Did you know that the original version of Monopoly It was not invented by the Parker brothers, but by Elizabeth Magee? In 1904, Magee received a patent for a game called Landlord gameWhich aims to educate players about the dangers of monopolies and wealth inequality. Unlike the cutthroat version of capitalism we know today, Landlord game It had two sets of rules—one that encouraged the now-familiar monopolistic competition, and the other that promoted wealth sharing and cooperation.
It wasn't until the 1930s, when Charles Darrow modified the game – using only the Monopoly rule – and sold it to Parker Brothers, Monopoly It has become the popular real estate game we play today.
The inspiration for the game
Elizabeth Magee – or “Lizzie” Magee – invented and patented the invention Landlord game In 1904 in response to her deep concern about growing economic inequality in America and the rise of monopolistic practices. Inspired by the ideas of economists Henry Georgewho advocated a single land tax to combat the concentration of wealth, Magee wanted to design a game that would entertain and educate people about the dangers of unbridled capitalism. She believed that the board game could serve as a powerful tool to illustrate how monopolies could trap individuals and stifle opportunity.
Maggie spent years in development Landlord gameWhich was a criticism of the capitalist system and a call for social reform. The game features a square board containing properties to buy and develop, and has two sets of rules: monopoly and antitrust. In both versions, the goal was to accumulate money, but in the anti-monopoly version, players worked together, while in the monopoly version, the goal was to bankrupt opponents by controlling key properties.
Maggie's game included several phrases that reflect her belief in economic justice and criticism of monopolies, such as:
• “The owner is a parasite” He highlighted Magee's criticism of those who accumulate wealth through land ownership without contributing to productive labor.
• “Rent is the price for the privilege of occupying the land.” It is the theory that the value of land should be taxed for the public good.
• “Work on Mother Earth produces wages.” He summarized the idea that land and natural resources should be the common heritage of all people, and that wealth should be distributed more equitably.
Players had to agree on which set of rules (monopoly or anti-monopoly) they would follow before starting the game. This was a key decision, as the two sets of rules created very different gameplay experiences.
If players choose non-monopoly rules in Landlord gameThe focus shifted from competition to cooperation. Instead of targeting bankrupt opponents, players worked together to maintain a fair economy. The rent paid on properties was shared among all players, and wealth was distributed more fairly. Players built community improvements, helping everyone succeed while preventing any player from gaining a monopoly. This edition reflects Maggie's vision of promoting shared prosperity and social justice over individual accumulation.
Why didn't the “owner's game” take off?
Maggie's version Landlord game It was not commercially successful due to several factors. Its marketing and distribution was limited, with Magee publishing the game himself and distributing it mostly among specialist groups interested in Henry George's economic theories.
The complexity of the game, with its dual rules system, made it difficult for casual players to understand. Additionally, its didactic focus on criticizing monopolies and wealth inequality may not have appealed to those looking for simple entertainment.
Magee also lacked the business experience needed to scale the game commercially, and the themes of social reform were ahead of its time, failing to resonate with a wider audience. As a result, the game remained a niche product until the 1930s when Charles Darrow came across it through a friend who played it in an Atlantic City social circle.
Enter “Monopoly”
Inspired by the game, Darrow saw its potential for commercial success but thought it needed some modifications to appeal to a wider audience. He simplified the rules, focusing entirely on the competitive aspect and wealth building and eliminating the cooperative version of the game. He did this without Maggie's knowledge or interference. Darrow also renamed the game MonopolyI changed the properties to reflect the real locations in Atlantic City, and simplified the mechanics to make them more accessible and quick.
After making these changes, Darrow was installed Monopoly To Parker Brothers, who initially rejected it. Parker Brothers has a reputation for producing a variety of games, including popular board games such as an idea (Published in 1949) and risk (released in 1957), which later achieved great success.
Undeterred, Darrow self-published the game, and it quickly gained popularity. After seeing its success, Parker Brothers reconsidered and eventually bought the rights to it Monopoly In 1935 for US$1000. Darrow also received royalties, allowing him to continue to profit from the game's success.
Magee, which was patented Landlord game In 1904, he was not aware of Darrow's version until later Monopoly It became commercially successful. She later attempted to confirm her ownership of the game concept, but by then, Monopoly It was actually acquired by Parker Brothers and became a huge success. Despite this, Maggie's contribution to the game's creation was largely unrecognized at the time, and she received little compensation for her work.
Play other versions of Owner's Game
Although we will never get to see or play the original Magie game, there are many board games that, e.g Landlord gameexploring themes of wealth distribution, economic inequality, and alternative economic systems, some of which emphasize cooperation over competition or offer a critique of capitalism.
Monopoly: Socialism Edition (2017): Ironically, this version of Monopoly is closer to the original Magie game. Instead of trying to monopolize property, players raise resources to help fund community services, which reflect the values of socialism, with an emphasis on overall well-being.
Oikomen (2015): Simulates the rise and fall of civilizations through economic and political strategies. Players must balance building civilization with maintaining environmental and social stability.
Energy grid (2004): This game focuses on building energy networks, where players compete to power cities but also deal with fluctuating market prices and limited resources.
Class struggle (1995): A game that explicitly focuses on conflict between different social classes, with mechanics based on Marxist theory. The game uses cards to represent various class movements, including labor strikes, class warfare, and capital accumulation. It is a critical exploration of class struggle, making it more of a political and educational game than a typical competitive game.
original maggi game, Landlord gameNot only did he inspire the creation of one of the world's most famous board games –MonopolyBut it also carried a strong message about the dangers of monopolies and the importance of economic justice. Although her version laid the foundation for what became a global phenomenon, Maggie has unfortunately been left out of the history books. while Monopoly A symbol of competitive capitalism, the Mage's vision of social reform and collective prosperity remains a central part of the game's legacy, despite being overlooked.
