Interactive games, are a great way to learn about finance. I prefer computer finance games as they do calculations for you. In real life, banks and businesses you are involved with will do calculations you have to go by, and you will need to double check their figures with a calculator. Likewise, in a computer game, you can avoid mistakes and save time by having computerized calculations done for you. I have personally selected and evaluated some of the greatest electronic finance games currently in existence.
I think the best overall computer game about finance, property, and business, is Monopoly. Monopoly is a good game which teaches about the importance of making money from property. Monopoly has real life aspects on the board, such as chance, opportunities, income tax, and luxury tax. It teaches good money management and deal making skills. Its better to play a computerized game, as it takes away the need to do calculations as you play. The best overall version of monopoly I have so far found (in terms of cost and quality), can be played on-line at Pogo Games and its free!
Another good finance game is the MSE Game , provided by Martin Lewis This game is short and simple; you run around catching bargains and avoiding bad buys. I highly recommend this fun, simple way, to grasp the basics of finance.
Cashflow 101 & 202 the eGame, is the game by Robert Kiyosaki of Rich Dad Poor Dad fame. In my opinion, this game is an expensive take on Monopoly. The price of £100 for the basic game, makes this a bad buy in comparison.
Here is a fully play tested, price, and quality, assessment of Monopoly and other finance games:
Game Name: Monopoly: Here and Now, The World Edition
Where from: Pogo Games
Price: £FREE!
Moneyseeker3000 rating: A+
Comment: This version has it all, you can play against human or computer opponents, if you so choose. It has lovely graphics and sound. I would love to play a portable hand-held version of this. I particularly like the way that deal-making and trading property with other players is done, as it is quick and simple. It even has a little Mr Monopoly mentor to make you think, when you make your trades. The only downsides are: It's Internet (on-line) only, this means that you cannot save your games. You can't play against humans on the same computer, but you can still play your friends over the Internet. The actual game screen is quite small and only takes up one third of your computer monitor. Aside from these downsides, this plays a great game. An all time classic. Its simple and free. You can play short or long games. Click on the "official" game board room tab, to play for an unlimited amount of turns. I prefer to play against robots, as the game intelligence is very good and challenging.
Game Name: MSE Game
Where from: Money Saving Expert
Price: £FREE!
Moneyseeker3000 rating: A
Comment: This is a simple game where you run around on the screen avoiding bad buys, and trying to catch bargains. It is a straightforward way to understand the basics of the way money works, and you don't have to learn any complex rules before you play. It shows the importance of knowledge, as whenever you catch one of Martins Money Saving books in the game, you are instantly able to get a higher score. This game can be picked up and played by anyone.
Game Name: Monopoly: Here and Now
Where from: AOL Games
Price: £11.50
Moneyseeker3000 rating: B
Comment: Good game, and the low price is a winner. I particularly like the up to date values of houses, utilities and hotels in the game. It is full screen, and you can save your games. You have to pay for this game, but its a low price, and this one is worth paying for. This is the American version, which can be purchased from the American AOL site, be careful not to buy the English version from the UK AOL site, or you pay twice as much for the same game! This game can also be played off-line.
Game Name: Cashflow 101 & 202 the E-Game
Where from: The Official Rich Dad, Poor Dad site, by Robert Kiyosaki
Price: Approximately £100 on Kiyosaki's website, or approximately £35 on Ebay.
Moneyseeker3000 rating: C
Comment: This game is a bit similar to Monopoly. I was given a free copy of this game by a friend, and I have played it several times. It has lovely graphics and sound, and has the excellent educational benefit of having you update a balance sheet in the game, every time your expenses are adjusted. It is full screen, and you can save your games. You go around the board with a full time job, and have to deal with expenses, redundancies, opportunities to buy property, businesses, and shares along the way. As you play, you get verbal advice from the rich rat mentor character. It highlights nicely the need to invest money into assets, in order to have a chance of being rich. I actually think this game is quite nice and I especially like the way you have to think numerically about your finances whenever you adjust your expenses. This is a game filled with charm, but the end game can take a bit too long. This game is not better than monopoly, because it copies many aspects from that game. I cannot justify the £100 official price tag, as you can get Monopoly and the MSE game, for free.
Game Name: Monopoly Xbox 360 (2008)
Where from: Amazon.co.uk
Price: £13.05
Moneyseeker3000 rating: D
Comment: I thought this would play a great game. I was wrong. The animations go on for too long and everything just seems too complicated, cumbersome, and boring.
Game Name: Monopoly Party
Where from: Search online
Price: Approximately £5
Moneyseeker3000 rating: Z
Comment: This game is NOT anything like the Monopoly I know. It is absolutely terrible and has it's own horrible rules for the game. I will never play this again, it is the worst version of Monopoly I have ever come across.
I think the best overall computer game about finance, property, and business, is Monopoly. Monopoly is a good game which teaches about the importance of making money from property. Monopoly has real life aspects on the board, such as chance, opportunities, income tax, and luxury tax. It teaches good money management and deal making skills. Its better to play a computerized game, as it takes away the need to do calculations as you play. The best overall version of monopoly I have so far found (in terms of cost and quality), can be played on-line at Pogo Games and its free!
Another good finance game is the MSE Game , provided by Martin Lewis This game is short and simple; you run around catching bargains and avoiding bad buys. I highly recommend this fun, simple way, to grasp the basics of finance.
Cashflow 101 & 202 the eGame, is the game by Robert Kiyosaki of Rich Dad Poor Dad fame. In my opinion, this game is an expensive take on Monopoly. The price of £100 for the basic game, makes this a bad buy in comparison.
Here is a fully play tested, price, and quality, assessment of Monopoly and other finance games:
Game Name: Monopoly: Here and Now, The World Edition
Where from: Pogo Games
Price: £FREE!
Moneyseeker3000 rating: A+
Comment: This version has it all, you can play against human or computer opponents, if you so choose. It has lovely graphics and sound. I would love to play a portable hand-held version of this. I particularly like the way that deal-making and trading property with other players is done, as it is quick and simple. It even has a little Mr Monopoly mentor to make you think, when you make your trades. The only downsides are: It's Internet (on-line) only, this means that you cannot save your games. You can't play against humans on the same computer, but you can still play your friends over the Internet. The actual game screen is quite small and only takes up one third of your computer monitor. Aside from these downsides, this plays a great game. An all time classic. Its simple and free. You can play short or long games. Click on the "official" game board room tab, to play for an unlimited amount of turns. I prefer to play against robots, as the game intelligence is very good and challenging.
Game Name: MSE Game
Where from: Money Saving Expert
Price: £FREE!
Moneyseeker3000 rating: A
Comment: This is a simple game where you run around on the screen avoiding bad buys, and trying to catch bargains. It is a straightforward way to understand the basics of the way money works, and you don't have to learn any complex rules before you play. It shows the importance of knowledge, as whenever you catch one of Martins Money Saving books in the game, you are instantly able to get a higher score. This game can be picked up and played by anyone.
Game Name: Monopoly: Here and Now
Where from: AOL Games
Price: £11.50
Moneyseeker3000 rating: B
Comment: Good game, and the low price is a winner. I particularly like the up to date values of houses, utilities and hotels in the game. It is full screen, and you can save your games. You have to pay for this game, but its a low price, and this one is worth paying for. This is the American version, which can be purchased from the American AOL site, be careful not to buy the English version from the UK AOL site, or you pay twice as much for the same game! This game can also be played off-line.
Game Name: Cashflow 101 & 202 the E-Game
Where from: The Official Rich Dad, Poor Dad site, by Robert Kiyosaki
Price: Approximately £100 on Kiyosaki's website, or approximately £35 on Ebay.
Moneyseeker3000 rating: C
Comment: This game is a bit similar to Monopoly. I was given a free copy of this game by a friend, and I have played it several times. It has lovely graphics and sound, and has the excellent educational benefit of having you update a balance sheet in the game, every time your expenses are adjusted. It is full screen, and you can save your games. You go around the board with a full time job, and have to deal with expenses, redundancies, opportunities to buy property, businesses, and shares along the way. As you play, you get verbal advice from the rich rat mentor character. It highlights nicely the need to invest money into assets, in order to have a chance of being rich. I actually think this game is quite nice and I especially like the way you have to think numerically about your finances whenever you adjust your expenses. This is a game filled with charm, but the end game can take a bit too long. This game is not better than monopoly, because it copies many aspects from that game. I cannot justify the £100 official price tag, as you can get Monopoly and the MSE game, for free.
Game Name: Monopoly Xbox 360 (2008)
Where from: Amazon.co.uk
Price: £13.05
Moneyseeker3000 rating: D
Comment: I thought this would play a great game. I was wrong. The animations go on for too long and everything just seems too complicated, cumbersome, and boring.
Game Name: Monopoly Party
Where from: Search online
Price: Approximately £5
Moneyseeker3000 rating: Z
Comment: This game is NOT anything like the Monopoly I know. It is absolutely terrible and has it's own horrible rules for the game. I will never play this again, it is the worst version of Monopoly I have ever come across.
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