Game maker mashes up Monopoly and Scrabble for 'addicting' new challenge: What to know

Two of the most popular and time-honored tabletop games got the crossover treatment this summer with the release of Monopoly Scrabble.

At first glance, the two Hasbro games may not seem like they have much in common. What does buying and trading properties while avoiding jail time have to do with using letter tiles to make words?

Maybe not much, but mashing them up could still produce some delightful fun.

At least, that's what Massachusetts-based board game maker Winning Moves Games believed when they got licensing permission from Hasbro to produce the game.

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"We just know that adults and kids of all ages are going to love this exciting new game,” Philip Orbanes Jr., president of Winning Moves Games, said in a statement.

Casey Collins, president of global licensed consumer products at Hasbro, called the game "a winning combination that celebrates the iconic qualities of two classic Hasbro games with a fresh twist.”

With a month on the market, here's everything you need to know about Monopoly Scrabble.

How do you play Monopoly Scrabble?

Instead of using dice to navigate the Monopoly board, players place Scrabble tiles and move around the edges of the board based on their word scores.

Properties can be earned and purchased by making words on special Scrabble spaces. The game maker also insists that other twists, including a community chest and chance cards, further contribute to keeping the gameplay fresh.

Just like in Monopoly, players win by accumulating the highest total of cash and property value by the time the last letter tile is played. Of course, this time having a strong vocabulary may be an advantage to players who prefer not to rely on the luck of the draw.

Perhaps the most appealing part? Unlike Monopoly rounds that are infamous for dragging on and on, rounds of Monopoly Scrabble can be completed in less than an hour — at least that's what Winning Moves advertises.

How much is Monopoly Scrabble and where can you buy it?

The game retails at $35.95 on winning-moves.com.

Amazon sells it for a slightly cheaper price of $34.99.

What are customers saying?

Monopoly Scrabble seems to have debuted to positive reviews from players. Though it only has eight ratings on Amazon, all the reviews have been praiseworthy.

"This game sort of surprised my family. We've never really played a game that combines two games into one game before, but it totally works," one verified purchaser wrote in a five-star review.

Other reviews posted on blogs have similarly been positive.

"This is an addicting game. A true thinking game. A FUN as all get out game," according to the blog Peanut Butter and Whine.

A review on the blog Life with Kathy stated: "Having both of these games combined in to one game makes it a lot of fun ... We have been having a blast with this one."

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Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com.