How Many People Can Play Monopoly?

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Monopoly is a fun game that can be played with virtually any number of players. However, if you have too many or too few players, you may run into difficulties.

If you’re playing alone or with a pair, or you’ve got a large group of players, you need to choose the right game of Monopoly for you.

However, there are also some tweaks to the rules that you may wish to make if you want to play with more or fewer players than is specified on the box.

six player Monopoly

In this guide, I’ll explain your options for different numbers of Monopoly players for different versions of the game.

Ways of playing Monopoly for different numbers of players:

  • 1 player – Play video game versions against AI, or use special rules
  • 2 players – Play traditional Monopoly but add special rules to reduce game time
  • 3-6 players – Play most versions of Monopoly as per the normal rules
  • 7-8 players – You may need to add your own tokens. Games can be slower
  • 9+ players – Play in teams

How many players can play Monopoly?

Classic Monopoly is designed to be played by two to eight people. Some modern Monopoly sets only come with enough tokens for four or six people, but if you want to play with seven or eight players, you can add your own tokens.

The best number of players for Monopoly

The optimal number of players for a Monopoly game is four. Official Monopoly tournaments usually have four players in each game.

Monopoly with three or five players is also fun to play, but with any more or less than that, you may run into difficulties.

four player Monopoly

Can more than eight people play Monopoly?

The maximum number of players in Monopoly is eight. It is possible to play Monopoly with nine of ten players. However, this would involve a lot of trades, the game would take a long time to play, and it wouldn’t be as fun.

If you want to play Monopoly with more than six people, one of the best Monopoly games for large groups is Monopoly Mega Edition.

This Monopoly set has a game board that’s 50% larger than normal with nine additional properties to buy. As well as houses and hotels, you can also build skyscrapers. Extra features like the Speed Die and Bus Tickets make for a fast-paced game that takes under 90 minutes.

While Monopoly Mega Edition is made for 2 to 8 players, it would be possible to add a couple of extra tokens so that more people can play.

Can you play Monopoly with two players?

You can play Monopoly with two players, but it’s not usually as fun as playing with three or more players because trading is very rare. The game can drag on once it becomes obvious who is going to win.

If you’re not careful, a two-player Monopoly game can leave you both with wads of cash. If you add in custom rules like Free Parking Cash, then you may find that both players’ money grows and grows so that nobody can win.

Here are some tips to make two-player Monopoly games more fun:

  1. Quit early – Once one person is destined to win, finish the game early rather than continuing until you’re both very bored
  2. Reduce the cash – Starting with $1,000 instead of $1,500 can speed up a two-player game
  3. Play online – Using a game console or tablet makes for a much faster game. Investigate the different ways to play monopoly online
  4. Add your own rules – You’ll find some custom rule suggestions for two-player Monopoly on BoardGameGeek.com
  5. Play a different edition – Some Monopoly versions are better for two-person play than others, you’ll probably want to avoid Classic Monopoly

The best Monopoly game for two people is Monopoly Rivals Edition. This simplified version of Monopoly has a smaller board, no hotels, and the money consists of only $100 and $50 bills.

For more information about Monopoly Rivals, check out my Monopoly Rivals review.

You’ll find some more tips for playing Monopoly with only two people here: How to Play Monopoly With Two Players (& Make It Fun!)

Can you play single-player Monopoly?

If you don’t have anyone to play with, you can play Monopoly online against the computer or strangers. While Monopoly is designed for two or more players, you can also play a one-player game if you make some adjustments to the rules.

One of the easiest ways to play Monopoly alone is by using a video game version. Just be careful about adding too many AI players – they can be slow.

I’ve been very frustrated trying to play with 3 computer players before – games can take so long!

To learn how you can play Monopoly solo, take a look at my article: 5 Fun Ways to Play Monopoly By Yourself.

Different Monopoly versions have different numbers of players

While all Monopoly sets can be played by two or more players, the maximum number of players specified varies depending on the game.

Many versions are suitable for up to four or up to six players. This is something that you’ll certainly want to consider if you like to play with a larger group.

How many people can play Monopoly Electronic Banking?

Most Monopoly electronic banking games are suitable for two to four players. As they come with only four electronic banking cards, it’s not possible to play with more than four players.

Monopoly Electronic banking for four players

Playing electronic banking Monopoly with six players is only possible if you have one of the earlier Monopoly electronic banking editions with six bank cards.

Monopoly Electronic Banking games for six players:

How many players can play Monopoly online?

There are six ways to play Monopoly online, including on your phone, tablet, TV, PC, PS4, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

How many people can play Monopoly Plus at once?

Up to six people can play Monopoly online with Monopoly Plus on Xbox, PS4/PS5, or PC.

If you want to play multiplayer games of Monopoly Plus online or offline (in the same room), there are some important things to consider…

  1. Each player must have the same type of console – So you can’t play on Xbox against someone who’s playing on PS4.
  2. For online games, each player must have their own console – You cannot share a console with a local player if you add in online players
  3. For local games, you don’t need a controller each – If all players are in the same room, you can pass a controller round if you don’t have enough

How many players can play Monopoly on Switch?

Up to six people can play Monopoly together on Nintendo Switch. You’ll either need to all share a single Switch, or if you’re playing online, you’ll need one Switch each. You cannot mix local and online games.

Read my Monopoly for Nintendo Switch Review.

How many people can play Monopoly Card games?

Monopoly Deal and Monopoly Bid are card games that are designed to be played by two to five players. If you want to play these Monopoly card games with six or more players you can simply shuffle two packs together and play as normal.

Monopoly money for different numbers of players

In a traditional Monopoly game, no matter how many people are playing, each player will start with $1,500. This is the same whether you are playing with two people, or seven or eight people.

If you’re playing Monopoly Junior, the amount of money that you start with changes depending on how many people are playing. In a two-player game, you’ll get $20 each, in a three-player game you’ll get $18 each, and with four players you’ll each receive $16.

There are some other Monopoly versions where you’ll start with different amounts. You can look those up in my guide to how much money you start with in Monopoly.

Final word

There’s always a way you can play Monopoly, no matter how many players you have. It just won’t always be the optimal experience.

If you have between 3-5 players, you can play most versions of Monopoly using the standard rules, but you may need to make some adjustments if you have more or fewer players.

Otherwise, games really can feel like they last forever.

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Jenni Fielding

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Monopoly Land - an unofficial fan site. She has been a huge fan of Monopoly and has been playing the game for over 30 years. She is a stickler for the rules and loves to find vintage Monopoly sets in second-hand shops.