Indonesian Monopoly Board Game Updated: Now Includes Only One Player
Indonesia releases a new Monopoly board game with only one player: Foreign pieces remain in the box... for “safekeeping.”
JAKARTA — Indonesia has proudly announced the release of the newest edition of Monopoly Indonesia, redesigned to more accurately reflect the nation’s current business climate. Among the groundbreaking changes: the removal of all but one playable token, and a new rule that declares PT Satu Indonesia Tbk the automatic winner at the start of every game.
Foreign pieces are still included in the box, but are now hermetically sealed inside a transparent plastic bag “for safekeeping,” according to the official press release. “This game is about self-reliance,” said one government official. “We believe in competition, as long as no one else participates.”
The new edition comes with just one token: a miniature gold-plated SUV representing PT Satu Indonesia Tbk. Gone are the humble top hat, thimble, and foreign investor tokens, which have been quietly retired to a box labeled “Too Risky.”
Gameplay has been streamlined for efficiency. The single player begins on “GO,” immediately collects a ₨2 billion subsidy, and proceeds around the board unopposed. All properties are automatically acquired upon landing, with no need for bidding or negotiation. The game ends when the player completes two laps and successfully blocks all attempts at Foreign Direct Investment.
“This isn’t about fun,” said lead game designer Bambang Sutrisno. “It’s about education. We want children to grow up understanding how business really works here, and specifically, how to win by default.”
In keeping with the game’s new realism-first philosophy, the traditional Chance and Community Chest cards have also been updated.
One new Chance card reads:
💳 “Congratulations! Your uncle is now Minister of Infrastructure. Receive Rp500 million and bypass environmental regulations.”
Another favorite:
💳 “Foreign company attempts to enter your market. Declare emergency and impose spontaneous 150% import tariff. Skip 3 competitors who don’t exist.”
Community Chest has been replaced with the “National Pride” deck, which includes perks such as instant market exclusivity, and the ability to rename any resource as “strategic” to justify monopolistic practices.
When asked whether these changes might discourage young players from believing in merit-based business practices, officials scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous. The next generation needs to know that success is about who you know, not what you do.”
Foreign embassies responded to the updated board game with a raised eyebrow. The Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia commented, “We enjoyed the old version. It was charmingly chaotic. This new one feels… oddly familiar.”
An Australian trade envoy, speaking anonymously, said the changes “mirror the experience of trying to invest in Indonesia, except the board game is more transparent.”
Meanwhile, Indonesian consumers appear unfazed. “I played the new version with my son,” said one businessman from Surabaya. “He learned that if you land on a hotel owned by PT Satu Indonesia Tbk, you have to pay rent, taxes, and a ‘compliance fee’… unless you know someone, in which case you get free parking.”
The game has already sold out its first printing. A deluxe edition is expected next year, featuring a state-owned airport, a palm oil empire, and a special deck of “Emergency Regulation” cards designed to keep the game going indefinitely.
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