The Game of Monopoly Was Originally Designed to Criticize Capitalism

Long before it became a symbol of ruthless accumulation, the world's most famous board game was born from a desire to teach its dangers. In 1904, a progressive woman named Elizabeth Magie patented 'The Landlord's Game' as a practical tool to illustrate the economic philosophy of Henry George. George argued that land should be a common resource and that taxes on land value could create a more equitable society. Magie’s game was designed to show players firsthand how land monopolies enrich property owners and crush tenants, hoping it would spark a desire for economic reform.

Magie's original creation was actually two games in one. She included two sets of rules: an "anti-monopolist" set where all players benefited when wealth was created, and a "monopolist" set where the goal was to acquire properties and bankrupt opponents. She believed that after playing both versions, people would recognize the inherent injustice of the monopolist system. Ironically, it was the more cutthroat, competitive version that players found more entertaining and that ultimately survived.

For decades, the game circulated as a homemade "folk" game among communities like the Quakers and college students, who often added their own local street names. In the 1930s, an unemployed man named Charles Darrow played one of these versions, refined it, and sold it to Parker Brothers as his own invention. The company bought Magie’s original patent for a mere $500 to secure the legal rights but marketed the game with Darrow's rags-to-riches story. In doing so, they stripped the game of its radical origins, transforming a tool for critiquing capitalism into its most popular celebration.