Real Estate Without the Risk

Did you hear an indistinct "pop" a few months back? That was the sad sound of the booming real estate bubble finally bursting. According to the Commerce Department, a glut of unsold properties and a rickety economy have pummeled home sales rates down to a 16-year low. Looks like your split-level dream chalet with the travertine kitchen, dolphin-filled moat and indoor bowling alley will have to wait.

Or will it? Just because the housing market is ailing doesn't mean you shouldn't invest in these real estate games. Whether you aspire to rule the city as a ruthless land baron or simply wish to play house as an amateur interior designer, they'll maximize the fun and minimize the risk.

Build-a-Lot 2

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Houses aren't just homes -- they're also incredibly valuable assets that, when treated like hot potatoes, can reap enormous financial rewards. This brand new downloadable sequel lets you flip them like pancakes to turn your burgeoning real estate company into the biggest home brokerage on the block. With eight neighborhoods and dozens of locations to explore, it's a lot easier than cruising the streets (or Craigslist).in search of open houses.

Monopoly: Here and Now

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Beneath every great house lies a solid foundation. Just ask the Parker Brothers, who built their impenetrable board game monopoly on the back of, well, a board game called Monopoly. For nearly 75 years the real estate trading game has been a living room staple, teaching younger family members valuable lessons about money management, luxury tax and why Park Place with two hotels absolutely rules. For an updated spin on the timeless classic, check out the Here and Now edition featuring new tokens and properties. Baltic Ave., we hardly knew ye.

Home Sweet Home

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If there's one thing design shows have taught us, it's that a shoddy interior can turn an otherwise splendid villa into an overpriced outhouse. Leave the heavy lifting to the pros in this delightful interior design game by managing a team of workers to make your visions come to life. With over 50 clients to please and hundreds of items at your disposal, you've got your work cut out for you.

SimCity Societies

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Will Wright's legendary 1989 masterpiece SimCity has become synonymous with digital property management, allowing players to plunk down and populate commercial, residential and industrial zones in an effort to build a safe, bustling metropolis. This spirited sequel follows suit, but now lets players customize individual buildings - including houses - to keep their citizens happy.

Lord of the Rings Online

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Hang on, Gandalf -- don't hurl a perplexed fireball of hate mail just yet. While it might seem like an odd fit for an article about real estate, this massively multiplayer role-playing game set in Middle-Earth has woven the concept of property ownership into the very fabric of its gameplay. Intrepid adventurers can save up to buy one of three kinds of dwellings, complete with additional storage, a mortgage (upkeep cost) and an actual in-game address. Homeowners will even enjoy discounts at local neighborhood vendors, and while you can't technically sell your home, you can abandon it for greener pastures or, better yet, pawn it off to a friend -- under the table, of course.