In the past, I've reviewed several computer games and one board game, but today, I'd like to review a card game that I recently got the chance to play: Monopoly Deal.

I know many of you might groan when you hear the name Monopoly. I'm not sure I know many people who have the time to sit down and play a full game. I imagine if you did want to play a full game, you'd have to dedicate a table in your home to the game board and play it in segments whenever time allowed.

I think next time there's a movie where the hero enters the lair of the villain, instead of a table dedicated to a perpetual chess game, there should be one dedicated to Monopoly. It might make the villain seem more sinister. Anyhow, I digress.

Monopoly Deal, from the makers of Monopoly, is a 2-5 player card game that is much quicker, and in my opinion, easier to learn the nuances of, than its board game counterpart.

What makes it so fun?

Monopoly Deal has many of the same terms as Monopoly, such as properties and rent, so if you're familiar with the board game, you should pick up on the rules fairly easily.

The object of the game is to collect three full property sets. Some sets have two, others three, and there are four railroad properties. Players accomplish this by taking turns playing up to three cards out of their hands. Each player begins with five cards, drawing two more at the start of each turn.

There are several different types of cards:

• Money cards- used as currency in the game to pay other players when rent is charged or other debts are owed
• Property cards- Cards with property names on them. May be collected and placed into sets.
• Action cards- cards that allow specific actions such as collecting debt, charging rent, and drawing extra cards.
• Wild cards- May be used as any property that matches their color.

I won't take the time to describe every detail of gameplay, but there are some interesting rules that allow in game behaviors that players of the board game will never experience.

Certain action cards allow players to steal properties from other players, and there is also an action card that allows a player to steal a full set of properties from another player! These "free-for-all" rules caused my wife to exclaim, "Anarchy!" the first time we played the game together.

The game is tremendous fun once each person has learned the rules and methods of obtaining properties, charging rent, hoarding cash, and using wild cards effectively. I began by playing it with just my wife, so I know it's much fun for just two players. However, I had the opportunity recently to play the game with the full five players, and I must say that the game takes on a different atmosphere when there are multiple players to charge rent from and longer stretches between your turns.

You definitely have to have thick skin to play this game, because of all of the underhanded stealing and charging that goes on. However, it's very interesting to play the game with people who are extremely competitive because, while there are many elements of strategy, most of the time one player's choices can turn the whole game upside down.

I highly recommend this game to anyone who enjoys a quick, fun, card game. Also, if you like the concept of Monopoly, but don't have the time to play a full game, this game can get you your fix without the hours of time invested into a game that never ends.

If you're interested, here are the full rules that are included with the game if you'd like to read more (click the images to access the full resolution versions).

There's also an entire website dedicated to the rules of the game if you can't read the rules in the images.

I hope you'll give Monopoly Deal a try. It's a great game that I'll enjoy for many years to come. It's likely available at all major retailers, and I purchased mine on Amazon, so I know you can get a copy there.

As always, thanks for stopping by! If you have other card or board game recommendations, I'd love to hear them! My family really enjoys getting together to play games!