How NJ played a role making this the world’s most popular game

You can never underestimate New Jersey's influence across the globe. It's just like the famous bridge says, "Trenton Makes, The World Takes."

But to be fair, it really goes beyond Trenton. More accurately, it should read something like, "Jersey Makes, The World Takes." Not knocking on Trenton though as they are crucial when it comes to worldwide influence.

And that influence comes in many forms. From manufactured products to breakthrough discoveries and deep-rooted history, New Jersey has it all.

Thomas Edison and George Washington are only two such examples of individuals with ties to New Jersey that had a worldwide impact. Both with huge contributions that helped shape the future.

Fun & Games

Of course, it's not just limited to the invention of the lightbulb or the founding of an entire nation. Sometimes, something as small and simple as a board game can also make a difference.

But before we get to the Jersey influence, have you ever wondered what the world's best-selling game is? Across the planet, there's no board game that sells in larger quantities than Chess.

According to fun.com, "more than 3 million units are sold yearly in the U.S. alone" of the classic board game, making Chess the world's best-selling.

More Best-Sellers

The second best-selling board game in the world is Checkers. According to fun.com, "50 billion units sold since [the] introduction" of the game.

And much like Chess, you'll also find people playing Checkers in parks all across the world. Two very popular games that'll surely be around for many years to come.

As for the third highest-selling game? That's where we begin turning our attention to New Jersey.

Monopoly Rules

As it turns out, Monopoly is the third best-selling board game globally, with approximately 275 million units being sold every year. A great game based on the streets of Atlantic City and played by families across the world.

Obviously, it's nice to see a Jersey-based game that was invented here be one of the top best sellers, but it's not in the number-one position. At least, not in the category of best-sellers.

Best Seller v.s. Most Popular

As for the most popular? That's where things begin to change. Monopoly might be the third best-selling game worldwide, but it comes in at number one as the overall most popular board game to play.

Not only is the New Jersey-based game the most popular board game to play worldwide, but it's also a record breaker.

A World Record with Jersey Ties

According to fun.com, Monopoly "holds the Guinness World Record for being played by the most people: 500 million people worldwide." That's quite an accomplishment for something based on the streets of Atlantic City dating back to 1935.

But it also makes sense since multiple people can play Monopoly at once, including groups of eight in a single game. You can't do that in Chess or Checkers, which are both limited to just two people at once.

So even though Monopoly is the third highest-selling board game on the planet, it takes the top spot in overall popularity. Something that wouldn't be possible if it weren't for the influence of Atlantic City.

The above post reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 Sunday morning host & content contributor Mike Brant. Any opinions expressed are his own.