There are quite a few different versions of Monopoly out there. Putting aside the alternate games, like Empire or Deal, there are so many different branded versions of the game. If you’re a fan of a video game, movie, sports team, or almost anything, there’s a good chance that Hasbro has a version of the popular board game designed for you.

There are versions for Legend of Zelda, Mario Kart, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Supernatural, Wicked, Star Wars, South Park, How to Train Your Dragon, Coca-Cola, Pokémon, the FIFA World Cup, Batman, Gilmore Girls, Christmas Vacation, and so many others. If it’s been a popular thing at any point, there may be a version of Monopoly featuring it.

The latest entry? An F1 version of the game that is absolutely perfect for fans of the sport (not the Brad Pitt and Damson Idris movie). Thanks to Hasbro and 360PR, I got a chance to check out a copy of the game.

Monopoly Formula 1 Edition Review

There’s nothing quite like playing a board game that has areas on it that connect to another interest of yours. That’s what Monopoly has perfected. The timeless gameplay is one thing, but being able to purchase a property at some place that only exists in a different thing that you’re really interested in is unmatched.

To that end, the Formula 1 Monopoly has succeeded once again. There are tracks that your favorite F1 drivers have raced on to be bought for various prices, including Shanghai, Melbourne, Miami Gardens, Montreal, Monaco, Barcelona, Budapest, and many more. Hasbro has included a small outline of the track itself on the locations in a really nice touch.

Sometimes, one of these games is only as good as the pieces you can move around the board with. This is especially true of the themed versions. If the player pieces aren’t interesting, it’s a huge missed opportunity, as players will be a little underwhelmed with what they’re using. That’s not the case here, though.

F1 Monopoly has several really good pieces to choose from. There’s not a lot of variety (they are mostly all Formula 1 cars with cool helmets to go with them), but the base design is really solid, and there are a lot of fun colors to choose from. Most Monopoly games have pieces that are all unpainted silver, but not here. Here, there are fun colors to better represent players (more on this below).

Monopoly has incredibly timeless gameplay, which is how it has stood the test of time since the first version in 1935. But that doesn’t exactly inspire people to buy new versions since they’ve played it before, probably countless times. Another thing that helps these variants stand apart is the slight gameplay tweaks.

Some changes include:

• F1 teams to play for with different abilities granted
• Challenges for the lead
• Passing GO allows you to compete in the Grand Prix rather than simply earning money
• Finishing first in the Prix grants the Drivers Championship, while the driver who earns the most points gets the Constructors Championship

These are all pretty excellent changes. Passing GO to collect 200 is a staple of the game, but at this point, it’s not that interesting. Being able to compete in a minigame of sorts is almost revolutionary, and it’s the main thing that will set this edition apart. The team and ability wrinkle is a stroke of genius, too.

The pieces are assigned to a team, so it’s not so much about choosing the coolest little trinket but about the advantages and colors they bring. Players will have to weigh the benefits, choose their favorite color, or represent the team they support in real-life Formula 1. It allows for different gameplay almost every time you play.

It can be tiresome to see so many different versions of a very straightforward and basic game that’s been around for almost a century. But where the F1 version excels is in providing unique gameplay and fun tweaks that will keep players and Formula 1 fans coming back for more. This is one you’ll definitely want to add to your collection, especially if you’re a fan of racing.