In Monopoly, a little luck can turn you into a real estate mogul. In The Game of Life, buying a house is just one step along the sunny sidewalk to the American dream. In The Sims, you can build the perfect property, complete with a swimming pool or séance table, if you’re into that.
In real life, buying a home isn’t quite so simple.
Homeownership has become increasingly out of reach for many Americans, including younger ones who are already wrestling with a newfound perspective of financial success. The median age of first-time home buyers in the United States last year was 38, up from 35 in 2023, according to the National Association of Realtors. And buyers are not playing with Monopoly money, either: The median sales price is up 48 percent from June 2020, rising from $294,500 to $435,300 in June 2025, according to N.A.R.
Real estate has long been embedded into play, but now those games have taken on new meaning: Board games are enjoying a resurgence among younger adults.
The games imagine homeownership as almost a given. Follow the right path, work hard — and get a little lucky — and a deed is yours. But for many, what could be the largest purchase of their life may exist only on the board.
“Life is not always fun, but a gamified version of life can be,” said Zachary Horton, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh who studies board games.
Three in particular reflect the hope — and instability — of the housing market when they were popularized. And they continue to shape our view of homeownership today.
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