There is no worse feeling than killing one of your friends because you were a bit too trigger happy. These vision cards are essentially puzzle pieces – they come with no words – but incredibly detailed artwork. There are also mechanics that lock certain dice out of play – requiring a special roll to unlock them again. Gloomhaven makes the list of the best cooperative board games because it is widely considered to be the most robust and deep dungeon crawling title, and heading into the unknown is much better with a group. My Top Ten Cooperative Board Games. In this video The Brothers Murph talk about our top 10 Cooperative Board Games! The more you take out, the more that come. Again – players have to work together to trade, decide when to discard and manage each of their cards appropriately. For 3 – 7 players, games run about 20 minutes each. Add to that a cooperative game that unites players of all ages and you're sure to have something everyone can enjoy. Players: 1 – 5Duration: 120mins – 180mins+Time to Learn: 30mins – 45mins. As if… something is there… watching him. Like my other top ten lists, this list only includes games I have played. This game is fantastic for adults as well, and is, to me the best super hero board game out there. This can be done solo, so the cooperativeness is not what makes it, but anyone who has spent time in an escape room knows that groupthink is the best way to get these things done. Providing knowledge to the rest of the team about how to cure diseases. Co-op (cooperative) gameplay allows gamers to work together as teammates against one or more AI opponents. Although it hits a little closer... 2. The best cooperative board games can be a hugely satisfying experience for both you and your friends. The game begins when each player takes a step through the front door. Just One is the lone party game here, a genre that certainly deserves representation here. The fate of humanity relies on stopping the spread of disease, and that’s where the players come in. Essentially arrange a few decks of cards, start the app and away you go. But this game can only be defeated by meeting common individual tasks of each player. These characters all have different traits and abilities. 2. "Easy to learn but still provides a challenge" is the primary reason people pick Pandemic over the competition. Because it really is just that good. If you have seen any zombie movie ever. This list is … The game focuses on the survival of the players who start the game shipwrecked on a deserted island. Mismanage a few plays and things can really snowball out of control. Betrayal is a horror themed cooperative board game, that will have players working together to explore a haunted house. Horrified just makes the list of the best cooperative board games because it blends many nice and light-hearted aspects that make for a nice package that is going to appeal to a large group, maybe even those who would never pick up a game. Everything in the game is determined by these cards, from attacking, moving, looting, casting skills – everything. Players: 1 – 5Duration: 120mins – 180minsTime to Learn: 20mins – 30mins. Winning and losing depends solely on the cooperation, planning and problem solving of the players as a team. Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island makes the list of the best cooperative board games because it is one of the most fun adventure games out there that puts you and your crew against the game. Everyone knows the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes! Players are thrown into the game – which is fairly open world and acts like a ‘choose your own destiny’ book. Players: 3 – 6Duration: 60mins – 90minsTime to Learn: 15mins – 20mins. Several virulent diseases have broken out simultaneously all over the world! I made the list based on my experiences with many cooperative games, as I have not played every cooperative game. There is also a card that can cause all cities that have been cured… to be reinfected. Mr Conrad MacDowell has just moved into his new house in Scotland. Forbidden Island takes place on an…. You have unique powers, movement and ever-changing game details. The goal is to get a score as close to 13 as possible. The above list is what I believe are the top 10 best cooperative board games released today. You need to take in information and figure out what to do next. It makes the list of the But who is it? The game is unique in the fact it uses a mobile app to enhance the game and act as the ‘host’. We use cookies on this site to optimize site functionality and give you the best possible experience. There is a game for every cooperative board game lover in the list. The dice will let you know if your action is successful or not. 2017 was a great year (with a good top 10 cooperative games). You and your friends will need to focus on getting the necessities (food, water, shelter and warmth) but also learn through exploring the island certain ‘mysteries’ the game might throw at you (did someone say cannibals?). Spin Master Games 5 Minute Dungeon. You all have to work together using different strategies against the monsters to claim victory. To win, you will need to complete a variety of missions and return back to Earth alive. The collection of mechanics and how you need to work together makes this game built perfectly for an amazing cooperative gameplay experience. During the course of the game, you will upgrade your character by acquiring skills, allies, items, weapons, and spells. Each new room you enter will have a different ‘experience’. In order to win – players must activate certain gems in temple rooms, find the exit and then get every single player out. During each mission, it is not the amount of tricks, but the right tricks at the right time that count. When you finally decide you think you know whodunnit – you meet with Sherlock and he will explain how he solved the case. is a perfectly simple game. For 1 – 5 players, games last about 90 – 180 minutes. It will have all players scratching their head – much like an escape room board game… the puzzles can be very difficult to solve. The game relies on coordination between players, being able to describe things the other players can’t see and problem solving. Based on a personal Dungeons and Dragons campaign, Gloomhaven was developed into an incredibly deep and well thought out role playing board game. If your kids watch Critical Role, or are into RPGs and storytelling, then sit the family down for some Mice & Mystics. After ‘the haunt’ it appears that someone you thought was your friend, might actually be a traitor (BETRAYAL!!!). The theme, game play and tense situations in the game are excellent. 1. Up to this point the game is completely cooperative. If you don’t have much free time and want a really quick and fun cooperative board game then Escape: The Curse of the Temple is a great choice. The best cooperative board games 1. But there is limited time – Halloween is almost over…. Pandemic. So let’s dive into the list and see what greatness awaits. Suspecting a supernatural presence. Players progress through the game by moving through the house. The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine takes the top spot on the list of the best cooperative board games because in order to meet the varied challenges, communication is essential in the team, and far more difficult than expected in space. Our top cooperative board game pick is Pandemic. Pandemic, Forbidden Island, and Betrayal at House on the Hill are probably your best bets out of the 12 options considered. Each player has their own traits, different starting equipment and motives for the game. Aeon’s End is currently my favorite deckbuilder. The game comes with six scenarios to play through – each being very different to the last with unique objectives and mysteries. There are no turns. Aeon’s End I love this game! Pandemic was one of the first cooperative board games released and it has paved the way for the genre. All Rights Reserved. That's why a simple board game can go a long way. Best RPG board games Gloomhaven: Level up, unlock and retire multiple unique fantasy heroes in an epic legacy campaign with over 90 tactical scenarios. Made by the same guy (Rob Daviau) who designed Pandemic. A magnificent séance is held on Halloween – where the land of the living and land of the dead become intertwined for one night. And they’re great. But be careful – if you shoot into a room with both zombies and a survivor, you will always shoot the survivor first. My Top 10 Best Cooperative Board Games Recommendations & Reviews #10 Exit The Game: The Abandoned Cabin. These are games that meet all of the following criteria: (1) a cooperative format, even if it has a traitor element; (2) compelling "theme" (not too abstract); and (3) fun to play. 10 Best Cooperative Board Games Reviews 1. Debate, discuss and work on the best plan you all can make. 10 Best Strategy Board Games to Play in 2020-This is a detailed review of 6 of the best strategy board games on the market: Scythe, Terraforming Mars, Betrayal at House on the Hill, Ticket to Ride: Europe, 7 Wonders Duel, and Carcassonne. Players choose their characters and the game begins. Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective is an oldie (1982) but a goodie. Find weapons, kill zombies. [email protected] says: October 20, 2010 at 2:28 pm. Learn More. To win the game, players need to collect all four treasures and move all players to the fools landing location on the board and play the ‘helicopter lift’ card. You will find a huge amount of theory crafting and strategy debate during turns about how exactly the players should combine their abilities in order to give the team the best shot at winning. Each player plays as a different psychic medium. Zombicide makes the list of the best cooperative board games because it is you and your squad against a massive incoming squad of emenies. But games for single person themselves may be more interesting than conventional board games. With the simultaneous actions of all the different beasts and effects from unknown rooms coming at you from all angles, it is important to have a crew that are going to watch your back and bring different skills to the table. It's all about teamwork and problem-solving as a team. If you like fantasy themed cooperative games with legacy mechanics or Dungeons and Dragons, then Gloomhaven is the perfect game for you. I first covered the game in detail when I wrote my article on the best dungeon crawl board games but have included it here, because in terms of cooperative gameplay it is one of the best. Each game revolves around a casebook, which contains clues and information you’ll unlock the further in the case you and your friends get. Then it is time to try a cooperative board game! For 1 – 4 players, games last about 1 – 2 hours. For those unfamiliar, a cooperative game is any game in which players do not compete against each other, but instead work together against an "engine" of some kind provided by the game, which generates challenges for them to overcome. Check Price on Amazon. When fleeing is not an option, all you can do is fight through the belly of the beast and hopefully have your fellow players watch your back. Treating diseased patients;4. Gloomhaven is one of my favorite games to play during a marathon game night with friends. After each, the game can be paused and continued later. Players set out as astronauts on an uncertain space adventure, exploring the rumors about an unknown planet. The game starts with a virus outbreak in 9 major cities in the world. At the start of the game each player is assigned a randomly selected character role. Players: 1 – 4Duration: 30minsTime to Learn: 5mins. This is my personal “Top 10 List,” and it does not necessarily reflect the views of every writer here at Board Game Quest. Pandemic is really challenging – and that’s what makes it so great as a cooperative board game. It makes the list of the best cooperative board games because it is probably the best deduction crime-solving game to ever hit the market. Byron is a board game enthusiast. The casebook is divided into scenes that feature a different part of the case. This page is powered by a knowledgeable community that helps you make an informed decision. The game is really fun to play and is really a great cooperation board game. Players take turns having to guess a word. Why? You start a scene and are essentially let loose as a team to investigate clues and move across London into areas like the ghettos, pubs and upper echelons of Victorian day London. The core mechanics that Pandemic introduced have become fundamental to most of today’s cooperative board games and it is by far one of the most fun to play – they have even released a legacy version of the game, which for a while was the No.1 rated board game in the world (this position has since been taken by Gloomhaven). Pandemic makes the list of the best cooperative board games because it is the franchise that made cooperative what it is today. This list contains some truly excellent co-op board games , which aren't just great cooperative experiences, but make for a fantastic time in general - in fact, many co-op games are among (a statement that can also apply to the best board games you can buy and play in 2019). There is a list of honorable mentions at the bottom. You will find many obstacles on your way: swarms of Alien organisms, the poor physical condition of the ship, the other players that will have their own agendas and, sometimes, just cruel fate. 7 Best Co-Op Tabletop Games Pandemic A game that is short and sweet as well as massively simple to master in just twenty or so minutes, the Tiny Epic Galaxies is perhaps top of the list for best solo board games in terms of value. Are the board games you are playing becoming a little too competitive? You are presented with a mystery to solve, and it is then up to you to trace the threads of evidence through the byways and mansions of 19th century London. Betrayal at House on the Hill. If The Walking Dead was adapted into a board game that was just as punishing yet engrossing, then the Dead of Winter masterpiece would be it. Dodging zombies and averting crises has never been so nerve-wracking. Here are 10 of the best coop board games ever made. As always, your mileage may vary. The game blends together a few different aspects of deduction and adventure that create a great task for a group to take on. Most people are fans of the Zombie apocalypse theme, The board is modular – allows for variation and replayability, Making mistakes early on can cost a player their life, Some cards are a lot harder to work out when paired than others, Unique mechanics – wound system and randomness, Would be awesome if more dice came with the game, Classes are unique and have different abilities/play styles, The rules are clean and easy to read and understand, Loads of different enemy types keeps the game interesting, Enemy AI could use a bit of a tweak – movement is very simple, Game takes a decent amount of time to set up, Requires players to be really efficient and roll dice fast, Players who dislike fast gameplay will not like it, The writing is fantastic and really engrosses players in the story, With 4+ people the game can take a while with everyone discussing their ideas. In the process, you will enhance their abilities with experience and loot, discover new locations to explore and plunder, and expand an ever-branching story fueled by the decisions you make. Mage Knight: Journey across a randomly-generated land battling monsters, hiring mercenaries and building your deck in co-op, competitive and solo gameplay modes. At least, some of them. Now just because the game is quick… doesn’t mean it won’t leave you leaving the table with a cold sweat and adrenaline pumping. Horrified includes legends Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Dracula, The Mummy, The Invisible Man, and Creature from the Black Lagoon. I mean if you get lucky and find a shotgun early on – exploding zombie heads becomes a whole lot easier…. Overall the game is a lot of fun and a great all-round coop board game. Board Game Breakfast; Top 10's; Top 100's; Dice Tower Live; Dice Tower Enhanced; Convention Coverage; Latest Videos; Other; Board Game Top 10 & 100. It is up to you, the players, to follow the clues through Victorian London in order to solve the case. play board games. First off there is the theme, the most iconic monsters used in interesting ways. Cooperative board games are becoming increasingly popular during board game nights – where board games are traditionally very competitive, it is a welcomed difference to play on the same side as your friends for a change. This provides for endless replay value – no game is ever the same. You and the other players need to work cooperatively as a team of scientists, doctors and other specialists to stop the virus from spreading and eradicate it for good – before everyone dies. Like Pandemic, Betrayal really builds an intense atmosphere in the game that increases as the game progresses – players start the game calm and slowly become more and more on edge. I will try to keep things as vague as possible, while explaining what you can expect in the game. It is found to be a ghost of a former servant of the house that came to an untimely demise during a masquerade party held at the house. It becomes very clear that something is off as strange events and appearances start to become known. And if you're not necessarily concerned with co-op, check out IGN's list of the Best Board Games of 2019. While this sounds simple enough, each player only gets a maximum of 7 cards in their hand. In order to cure a disease, you need to get 5 cards of the same colour to a research facility. You will interview suspects, search the newspapers for clues, and put together the facts to reach a solution. It is just a very solid game that is all about working together. Players: 3 – 6Duration: 60minsTime to Learn: 10mins. For 1 – 5 players, games run about 60 minutes. The more zombies you kill, the more skilled you get; the more skilled you get, the more zombies appear. While not technically a ‘pure’ cooperative board game – it’s cooperative enough that it deserves a spot on this list. Betrayal at House on the Hill Board Game Review, Top 10 Best 6-Player Board Games – Ranked & Reviewed, Top 10 Best 3-Player Board Games – Ranked & Reviewed, The first cooperative board game that put this genre on the map, The game is super intense – suspense will keep every player on the edge of their seat, Incredibly easy to learn – VERY hard to master, Requires all players input to be successful. We LOOOOOVE coops so check out our list! Cooperative board games are an excellent way for you and your friends to fight side by side to overcome challenges and work together. All players enter the mansion with the same story. ... Now for cooperative games (all players vs game), Space Alert and Ghost Stories are the best of the best, and truly awesome games! Your email address will not be published. When you start the game, you are presented with 1 of 10 mysteries to solve. From word and deception games to exploration and role-playing games, these will keep the holidays bright and fun. With each mission, the game becomes more difficult. Mansion of Madness is an excellent horror themed fully cooperative mystery board game. Players start the game with a frying pan, and must franticly search for a better weapon and supplies to be able to fight off the undead which start to spawn faster and faster the deeper in the game the players get. Each role comes with a special ability and dictates the colour you will be playing on the board. Just fought off a ravaging bear from your camp? All while trying to survive the different enemies you will encounter. Do you move? Each medium has a different set of facts they need to uncover (which are different to the other players). Eldritch Horror ( review) Eldritch Horror has aged well with time. Players have to work as a team to make it to the end game – and there is some luck involved with clutch rolls that can level your character or help you learn the skill you need to give you an edge. Well, I’m agree, no game can substitute a good company. Check out our list of the Best Board Games to Play Over Zoom for ... but the beauty of this game is that it’s cooperative. If you like roleplaying games – this is the ultimate cooperative board game for you. The game has amazing artwork and miniature pieces and huge thick tiles. Player actions are dictated by rolling a set of 5 dice with custom faces. The fact that all players work together at the beginning and then have a traitor in the mix is awesome and makes betrayal the ultimate mix of a coop board game and a hidden identity board game. The board games I have picked below are what I believe to be the best cooperative board games. Each player gets a set of dice. Each player chooses a starting character at the beginning of the game. Another game which appeared in my best dungeon crawl board game article and as mentioned above is currently the no.1 rated board game in the world (according to board game geek). Top 10 Cooperative Board and Card Games of 2020 December 20, 2020 A Review of Etherfields — Part I. Unboxing, Solo Rules, and First Impressions December 14, 2020 A Review of Alice Is Missing December 12, 2020 You and your crew-mates must survive on a ship infested with hostile organisms. Is there always a ruthless butting of heads between you and the other players as you all scramble to win the campaign or collect enough points to emerge victoriously? These games either just missed the cut or are board games that I haven’t played but have heard good things about. He loves trying out all sorts of new games and has a gaming room that is filled to the brim with collectibles, and awesome nerd stuff! Spirit Island 2. The eventful journey through space extends over 50 exciting missions. This is one of the best deduction board games I have played – and if you enjoy solving puzzles, it is one you just have to add to your collection! There are tons and tons of coop board games out there, but which ones are the best. Players move around through different areas of the temple – adding rooms as they move and activating gems along the way in order to find the exit and get everyone out.