best cooperative board games

31. My group has played Burgle Bros. many times and still enjoy it every time it hits the table. Unpredictable, strange events await in this creepy haunted house that you construct, then work cooperatively with the other players to escape alive. This is an intriguing game, but can take some time to play and that is made worse when someone has to repeat a run. That’s just for starters. Players: 2 (or more) | Age: 11+ | Time to play: 15 mins. It’s an excellent cooperative game. You must stop temporal faults and paradoxes while inhabiting the body of another being. Read our Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective review, Get your copy of Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective. | Genre: Save the World. Forbidden Desert), Two different invaders to choose from to set difficulty level, Requires cooperation of the players to win, Solid build quality, no cardboard or flimsy pieces, There are rules variants to mix things up, Whole family can play (except very young children), Rules variations for different levels of difficulty, Artwork and story help to create eerie feel, Hard to get to higher levels, but addictive, Cardstock is not coated, prone to water damage, Favorite characters and villains from the series are involved, Replay each level as many times as you like, Only four of the series characters to choose from, May not be as much fun for non-fans of the series, Immersive and accurate depiction of Victorian Londen, Expansion packs with new cases are available, Once the 10 cases are solved, they are not replayable, Very hard to beat Sherlock Holmes’ rating, New cards can be added and the living deck concept is customizable, Not for those who like a one and done game, Only for two players unless you buy a second game, It is hard, the game seems to hate you and constantly tries to kill you, No replays once the fault or paradox is corrected, Leans to the expensive side of the price range, Can play with just 2, or with many people, Rules variations mix things up and increase difficulty, Can mix in the words from the original Codenames game. Of course, everyone has different abilities so you must work as a team to compliment your strengths and delve into the town’s secrets. To defend the island, and win, you must coordinate your spirit powers with the other players. If that is not strange enough, during the course of play one of the players may betray the group. One unique aspect of this game is one player must play as the ghost. Lovecraft. You can use these variations to mix things up and keep the game interesting. This traitor will have to be defeated while dealing with the bizarre supernatural occurrences and fighting off monsters. They allow me to play a game with friends and family, and compete together against the board instead of against each other. 32. Marvel Champions – This was my pick for 2019 game of the year. “Codenames Duet takes one of the best party games and tweaks it to make an excellent cooperative game,” says May. You might burn down a building, or release the Ancient Ones from a world beyond. So, it is a blend of role playing and deck building, and the box does include the tokens and 5 investigator (character profile) cards. This role is entertaining, though, since the spirit role allows you to watch as the psychic team correctly, or incorrectly, decipher the visions offered. They definitely scratch the dungeon crawler itch, but they play very smoothly. But there is a catch, you cannot talk to each other or show anyone the cards you are holding. The build quality is good and the price is moderate. 14. Also worth checking out is Last Bastion, a fantasy version of Ghost Stories released in late 2019. Of course, the gearlocks abilities vary to make things interesting. It’s easy to learn and it’s also very challenging, which is a great co-op combo! You must use nonverbal communication to figure out which card should be played next. The art work and maps present an old, almost Victorian setting, with a paranormal twist. The premise is you and your team work together to defend the castle tower from approaching monsters. Using word association, you work together finding missing agents while avoiding an assassin. As the clock ticks down, a sense of urgency forces you to travel the world, finding solutions as part of a team plan. It’s my group’s top limited communication game and it was our highest-rated game of 2018. Plus, it is easy to learn and would earn a “G” rating if it was a movie, so get the kids involved. There is no going back to the original settings or rules in a legacy game. Prowling the city is necessary as you search old London for leads and people to interview. Published December 9, 2020. If you have a group that can commit to playing through Gloomhaven, it’s definitely worth getting. This would probably be my “stranded on a deserted island” game since there is so much content in that huge box. It is not. Gamers of all ages get a kick out of running into a house, putting out fires, and saving as many people (and pets) as they can. The build quality is impressive. It has a great spell-casting mechanism, the variable turn order adds in extra tension, and it plays at a nice pace. If you have friends or family who like challenging board games as much as you do, then you will want to own this classic. This game is fantastic for adults as well, and is, to me the best super hero board game out there. | Genre: Fantasy Quest. The game is not too complex and younger Hogwart movie fans will enjoy this game. Some games require a purchase beyond the base kit to allow more players. If you like dice games and you also happen to like war-themed games, D-Day Dice is a must-try. The artwork and game design bring you into the wizarding world and it provides a fun experience for Hogwarts enthusiasts, spells and all. 26. If you want to test out the system before you commit to the big game, a streamlined standalone game called Gloomhaven: Jaw of the Lion was released in 2020. The manufacturer has a beta campaign version in development, but for now, this is not a campaign style game. Castle Panic is flexible and works quite well with just two players, or six, and it can even be played in a solitaire mode. The build quality is good, but that also makes this game a little pricey. There is no downtime or small victories. The best board games for cooperative and competitive fun with family, friends or for couples (and explained for beginners) Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter (Image credit: Future) This is one of the most popular and best cooperative board games that are synonymous with all of us. Resident Evil 2 – This is a great survival campaign game and one of the better video game-inspired board games out there right now. Amazon's Choice for Best Cooperative Board Games for Kids. The best cooperative board games for older kids & families. Watching your characters improve throughout the campaign is very satisfying, the game is surprisingly easy to play, and there is plenty of content in the box. For example, Arkham Horror: The Card Game only allows 2 players. Some like long games, but it is more common today to find people looking for games that can be played in less than an hour. But as you might guess, additional scenario expansion kits can be purchased. Marrying this franchise with a cooperative board game seems pretty obvious, but it is tricky to do. The game duration is shorter than most cooperative board games, so it is attractive to those who do not like long, drawn out games. Flash Point: Fire Rescue – If you like the firefighting theme at all, Flash Point is a must-own. Players: 2-7 | Age: 10+ | Time to play: 45 mins. The Mind has gone over well with everyone I’ve taught it to. Spirit Island – My group’s rankings are all over the place for this one. Each round you have two minutes to frantically roll dice, move, and kill aliens all while trying to communicate with your teammates. That's why a simple board game can go a long way. 7 Best Co-Op Tabletop Games Pandemic From word and deception games to exploration and role-playing games, these will keep the holidays bright and fun. While this might sound like a game destined for drawn out campaigns, it is actually intended to be played in a single session game. While a discussion of age range may seem like overkill, the manufacturers age recommendations are important for those who have kids. Cooperation and communication is crucial, and to win you must employ some creative thinking. 30. It is done well, and pulls you into the crime solving more than than the dark, eerie side of the paranormal. Easy to learn rules make Castle Panic a good cooperative board game for beginners. Then there is treasure to be found, secrets to unravel, hidden villages, and other adventures to seek out. One Deck Dungeon – This little solo or two-play cooperative game is a great pick for anyone who loves dice games. Builds tension and requires creative thinking, Easy to learn, inexpensive, and challenging, Add on packs and other versions (including legacy) are available, Players employ cards during combat, not dice, 47 monster/enemy cardboard cutouts w/ stands, Plastic miniatures for player’s characters, Relies on deciphering of visions/pictures, Same players over multiple games in the same roles can become predictable, Variations of this game are available (e.g. dungeon master). However, that is an aspect that draws fans to this game. Traitor. It’s a consistently tough puzzle to solve as you have to figure out how to work together to keep the world’s carbon dioxide levels down while also completing your own private goals. Instead of the ubiquitous dice employed by many of the other popular role playing games, cards are used for combat in Gloomhaven. So, players must work together and use their disparate powers to augment one another. Also, many cooperative games can lead to one team member going rogue or taking over (a.k.a. In order to get out alive, you must work with the other players and use shared strategy based on what the team members have learned. You can also buy special versions for some of your favorite games. There are some aids in the game that do allow you to make mistakes every now and then. However, many feel it is worth the price and some go so far as to say that Too Many Bones is built to be waterproof. With hundreds of games to pick from, it can be more difficult than you think. Spirit Island is in my personal Top 10 because I’m a huge fan of the asymmetrical spirits and the twist on the colonization theme. Fans will appreciate that you can play as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley or Neville Longbottom. Plus, it’s really fun to play as both the ghost and the investigators. Strategy is needed and the players cards are visible to all, which helps coordinate tactics. No dice rolling or chance involved here, this is a test of your mind and ability to cooperate. Just as in the books, you will need to work together to defeat all the villains and secure various castle locations. A single game can be played in an hour or two, but many who are drawn to this type of board game will take advantage of the campaign aspect. Best cooperative board games for 2020. Co-op (cooperative) gameplay allows gamers to work together as teammates against one or more AI opponents. Best Overall – Pandemic Legacy: Season 1; Best for Campaign Gaming – Mechs vs Minions; Best Budget Option – Forbidden Desert; Best for Dice Gamer Lovers – Pandemic: The Cure; Best for Wannabe Sleuths – Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective; Best for Big Box Lovers – Gloomhaven It is also why this is one of the more expensive cooperative board games on the market. There are four characters, or gearlocs, included in the game and the manufacturer does sell additional add-ons if you want more character choices. This may be hard for younger players to follow. There are those players that want a big, complex, immersive experience that involves hours of play and they want the repercussions of every game to matter. Also, some have called this game Pandemic “lite” as it is less urgent and intense. Legends of Andor is an outstanding fantasy game and I’m looking forward to playing through all of the original legends again once enough time has passed. Sites like Board Game Geek go so far as to list a “community” age recommendation to help parents evaluate the appropriateness of a game for their young ones. But getting to the higher levels is a challenge, and it is addictive to try and reach a new best with your team. It also works quite well as a co-op gateway game. The game is popular for other reasons, too. Spy Club – At its core, Spy Club is a cooperative set collection game, but it’s really so much more than that. It actually becomes intense for many players. The characters have unique decks and are all fun to play, and it’s the type of game that requires a high amount of cooperation to beat. But, villains lurk about and you must be careful as you are immersed in the streets of Victorian London, visiting places like an opium den beneath the Bar of Gold or the rat infested docks. There was a little bit of reshuffling in this November 2020 update, but only a handful of games have been added/removed. Quirky Circuits is a really fun game that works just as well for families as it does for adult gaming groups. Players: 1-2 | Age: 14+ | Time to play: 60-120 mins. Three other experts also highly praised the word-deduction game as … You might like to solve mysteries as in Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective and Mysterium. The design promotes team play and together you save the world from horrible diseases or face annihilation in less than an hour. Plus, many of your favorite villians are here, too, and you get to fight them. Many games are for 2-4 players, but the number of players a game can accommodate does vary. agent. It’s highly thematic, every decision you make feels important, and you have to work hard as a team to have a chance to win. The implied use of ESP to figure out who plays the next card is strange enough to hook any curious mind. It has a simple set of rules, challenging gameplay, fantastic artwork, and it is very portable. The danger and horror are taken straight from the 23 Cthulhu tales written by H.P. 16. CO₂: Second Chance – This is easily one of the top Euro-style collaborative games my group has ever played. This task is difficult and takes some time, so it is not for the casual gamer. Oh, and there’s a sequel coming soon! While Duets was designed to be a two person affair, it does allow the game to be played by more by forming two teams of multiple players. If you select a wrong word, your turn stops. Pandemic – This spot is for all of the games in the Pandemic line, including the classic original game, Pandemic Legacy, Pandemic Iberia, Pandemic: The Cure, and the others that Matt Leacock has designed. But unlike its predecessors, no dungeon master is required. Chronicles of Crime – This is one of quite a few excellent detective games that have come out in recent years. As one of the spirits, you fight back using your paranormal powers. The game also allows you to increase the difficulty level in a clever way, you get to pick the invaders. | Genre: Wizarding/Deck-building. If you’ve been a fan of other co-op mystery games or you just like the murder-mystery genre in general, you’ll definitely want to check this one out. Your time is short and you must collect all four treasures before the entire island sinks, or the whole team loses. Chip Theory Games also released a two-player version of Too Many Bones called Too Many Bones: Undertow, which works as both a standalone game and as an expansion to the original. Shadowrift – One of my group’s favorite deck building games, Shadowrift gives you plenty of card-buying options as you attempt to take down powerful monsters. But it uses similar mechanics for the gameplay that is a bit faster and easier to use. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. This is a deck-building game, but different. Betrayal at House on the Hill is arguably the creepiest but most compelling experience... 3. The game has a cartoon vibe that is very kid friendly, so it is a great choice for a family. It has arguably the best action-selection system and it’s extremely satisfying watching your characters improve over time. For example, one clue might be Egypt 2. Consulting Detective could not remain as one of the most popular cooperative board games for decades if it were not accurate to the period. Each of the elite crew members have different abilities and must work together to eradicate four diseases before the clock runs out. 19. This is my group’s favorite real-time game right now and something pretty special would have to come along to replace it. It not only extends the play time, but the multiple runs get repetitive for the player. It’s a war game, but it’s really all about working together to survive during World War I. It’s a light-but-tough cooperative card game with a unique war theme. Players: 3-6 | Age: 12+ | Time to play: 60 mins. The playing time on the box is optimistic and games have been known to go longer than 120 minutes, so be sure you have some time before sitting down for a session. We look at parameters such as competitiveness, complexity, learning curve, luck, host advantage, and more. The details and rules are complex and you will struggle to stay alive after your shipwreck. I’ve only reviewed Castle Ravenloft, but my group has actually played three of the games in the D&D Adventure System Series and they’ve all been great. Once you have enough “loot”, you can confront and attempt to defeat the seven tyrants who have invaded your land. It's all the fun of the playing without the tears and tantrums at the end. This game is well constructed and intricate, but you have to pay for quality and it is expensive. In one variant you can play called Permanent Death, it is possible for your characters to die. Spin Master Games 5 Minute Dungeon It is a chaotic and cooperative game that offers immense thrill and fun. A must-have if you like the WWII theme. Well, Pandemic is your chance to work with a team of specialists to do just that. Read More. Legendary Encounters: Alien review | Buy a Copy. Ages: 7 years and up. The design relies on H. P. Lovecraft for inspiration and that brings strange but fun threats for the players. I’ve played it many times and with many groups and I still have a blast trying to put those fireworks in order. Did we mention the tyrannical invaders? Some cooperative games can be played over multiple sessions and they bring the consequences of previous games session into your new games. Along the way, fantastical monsters and enemies will be encountered, and fought. Each spirit has vastly different powers and some powers take longer than others to have an impact. I still haven’t written my Gloomhaven review yet, which my group likes to laugh at me about, but I said from the beginning that I won’t review it until I’ve completed a full campaign. | Genre: Quest/Exploration/Survival. 10 Best Cooperative Board Games Reviews 1. Some games can get really complex and include too many narrative elements that may confuse players. There is an expansion pack, but the four levels in the expansion pack are best played after completing the first seven adventures in the base game. Many games are for four or less players, and many are best when played with three or four players. The Lord of the Rings LCG review | Buy a Copy. So how much time are you willing to put into playing a game? Legends of Andor is still one of the best cooperative adventure board games around. If you haven't yet played co-operative board games, you need to! Then there is the issue of a game administrator (e.g. If you like/love games that lead to your death, like Dark Souls, Rogue Legacy, or Lords of the Fallen, then this is the cooperative game for you. If you want a cooperative Lord of the Rings game that is great at higher player counts, you’ll want to check out Journeys in Middle-earth. SolidGuides.com may get an affiliate commission when you buy through links on our website. It’s a great family game with a theme that everyone can get into. For fans of Harry Potter, the chance to secure the castle will be a hit. Once your mission is complete, it is essentially not playable again. While playing, you may be required to search a dungeon for a hiding Syaan king, or confront massive creatures under the Antarctic ice. Ghost Stories is still one of the toughest cooperative board games out there. | Genre: Word Association/Spying. A sense of tension and the need for creative thinking are part of why it can become addictive. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Adventures – This is a series of big-box games that allow you to play as and against the popular characters from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles world. 8 best cooperative board games for 2021. These odd missions are called runs. While it might be a little advanced for kids under the age of 8, it’s still possible. Every move you make can spread disease and lead to an outbreak. | Genre: Sleuthing. Research and care were used to provide a true representation of Holme’s bygone world. Cards are torn and things are altered with stickers or by writing on them. For this reason, almost all games today list the typical playing time on the box. A cooperative board game should match not only your personal interest, but it should be of interest to everyone else who will play. Yes, there is such a thing as working together to beat the game.And it can be just as fun. 28. The fabric of the universe must be maintained to protect humanity. 22. | Genre: Cards/Mind Reading. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Too Many Bones has some of the nicest components that you will find in a board game, and the gameplay is awesome as well. But in one version of the rules, you keep each monster token as you kill it so it can be tallied. These outsiders build settlements and bring hardship and blight to your island. Your deck determines how much power you wield, and during a cooperative game, strategy by the team comes into play as to who should obtain certain cards. In this regard, Gloomhaven is at its core a board game, not a role playing affair, and you need to focus on your strategy, not your cosplay. Get your axe sharp and pack your supplies, there are monsters to fight and treasure to discover. I've tried to classify the games in this list. It is best to wait until you complete the included missions in the base game as there are spoilers in the designer’s kit. Another year, another Best Cooperative Board Games list update! In Mysterium, you play as a team, not against each other. Instead of fighting tooth and nail to be the number one finisher—winning the bragging rights—players all work together to win the game as one unit. Shipwrecked, you and your fellow castaways must build shelter, find food, and fight wild beasts. Players: 2-4 | Age: 8+ | Time to play: 45 mins. The base game allows 1-2 players, but 1-4 players are possible if you purchase two sets. Even those unfamiliar with the books will appreciate the crime-solving challenge that is fun and challenging. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The abstract visions do have many potential meanings so the investigators must communicate with each other and “vote” on solutions based on their reading of the images. The collaborative nature makes it a great choice for parties or for a couple. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Roleplaying games such as Dungeons & Dragons 5E (or some of the other best fantasy RPGs that aren't Dungeons & Dragons ) are also excellent co-op experiences due to their collaborative storytelling. Enjoy family game night without all the drama and tears when you play one of these fun cooperative board games for kids. Worth every penny for a chance to try and save the world’s population from annihilation. If your kids watch Critical Role, or are into RPGs and storytelling, then sit the family down for some Mice & Mystics. If you want real short, like 20 minutes, consider The Mind. However, players can save their game using an included insert, which allows play over multiple sessions as a campaign style game. But below the surface, there are strange creatures, foul rituals, cultists, and haunted houses. Rules variants keep things interesting and every game played is unique. And it gets worse as you try to complete each level’s goals. But it remains popular and is still high on many “best of” lists. You must correct issues in the universal fabric without creating more disruption. Players: 2-4 | Age: 12+ | Time to play: 90 mins. | Genre: Horror/Deck Building/RPG. This game can be addictive and most will want to return for another attempt, even after a harsh defeat.

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