The board game of Monopoly is an impressive 112 years old. That means plenty of time for multiple different varieties of the game. Vying away from the likes of Simpsons, Lord of The Rings and World Cup soccer editions, now there’s a new and technologically advanced variety in the form of Monopoly zAPPed.

Monopoly zAPPed relies upon special credit cards that can be scanned with an iOS device. Keeping up with the 21st century focus on using plastic rather than cash to spend, these devices automatically transfer funds between players’ accounts once swiped. A selection of mini games also stem from the app which can help players escape jail and jail fines.

It all makes for a fun twist on the traditional Monopoly experience and is bound to keep fans happy.

The app is available now and is free to download. Although, bear in mind that the Monopoly zAPPed board game is required to use it fully.

FREE!

MONOPOLY zAPPed edition

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-05-11 :: Category: Games

Bored of Words with Friends? Maybe it’s time to try something a little different such as MindFeud.

MindFeud is a game in which players must lay a number of tiles down in the correct formation so that there are no duplicates and they each match with the nearest tile in some way, such as all blue tiles together or all circles in the same row. It’s easy to learn but as with many board games, it’s challenging to master.

MindFeud offers a single player mode through the robot opponent AI called ADAMA, as well as the ability to play against friends or strangers through the social features available. Real time chat has been included to make this side of play more compelling.

It’s simple yet addictive fun regardless of who you play against. Even better, it’s free to play and an universal app for added convenience.

MindFeud is out now.

FREE!

MindFeud

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-04-02 :: Category: Games

EA has unveiled a brand new twist on an old classic with the release of Monopoly Hotels. The game takes the familiar red plastic buildings of the game and turns them into living, breathing things as players work to build and manage their very own five-star resorts. Players are tasked with not only building hotels, but maintaining and upgrading them with aquariums, movie theaters, bowling alleys and more. Truly exceptional hotel managers will find VIP guests like Mr. Potato Head and other famous Hasbro figures checking into rooms.

Monopoly Hotels is free to download, with in-app gold purchases available to help players quickly grow their innkeeping empire. As with most games of this type, the speed at which you succeed is largely dependent on how much real-life cash you’re willing to fork over in order to get the upgrades you want right now. Still, this seems like a pretty cool way for Monopoly fans to experience the game in a fun new way.

FREE!

MONOPOLY Hotels

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-02-16 :: Category: Games

I make no secret of the fact that I am seriously addicted to Ticket to Ride on iOS. Of all the designer board games currently rushing to the App Store, none is as polished in presentation and gameplay as TtR. Unbelievably, the translation from analogue to digital is seamless.

Yet, something has been missing from the iPhone version of the game, Ticket to Ride Pocket.

Until now, that is.

Version 1.1 has just be released to the App Store and it contains what many fans (including me) have been waiting for: Multi Mode. Is Multi Mode true online play or something more akin to Words With Friends-style asynchronous play? From my experience, the answer is both.

Multi Mode is designed primarily to be played in asynchronous mode, with players taking turns at their whim over the course of hours, days, or even weeks. However, my experience has shown that many online players prefer to simply play their game online in real time, and Multi Mode easily accommodates that choice. So, it’s the best of both worlds: head-to-head play when time permits, and asynchronous play for when it doesn’t.

In fact, the straight-up multiplayer version of the game is preferable, as turns in Ticket to Ride can be very short indeed. While I don’t want to imply that there are no strategic choices to be made in the game (quite the opposite, actually), the time it takes to play a turn is miniscule compared to a turn in Scrabble or Words with Friends. Asynchronous play is a welcome addition, but you may find yourself playing more than one game in real time.

If you’ve never heard of Ticket to Ride (gasp!) or never played TtR Pocket, I urge you to take a moment and read our glowing review of the game when it was released. Then, take the plunge and start building your railroad empire. I’ll meet you online. My Gamecenter user name is Skinnerbox. Challenge me to a game anytime!

$1.99

Ticket to Ride Pocket

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-11-16 :: Category: Games