Monopoly is a terrible game, but the fact that it keeps selling is a testament to the power of branding and sales channels. The average game store in the U.S.

Monopoly is a terrible game, but the fact that it keeps selling is a testament to the power of branding and sales channels. The average game store in the U.S. is a Toyrsus. Toysrus carries dozens of board games from exactly two different companies: Hasbro and Mattel. Toyrsus carries basically zero board games from any other companies. Hasbro and Mattel have figured out that if you offer parents the same games they knew as a kid, they'll buy them; and if you offer games with the same characters as TV shows, the kids will want them. And so that is what is in the stores. There are a tremendous number of good board games in the world. These are not offered for sale at Toysrus, and therefore do not have any significant sales in the USA. The existence of Monopoly and the fact that this crummy game continues to be offered for sale is a demonstration of the power of monopoly in the board games industry.