The Force is strong with this one….my dice rolls, however, were not.
Monopoly: Star Wars – Heroes vs. Villains takes the classic board game we all know and gives it a fresh Star Wars twist. This isn’t just Monopoly with a different coat of paint either – Ubisoft and Behaviour Interactive have added plenty of new mechanics that make it feel like a completely different experience while still keeping that familiar Monopoly formula.
The biggest change is the focus on teamwork. Rather than everyone playing for themselves, you’ll play in teams, with the team that earns the most Influence Points taking the win. Every decision you make affects not only your own progress but your teammates’ as well, so communication and strategy become just as important as a lucky dice roll. You’ll still be rolling the dice to move around the board, but now you’re also earning Credits, claiming locations and taking part in battles. If a Hero and a Villain cross paths, they’ll battle it out in some fun cinematic cutscenes that help bring the game to life. Passing GO has also been reimagined. Instead of simply collecting money, you’ll complete themed challenges to earn extra Influence Points for your team, and if you earn enough, those points could be what secures the victory. Another welcome change is that bankruptcy no longer knocks you out of the game, meaning everyone stays involved until the very end. Trading locations has also been removed, which keeps the focus firmly on teamwork rather than negotiating deals.
Claiming locations works differently from traditional Monopoly. Neutral locations can be bought using Credits, while enemy-controlled locations must first have their influence reduced by destroying their upgrades. Once you’ve stripped them back to their lowest tier, your team can claim the location and steal those valuable Influence Points. Meanwhile, upgrading your own locations with outposts and bases strengthens your team’s control, and if you or a teammate lands on one of your own locations you’ll receive a Credit resupply. Opponents, of course, will still have to pay rent.
Movement is another area that feels much more dynamic. Instead of sliding a token around the board, your chosen character actually runs between spaces, and you can even jump into hyperspace to get around the board more quickly and gain a tactical advantage. The centre of the board also changes throughout the match depending on what’s happening in the game, which is a really nice visual touch.
Every character also has their own unique abilities. Passive abilities are always active unless you’ve been frozen in carbonite, while Active Abilities can be used at the end of your turn to influence movement, combat, sending opponents to jail and much more. Choosing characters whose abilities complement each other adds another layer of strategy that isn’t found in traditional Monopoly.
An all-star ensemble of playable characters too, including Yoda, Mace Windu, Chewbacca, Darth Maul, Count Dooku, General Grievous and plenty more, so there’s a good chance your favourite Star Wars character is included.
The Star Wars theme has been woven into almost every part of the game. Landing in Jail means your character is frozen in carbonite. You can still escape the traditional way by rolling doubles or using a Get Out of Jail Free card, but teammates can also rescue you by bailing you out through the Cantina or simply by visiting you.
The locations are another highlight, taking you to iconic planets including Mustafar, Endor, Tatooine and many more. You can even visit Canto Bight to try your luck gambling for extra Credits if you’re feeling brave.
Presentation is one of the game’s strongest features. C-3PO narrates the experience, explaining mechanics, guiding you through tutorials and regularly making witty comments that reference the Star Wars films. As a fan, I found this added a lot of charm. The soundtrack is equally impressive, changing from calmer themes to more intense music depending on what’s happening during the game, while the many animated cutscenes make battles and special events feel much more exciting.The game also supports full cross-play, making it easier to find online matches regardless of platform. You can join public games, create private matches with room codes or simply play offline with friends and family. The addition of 2v2 and 3v3 game modes works really well and, thanks to each character’s unique abilities, there’s plenty of strategy when deciding who should be on your team. As you continue playing, you’ll unlock new dice to customise your experience, giving you another reason to keep coming back. My only real criticism is the tutorials. They’re incredibly thorough, which is great for newcomers, but if you’ve played Monopoly before they can feel a little too long before the game finally lets you get started.
Monopoly: Star Wars – Heroes vs. Villains is a surprisingly fresh take on Monopoly. The team-based gameplay, character abilities and cinematic battles make it feel very different from the classic board game, while the Star Wars presentation, music and C-3PO’s narration do a fantastic job of capturing the atmosphere of the films. The tutorials can drag a little, but once you’re through them there’s a fun, strategic multiplayer game that’s well worth playing, especially if you’re a Star Wars fan or looking for a new way to enjoy Monopoly with friends and family.
Thank you to Ubisoft UK for the PlayStation 5 Review Code. The Review is also listed on OpenCritic.
