Monopoly Tycoon

The app has the same basic principle as the iconic board game -- obtain land and build on it, but it's both enjoyable and easy to do. Property placement and management are more of a consideration in Monopoly Tycoon, as you transform Park Place, Baltic Avenue, and other familiar streets from vacant lots into thriving neighborhoods. For the most part, the game's easy to follow, thanks to step-by-step guidance. Players can click on a "New Mission Available" heading to find out what to do next. They're typically given two tasks, such as upgrading a couple of houses to increase their rent and upgrading a business to increase its supplies. When you click on the green-and-red property button to view different types of structures they can add, a red dot beside the corresponding home and business section icons wiggle as an indicator, offering further guidance. Once players finish a mission, they're given ample rewards, including coins and monetary bills. Cards are doled out without a very clear explanation of how they fit into the game -- the one misstep in the otherwise clear instructions.

To develop each section of land, players add a variety of structures that often relate to each other -- constructing a pharmacy near homes, for instance, to fulfill the community's need for one. Each building takes up a certain amount of squares. Players can essentially place buildings anywhere they want, as long as they don't overlap or run off the block. If they leave too much space between structures, fitting buildings into the remaining area can be tricky later on. The game does have some ads, but they're not too intrusive, though. Players also may receive extra items during the game, such as collecting 50 percent more on rent because it's National Moving Day. There's really not a lot of action, but that doesn't necessarily mean Monopoly Tycoon is dull -- there's enough to do to keep you busy for awhile, leveling up to new areas and types of buildings fairly quickly.