MonopolyGo - My Odd, Ongoing Indulgence

Around October 29, 2023*, I started playing MonopolyGo. (* That's approximately my "Monopoliversary", and you get 500 dice when that happens.) Initially, I enjoyed escapism of just "cow-clicking" and then watching the stylized animations build my board. Then, three other appeals kicked in:

• A dormant love of collecting. I used to collect coins and pens, and hadn't been doing that much when I started this game so, I think the albums revived that hobby.
• For anyone reading this who is thinking, "yeah, but you don't really have anything," three letters: NFTs.
• The opportunity to reconnect with friends in a "low key" way. As an alleged adult professional, I do a poor job at keeping in touch with friends. "Why" could be its own topic, but thankfully a few friends were interested in playing the game with me so we could help each other exchange stickers, complete builds/quests/races that require partners, and talk strategy.
• Feeding an enjoyment of - or compulsion to - "complete" tasks. 
• At this point in my life, I was still nursing "burnout" from a previous role where I managed not only weekly task completion, but also notch some résumé bullets; at the same time, I was barely a year into a new position in which I felt (and sometimes still do) "out of my depth". Goals are more abstract and nebulous, without the quick feedback of "Board Complete!" :)

Oh, and a chance to use my 2022 fold out mobile screen for something amusing. 

In 2024, motivated primarily to share my sticker status with friends before apps like "StickerGo" hit the scene, I made 2 blog posts about the game. I deleted the January one. Below, I've retained the March one stripped of graphics. It was focused on the Monopoly Origins album, which was the first I completed. I've never managed to complete one twice before the game transitions to a new one.

Based on screen shots and game notes others have posted, I would have started during Epic Myths album and then also played Heartfelt Holidays. I remember really trying to trade on Facebook for Ginger Peg-E 5-star sticker. Looks like I missed the first 4 albums. In addition to Origins, I then participated and/or finished the following albums:

• Making Music [Finished! June 4th]
• Monopoly Games [Finished on Sept 16th] - Probably one of my Top 5.
• Marvel GO! [Finished! Nov 25th, 2024]
• Jingle Joy [Finished] - Not sure when, but I have "Saxy Santa" token.
• Artful Tales [Finished! March 6th]
• Google suggests this was the last day, so it's probably one of the two albums for which, I confess, I bought a wild because I had only 1-2 stickers remaining.
• Movie Night [Finished] - Again, unsure when, but I have the "Scottie Awards" token.
• Star Wars GO!  [Did NOT Complete] - I did enjoy the ride, though!
• After needing Wilds to "save" the album the last two times, I said no.
• Summer Escape [Finished! March 6th]
• Bon Appétit [Finished! October 5th, 2025]
• Cozy Comforts [Finished] - I have the "Scarf King" Token. It's a really stylish Mr. M!
• Harry Potter GO! [Finished! January 31th] - I'm Ravenclaw. 
• I did like how the "Houses" were integrated. I like Potter, but not the biggest fan, though I confess to liking personality typology.

Now, I'm working on Posh Pets album. I'm at 211/216 stickers, I have 7 "posh" Tokens, including the Hello Kitty from finishing the recent partner build. 16 days to go. I hoped this would be the time I finish twice, but that's getting too close for it to be likely. Down to 5 golds, and of the 2 5-star gold - which are harder to attain since 5-star packs are less available - 1 will "blitz" tomorrow so I can trade for it. 

This more summary post of this hobby - how it's going and what motivates it - has been long overdue.

Feb 24th, give or take a day, I completed the MonopolyGo "Origins" Album. 

Took me a bit to burn down the Album Completion Rewards, and that helped sock up some stickers for "Lap 2" - the race to complete the same sets + 5 "prestige" sets before the remaining 30+ days (now 26+) expire. 

Unfortunately, when this happens you lose any of your extras, though - thankfully - you retain their star value for trade-ins for vaults. I lost quite a few extra gold-rimmed stickers, and 2 4-star tradeable stickers that I forgot to rehome. One of those I've since regained, with a lead on the other. 

Below, are my 26 sets, sorted by priority/focus for potential completion, not by Set number. Looking forward to a new shield :)

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Then there are these, and I do think if I finish any prestige sets, "The Racecar" is the most promising...

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Next up - Fever! has been pretty good to me. I've considered Sweet Success for Wild, and if I were to use it on a 4-star, it'd be Augmented Boss, as Monopoly VR is probably my 2nd best shot at a prestige.

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Continuing onward to ones that were challenging last time, and no doubt would be again...

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Monopoly Moments would be fun to finish because of "Cattitude" and "Flippin' Out", which are pretty relatable if you've ever played the classic game. Doggopoly might be easier than Game Awards or a few others, but I remember the bottom row was pretty challenging last time around, and with 2 Gold, I'm afraid that dog rides toward the back ;-)
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I'm surprised that The Rubber Ducky doesn't come with a Gold Duck token. (Album 1 had a rubber duck token with a set. The whole album had a car, and the Prestige Album has a gold car.) It's a fun set, but so far it's the Prestige set in which I have the fewest cards, and with lots of 5-star and gold-rimmed action required, I think it's the least likely.
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Now, we come to the ones I've wrapped up for the second time. By Set #, in descending order...
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Continuing backward...
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Finally, rounding out the album.

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