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McDonald’s Monopoly Is Back! Get Ready to Collect (and Peel!) After a Decade-Long Hiatus
Hold onto your fries, folks, because a blast from the past is making a triumphant return! McDonald’s, already busy with new locations and value menus to entice customers, has dropped a major surprise: the beloved McDonald’s Monopoly game is officially back!
For those who remember tearing open fry cartons and Big Mac boxes in search of those elusive property pieces, this news is sure to spark some serious nostalgia. The game, which first graced McDonald’s menus in 1987 and was last seen a decade ago in 2014, is ready for a new generation of players.
But beware, not everything is exactly as you remember it. Here’s a rundown of what’s changed and what you need to know to play.
What’s Different About McDonald’s Monopoly This Time Around?
Get ready for the biggest change: the iconic paper Monopoly boards are gone. Yes, that means no more carefully sticking your Baltic Avenue or Reading Railroad pieces to a physical board. While a little sad for the purists, it’s not entirely unexpected.
Instead, the game has largely moved into the digital age. You’ll still get that satisfying peel from physical game pieces on certain food items, but some pieces are now entirely digital. To play and redeem any prizes, you’ll need to be a member of McDonald’s rewards program and use their mobile app.
How Do I Play?
The core gameplay remains familiar. You’ll collect game pieces by purchasing participating McDonald’s food and drinks.
Each piece corresponds to a square on a Monopoly board. Once you’ve collected all the pieces for a particular property set, you win the associated prize!
Whether your game pieces are physical or digital, the process is the same: you must enter them into the mobile app’s game board to claim any winnings. Keep an eye out for instant-win prizes too, which often offer coupons for free McDonald’s items. For these instant wins, redemption is typically handled through the app as well.
Which Food Items Have Game Pieces?
Not every item on the menu comes with a game piece, so choose wisely! Here’s a breakdown of what you can order to start your collection:
Physical Game Pieces:
- Big Mac
- Filet-O-Fish
- McMuffin Sandwiches
- 10 Piece Chicken McNuggets
- 20 Piece Chicken McNuggets
- Large Fries
- Hash Browns
- Large Fountain Drinks
- Large McCafé Iced Coffee
- Medium and Large McCafé Hot Coffee Drinks
Digital Game Pieces:
- Quarter Pounder with Cheese
- McCrispy Sandwiches
- 4 Piece McCrispy Strips
- McGriddles Sandwiches (excluding Sausage McGriddles)
- Biscuit Sandwiches
- Medium Fries
- Large McCafé Latte
- Large McCafé Frappé
- Large McCafé Iced Mocha
- Large McCafé Smoothie
- Large McCafé Macchiato
What Are the Prizes?
The prize pool for McDonald’s Monopoly is as varied as ever! Instant-win food items range from apple pies and small drinks to 4-piece McNuggets.
But the real excitement comes with the “collect all pieces” prizes. Imagine winning a brand new Winnebago motorhome by snagging Boardwalk and Park Place!
Other fantastic grand prizes include a 77-inch Samsung TV, a shiny Jeep Grand Cherokee, a memorable trip for four to Universal Orlando Resort, and a whopping one million American Airlines AAdvantage miles, just to name a few of the exciting possibilities.
Wasn’t There a Big McDonald’s Monopoly Scandal?!
Ah, yes, the infamous scandal! It’s a wild story that captured national attention.
Years ago, a security employee working for the company tasked with running McDonald’s Monopoly rigged the game. He stole the high-value, million-dollar game pieces and then sold them to various individuals for a hefty sum of $50,000 each.
An extensive FBI investigation eventually uncovered the elaborate crime ring. Ultimately, eight individuals were arrested for their involvement in rigging the game, effectively controlling the distribution of the most valuable game pieces and ensuring the general public had virtually no chance of winning the top prizes. Hopefully, this time around, the game is on the up and up for all players!