How to Play Tycoon

Tycoon is played on a 40-space board. Each player starts with $1,500 and a token on GO. On your turn you roll two dice, move your token, and follow the rules for the space you land on. You can buy unowned properties, pay rent to owners, build houses and hotels on color sets, and trade with other players. The last player with money and assets wins.

The board has 40 spaces (0–39). Key spaces:

• GO (0) — Start here. Collect $200 when you pass or land on it.
• Properties — Colored groups (brown, light blue, pink, orange, red, yellow, green, dark blue). You can buy them, charge rent, and build houses/hotels when you own a full set.
• Railroads (5, 15, 25, 35) — Special spaces. Rent depends on how many railroads the owner has (1 = $25, 2 = $50, 3 = $100, 4 = $200).
• Utilities (12, 28) — Electric Company & Water Works. Rent = dice roll × 4 (one utility) or × 10 (both).
• Chance (7, 22, 36) — Draw a Chance card (move, pay, receive, or special effect).
• Community Chest (2, 17, 33) — Draw a Community Chest card.
• Income Tax (4) — Pay $100 to the bank.
• Luxury Tax (38) — Pay $100 to the bank.
• Visiting Jail (10) — No effect; you’re just visiting.
• Go to Jail (30) — Move to Jail (space 10); you do not collect $200.
• Free Parking (20) — No effect.

Each player starts with $1,500 and their token on GO. Players take turns in order. In multiplayer you can create a game and invite friends with a 6-letter code, or join an existing game. In solo mode you play against AI opponents.

On your turn:

1. Roll — Roll two dice. If you roll double 6 (total 12), you roll again and do not move.
2. Move — Your token advances by the dice total (2–11). If you pass GO, collect $200.
3. Land action — Do what the space says: buy property, pay rent, pay tax, draw a card, or go to jail.
4. Optional actions — You can build houses/hotels, mortgage or unmortgage, and propose trades during your turn.
5. End turn — Pass the turn to the next player.

When you land on an unowned property (including railroads and utilities), you may buy it from the bank at its listed price. If you don’t buy it, it may go to auction (if that option is enabled in game settings). Once you own a property, other players must pay you rent when they land on it (unless it’s mortgaged).

When you land on a property owned by another player, you pay rent. Mortgaged properties charge no rent.

You can build houses (and a hotel) only when you own every property in a color group (a monopoly). Each house costs the amount shown for that group (e.g. $50–$200 per house). You add one house at a time. A hotel counts as the 5th level. You cannot build on mortgaged properties or while in jail. Selling buildings back to the bank gives you half the build cost per house/hotel.

To get quick cash, you can mortgage a property that has no houses or hotels. You receive half its price from the bank. While mortgaged, that property charges no rent. To unmortgage, pay the bank the full price (not 110%). You cannot mortgage or unmortgage while in jail.

When you land on Chance or Community Chest, you draw a card. Cards can make you move (e.g. advance to GO, go to a railroad, go to jail), pay or receive money, or have special effects (e.g. Get Out of Jail Free). Follow the card, then your turn continues as normal (e.g. if you’re sent to another space, you may buy or pay rent there).

You go to Jail by landing on Go to Jail (30) or drawing a “Go to Jail” card. You do not collect $200 when sent to jail. On your turn while in jail you roll the dice. You get out by (1) rolling doubles, (2) rolling a 12, or (3) after your third turn in jail (you must then pay or use a Get Out of Jail Free card if you have one). While in jail you cannot build, mortgage, or unmortgage.

During your turn you can propose trades to other players: offer cash and/or properties in exchange for their cash and/or properties. If they accept, the trade is executed. Trading is a great way to complete color sets so you can build houses.

If you owe rent, tax, or a card payment and cannot pay (even by selling buildings, mortgaging, or trading), you are bankrupt. You leave the game and your properties return to the bank (unmortgaged, no buildings). The last player left in the game wins. In timed or AI games, the winner can also be determined by highest net worth (cash + property values + building values) when time runs out.