Developer: Artech Digital Entertainment, Behaviour Interactive
Publisher: Ubisoft, Hasbro Interactive
Platform: PC, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox Series X/S
Tested on: PS5
Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains – Review
Back in the day, Monopoly, Clue!, Yahtzee, and several others were pretty much the go-to board games for family game nights, and while they are still immensely popular nowadays, we feel that there are way more options available. Monopoly has always tried to somewhat reinvent itself by releasing themed versions, as well as versions with slightly different rulesets. While we personally have a few themed versions of the classic property management game at home, we often weren’t fully convinced by the editions that came with different rules. Even though iterations like Monopoly Fortnite were amusing, we often only played them for a few sessions before they eventually got shelved. Now comes a digital spin-off in the form of Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains, where teamwork is key, and intense duels lurk around each corner. While we initially had our reservations, we ended up really enjoying this one.
Story
Even though Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains doesn’t really have a story, the game does treat you to a lot of Star Wars scenes when triggering events on the board. After a few sessions, we were still uncovering new scenes, which proved to be a lot of fun. So, while you’re not playing through a narrative-driven campaign here, Star Wars fans will surely love the many references to the movies and series. If you’re not a fan of these scenes, you can simply skip them.
Graphics
Graphically, Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains looks rather ‘cool’. The original Monopoly aesthetic is still very much present in the board itself, but the cartoon-like Star Wars influences really add a lot of charm. The source material is clearly respected here, and we were amazed by the many different cutscenes that were incorporated into the gameplay. The board also received ample Star Wars touches, ranging from the different planet names, the variety of events, and even the characters themselves. We loved seeing the different abilities being triggered, and even though clashes were resolved by simply throwing dice, these looked rather impressive as well. All in all, the design team for this Star Wars rendition of Monopoly did a great job.
Sound
Many Star Wars games have very cinematic soundtracks and overall good sound design. This is also the case for Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains, which provides players with the ideal background music, as well as some more intense tunes during hectic cutscenes. The SFX also provide realistic audio feedback when it comes to the regular board game sound effects, but fans will also spot quite a few authentic sounds from the movies.
Gameplay
If you’re thinking Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains will play the same as a regular game of Monopoly, albeit with a Star Wars theme, you’ll be mistaken. While this Star Wars version is still a board game, the rules are very different. For starters, you’ll be playing in teams (2v2 or 3v3), and it’s not only about owning the most properties and bringing home the bacon; it’s actually all about influence for either the heroes or the villains. Of course, influence is still earned by owning properties, but the opposing team can take over your properties if they have enough credits to spend. In essence, the gameplay sometimes boils down to more of a tug-of-war rather than focusing on smart investments, especially with the newly added combat component and the ‘GO events’.
Unlike regular Monopoly games that can go on almost forever, Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains is a lot faster-paced and has a lot more action. Matches will take up to 8 GO events. This means that when a player passes GO, a GO event is triggered, and from that point onwards, the counter will go down. These events often provide benefits for the player’s faction that passes GO. For example, you can destroy, take over, or downgrade properties, and so on. If you’re looking to play really short matches, you can reduce the number of GO events needed to complete a match.
As this is a team-based game, you might worry about finding enough players to actually start the game. Luckily, you can either opt for online play or have AI fill in empty slots when playing locally. AI-controlled players actually play reasonably well, but you cannot give them instructions or tell them what not to do. A team also needs to be from the same faction to form a team, so heroes can never mingle with villains. For local play, you only need one controller to play the game, which is also a nice touch.
The game never gets overly complex, as all events in-game (including combat) are resolved by throwing dice. The only real strategic component comes in the form of character abilities, which can be passive or active. For example, some characters can force the opposing faction to initiate combat, hoping to steal some cash, while others can buy additional dice for movement or to be used in combat. Thinking about team composition can do a lot when taking on the enemy faction. Teams also do not go bankrupt when their credits are depleted. In fact, the game even allows your balance to go negative.
Conclusion
Monopoly: Star Wars Heroes vs. Villains is an interesting Monopoly spin-off that offers fast-paced matches, a lot of respect for the source material, and a great way to properly play this variation of the classic board game in a team format. We absolutely loved the different team composition options, the nifty visuals, and the supporting soundtrack. If you’re a fan of Star Wars and board games, this one is definitely worth checking out. If you’re looking for something that plays more like the classic Monopoly experience, we advise you to check out some gameplay first.
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