Presented by Scopely
Jonah has long relied on creativity — and games like Monopoly Go! — to stay close with his family in Taiwan. Living in London, he has an eight-hour time difference and more than 6,000 miles between him and his family. Regular communication isn’t simple — video calls didn’t come close to bridging the gap.
“Monopoly Go! is how I connect with my family,” he told us. “It doesn’t feel like I’ve been away for so many years because of the game.”
At Scopely, we often hear from players who use our games to connect, but every so often, a story comes along that reminds us just how meaningful those connections can be. Jonah’s story is a reminder that Monopoly Go! can be much more than a game.
Jonah, an artist and visual arts teacher, never thought that Monopoly Go! would become the center of his family’s daily routine and, unexpectedly, their most reliable way of feeling close.
Every day, Jonah and his parents log on together, often while sharing a video call. They team up for events, compare progress, and nudge each other along — small moments that have become a meaningful anchor in all their lives. His parents, especially, have embraced the cooperative structure.
“Yesterday my mom and dad woke me up at six in the morning, saying, ‘Jonah, your teammate is online. We have to go work together!’” he said. “I was half-asleep in London. They were fully awake and excited in Taiwan.”
Their conversations now start with a familiar question: “Have you collected your free gifts?”
Jonah hasn’t seen his family in nearly four years. Yet through the game’s social features and live events, they’ve found a way to integrate one another into their daily rituals. His mother recently told him that because they play together every day, it rarely feels like he’s been away at all.
As game makers, we talk a lot about creating experiences that bring people together. Jonah’s story is a reminder of what that can look like in practice — a global experience serving as a daily gathering place.
“In a few seconds, I feel like it’s not just a game,” he said. “This is the way we connect with each other every day.”
For Jonah and his parents, Monopoly Go! has become more than a pastime. For us, it’s a powerful example of what play can make possible: a bridge across time zones, generations, and geographies.