for PC)
Yahtzee Texas Holdem (PC)
Computer board games HQ
Pros and cons
Spongebob Squarepants Monopoly is an entertaining version of the Monopoly game. It’s great for teaching kids mathematical and strategic skills, as they’ll be lured in by the fun of SpongeBob.
Spongebob Squarepants Monopoly has fairly good graphics and a ton of available statistics (not just most games won, but most cash in hand, number of turns in jail, cumulative rent paid, etc.).
There are not too many cons to Spongebob Squarepants Monopoly, except of course that you should probably have a modest knowledge/affection for the guy who lives in a pineapple under the sea (unless you’re a kid, then it doesn’t matter). Some events in the game can be needlessly slow, like walking to jail when serving time.
The verdict
SpongeBob addicts will love Spongebob Squarepants Monopoly, but Monopoly purists who aren’t familiar with the show may not. It’s a good fit for most children, regardless if they know where Bikini Bottom is or not (hint: it’s not in your summer drawer).

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