Monopoly has topped a poll as the greatest board game of all time.

The game, which dates back to the 1900s, is a firm family favourite played by more than half a billion people.

Monopoly was first patented in 1935 by Charles Darrow and more than 200 million games have sold worldwide since then. The longest Monopoly game in history lasted 70 days and more than five billion little green houses have been built in the last 73 years.

The poll of 3,000 board game enthusiasts was conducted by global research company www.one poll.com.

Nine out of the top 10 board games are more than 20 years old, with Articulate being the only one invented this side of the millennium.

Second was Scrabble, which was invented by architect Alfred Mosher Butts in 1933, and now sells in more than 121 countries worldwide.

The game recently reclaimed its title as the highest selling board game.

A spokesman for www.onepoll.com said: “It is astonishing to think that with the thousands of board games now available on the market, adults still prefer to sit down with a more traditional game such as Monopoly, Scrabble or Chess.

“It just proves that the old games are the best games.”

Third place went to Trivial Pursuit, which was invented back in 1982.

To win the game players must navigate their way around the board, answering general knowledge questions to gain six ‘cheese' pieces in the quickest time possible.

In fourth place was one of the oldest games to appear in the top 20 — chess. The 16th century tactical game is now actually recognised as a sport by the International Olympic Committee.

Cluedo — the mystery crime fiction game which was invented in 1949 and stars well known characters such as Mrs Peacock, Colonel Mustard and Professor Plum — came in fifth.

A spokesman for www.onepoll.com added: “More and more people are opting to settle down in an evening with a board game and it is often a great way to keep people entertained during dinner parties.”