Cooperative board games are a great way for gamers to get their fix. A completely different beast from what most of you will be used to, but that shouldn’t put you off. This genre has grown into one of the more popular in recent years. One of the more common reasons being that it’s a lot more difficult to fall out with your gaming buddies if the objective requires you to work together. Cooperation over competition!
Cooperative board games are ideal for families to have fun together. If you worry about argumentative siblings raising hell during what is supposed to be a relaxing evening together, this could be just what you’re looking for. That said, building teamwork skills within the family isn’t always going to be trouble free, but you can’t have it all, right?
The general idea is that the players team together and play against the game itself. Sometimes one player may be required to play the role of the antagonist, while the remaining participants make up the team. No more having to put with that annoying friend who takes it all too seriously and ends up ruining the night. Bad losers will be in their element: win together and lose together.
From an educational point of view cooperative board games are a fantastic tool for children. Personal development skills that can be learned from mastering teamwork will be essential later on in life. Okay, children also have to learn to kerb their temper with competitive gameplay, but being able to harness all the benefits of learning about teamwork without getting embroiled in arguments over winning and losing is still a good idea.
So, if you’re looking to give cooperative board games a try for the first time take a look at our list of tried and tested titles. Each selection has passed the test of crushing the review pages, and is guaranteed to be a high quality game which will give you much pleasure for years to come.
Our Picks for Best Cooperative Board Games
Pandemic
Number of Players: 2-4
For Ages: 10+
Pandemic is all about learning if you have what it takes to save the whole of humanity. Each team member takes the role of a skilled disease fighting team trying to keep four deadly diseases from wiping out the human population. You can choose either a dispatcher, medic, operations specialist, scientist, or researcher.
On each turn players move between 48 different cities taking a choice of actions; treat a single unit of infection, build a research station, or pass information to one of your fellow team members. If a player is in a city with a research station and holds five player cards of the same color then a cure for one of the disease strains is found.
The game mechanics allow for plenty of rich strategic thinking, while still being simple enough for older children to get to grips with. This game is one of the most popular board games currently available, not just in the cooperative genre. If you turn out to be a big fan after trying it out there are expansions and spin-off standalone versions to keep you going for a long time.
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Robinson Crusoe: Adventure on Cursed Island
Number of Players: 1-4
For Ages: 12+
What better way to lose yourself in an adventure than to fight for survival on a desert island. This classic board game provides seven different scenarios for players to enjoy with varying difficulty. Tons of replayability factor here.
As players take the role of castaways on an uninhabited island they must find shelter from various dangers and complete the missions for whichever scenario they chose. It all sounds so simple, and the goals are, but don’t be fooled into thinking that the gameplay isn’t interesting because it is quite complex.
Players take individual turns, sometimes undertaking a task alone or with the group, but the good of the group is the main concern for everybody.
2016 saw a re-write of the rules for a much improved version compared to the first edition. Any complaints about unclear game mechanics no longer apply.
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Arkham Horror
Number of Players: 2-8
For Ages: 12+
This horror themed title is set in the Massachusetts town of Arkham during the 1920’s, where all sorts of weird things have been happening lately. People are vanishing and there have been sightings of the most hideous creatures imaginable.
Players line-up together as a team of investigators, choosing from 16 playable characters with different special abilities. Eventually they will all square off against the 8 ancient Ones from the infamous Cthulhu Mythos universe.
Arkham Horror was originally released in 1987 and has undergone numerous refinements over the years to ultimately produce one of the best all time classics in the business. This is one game where it doesn’t really matter if you win or lose because all the fun is in the playing.
Plenty of expansions are available if you ever feel like you want to change up the story a little.
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Forbidden Island
Number of Players: 2-4
For Ages: 10+
Are you brave enough to join a team of adventurers on a quest to Forbidden Island? Your squad is on a mission to capture four sacred treasures from the ruins of the Archean Empire. This ancient civilisation was rumoured to have the ability to control the Earth’s core elements wind, earth, water, and fire by using these treasures. For years they were hidden from enemies on this island which was designed to sink if intruders came close to finding them.
Using different combinations of Adventurer, Flood, and Treasure cards on the 24 game tiles players must work together to keep the island from sinking while they seek out the treasures. Once all four treasures are in your possession the team must make their way to Fool’s Landing and escape on the helicopter. If the island sinks before this happens the team lose. Simple!
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Lord of the Rings
Number of Players: 1-5
For Ages: 10+
Lord of the Rings follows the storyline from the epic book and movie series. The objective being to destroy the infamous ring by casting it into the volcanic fires of Mount Doom. Players take the role of one of the hobbits from the Fellowship of the Ring attempting to evade the corrupting influence of the evil entity Sauron on their journey.
The group’s progress across Middle Earth is recorded on a master game board which is supported by a number of scenario boards specific to adventures in particular locations. If the hobbits are overcome by Sauron the game is lost.
This is a fantastically well crafted game which is suitable for adults just as much as children. Reviews suggest that it is at its best when a larger group is playing, but there is nothing wrong with going solo if nobody is available to play with you.
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Witch of Salem
Number of Players: 2-4
For Ages: 10+
This horror title is another game set in the early 20th century. Players team up to try and close the inter-dimensional gates preventing the Old One from entering our world, with Salem’s Master Witch Robert Craven holding the key to keeping mankind safe.
The team of scholars Craven puts together will seek out all of the hidden portals and close them with powerful magic seals.
This is one of the most challenging board games available today, so don’t be expecting to win more often than you lose. Failure to highlight teamwork in your decisions will be punished most severely.
One point which is mentioned frequently in reviews is the high standard of artwork in the game design. This is a great choice for gamers who appreciate this aspect.
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Battlestar Galactica
Number of Players: 3-6
For Ages: 10+
This is a great game based on the struggle for survival by the human race following the invasion of the Cylons. Players have a wide choice of roles from pilots to engineers, or even political leaders to military leaders. It doesn’t get much more diverse than this.
One of the players will secretly be siding with the Cylons while the rest of the team attempts to expose the traitor. The main aim of the game is for Galactica to make jumps to Kobol while the Cylons do their utmost to sabotage the effort. Political unrest along with fuel shortages and food contamination make for a tough task.
Average game time runs to around three hours, so it’s not for the faint hearted of those who struggle with their attention span. The gameplay is deep and rich in possibilities making it a decent choice for hardcore gamers who want something to really get their teeth into.
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Shadows over Camelot
Number of Players: 3-7
For Ages: 10+
In Shadows over Camelot players take the role of a knight from King Arthur’s Round Table, collaborating together in quests such as the search for the Holy Grail, Excalibur, or Sir Lancelot’s armor. As quests are completed white swords are placed on the Round Table; failed quests place a black sword instead. The knights must ensure a majority of white swords before Camelot falls.
There is a twist though. One of your fellow knights might not be a loyal as you think. They might be plotting for the destruction of Camelot and biding their time to strike.
With a maximum seven players able to play this is a great game for bigger gaming groups. Each game takes around 60-90 minutes to play.
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Defenders of the Realm
Number of Players: 1-4
For Ages: 10+
This fantasy board game is all about the King’s Champions defending the ancient Citadel of Monarch City from an impending darkness about to sweep across the land. Four creature factions are approaching the city from each side, so you and your allies must take the role as one of the champions, Cleric, Dwarf, Eagle Rider, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer or Wizard, and defend the countryside before one of the enemies enters the city.
Players make use of strategy, special abilities, cooperation, and card play in each unique adventure as they battle the likes of orcs, dragons, demons, and the undead. There is but a single road to victory but many ways to fail.
This is a highly enjoyable game which takes little time to set up and learn the rules. It’s not an easy game to win, but that just makes it all the sweeter whenever you do pull it off.
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Police Precinct
Number of Players: 1-6
For Ages: 10+
Police Precinct is a game where players take the role of police officers with different skill sets. The gameplay centers around solving a mysterious murder at the same time as controlling crime on the streets, and stopping the entire city from descending into chaos.
Just like in some of our other choices, there may be a traitor within the team. One of your number may be corrupt and taking payments from the murderer.
Players search for evidence in a pack of shuffled investigation cards, Interview Witness, Collect Crime Scene Evidence, Examine Body and Locate Murder Weapon. It’s also possible that the corrupt cop did the search and ignored any evidence he found. After so many days if the team hasn’t solved the case then the murderer will escape justice.
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Flash Point: Fire Rescue
Number of Players: 1-6
For Ages: 8+
This cooperative game of fire rescue comes with two different rule books, and three difficulty settings. Perfect for young children or adults wanting something a little lighter for their evening in.
All players are on the same side: win together, or lose together.
Whether you’re playing the basic game or the expert version, the players are attempting to rescue 7-10 victims from a burning building. As the game progresses the fire will spread to other parts of the building possibly blocking off rescue routes. If four people perish or the building collapses from too much structural damage the game is lost.
The expert version adds enough extra strategy to the game play to make this still a serious choice for the more seasoned gamer.
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Final Thoughts: Our Recommendation for Coop Fun
Every game reviewed here is well worth a purchase. They are all high quality and would stand themselves in good stead on any list of board games. Of course, we still need to made our recommendation though.
We feel that one game stands out, not just as a cooperative board game but also a game which will still be played in many years to come, and that game is Pandemic.
Pandemic has everything a game should have. The game mechanics and strategy are at a perfect level; not too complex nor too simple. The quality of the contents is also at a high level. There really isn’t anything bad to say – it’s our pick for the best cooperative board game for groups of two or more.
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