10 Best Cooperative Board Games in 2017

Looking for the best cooperative board games on the market? We’ve got you covered with our comprehensive buyer’s guide for the best cooperative board games out there.

Board games have been around for ages. They have evolved over time from simple tabletop games to narrative-driven board games. Most of the board games are based on the strategy that is required to win the game, but some are based on pure luck, with no skill or strategy required.

Board games usually have a set goal that players want to achieve. From the early times, board games were based around two armies and the main goal was to win the battle. As time passed, board games have evolved, but the main pillars of the board games are still present today.

There are many types of board games to choose from today. Some of them have no set theme, like chess, and some of them have a set theme and narrative, like Dungeons & Dragons. The latter type of board games is called a role-playing board game and this type of board game has become extremely popular nowadays. These kinds of games use the board as the main source of game scenario visualization and can be played cooperatively or competitively.

The main difference between competitive and cooperative board games is that you play against other players in competitive board games while you play cooperatively against the game in cooperative board games. Both of these types of board games are extremely fun and will fill your time with much fun.

Most board games also require time for mastery. That time varies from game to game, and board games with the most depth of gameplay require the most time to learn and master. For example, chess has a simple ruleset but has a deep strategic depth that will require months or even years to master fully.

Board games have risen in popularity after the decline in the twentieth century and we can see why. They are fun to play and are guaranteed to provide immense fun for the whole family or company of friends. Even though the board game market isn’t as big as the video game market, it has a following that increases in number every day.

Some may prefer competitive board games over the cooperative board games. If cooperative board games are your cup of tea, then you come to the right place.

1. Pandemic Board Game

That is a cooperative board game made by Z-Man Games and it is one of the most popular cooperative board games ever made. In this board game, you and your team are members of a disease control team. This game can be played by 2-4 players and the main goal is to discover cures for 4 diseases before they infect the whole world. These 4 diseases come in the form of 4 differently colored cards: Black, Red, Blue and Yellow. To stop these diseases from infecting the whole world, players must work cooperatively in this extremely fun board game. The play time of this game is 60 minutes.

Features and Specifications:

Number of Players – this extra-fun cooperative board game can be played by 2-4 players. All players play together to stop the infection from spreading to the whole world. Each player has a specific role with special powers which they must use smart to stop the infection from spreading and losing the game. For example, the Operation Specialist role can build research stations that can find a cure for a disease and help win the game. The Scientist role can cure diseases with only 4 same colored cards as opposed to other roles, which need 5 same colored cards to cure the same colored disease. Each role has its strengths and weaknesses, and it’s up to players to figure out which combinations are best for winning the game.

Play Time – players will fight the spread of disease for approximately an hour. That is an immensely fun board game that also happens to have high replay value, so it won’t be a problem to play a few rounds, as the play time of this board game is 60 minutes. You can also stay assured to be on your toes the whole time, as this game is challenging but also fun.

Gameplay and Theme – this game is played on a handsomely detailed map of the world that is drawn on the board. Each city is interconnected with red webs and every game starts in Atlanta Research Station. Players can do 4 actions every turn and the goal of each player is to find a cure for epidemics by collecting 5 cards of the same color and handing it to the research station. 9 random cities are infected and if they break out into huge outbreaks, players lose. The theme of the game is strategic thinking and expert time-management.

 
 
 
 

2. Forbidden Island

That is a cooperative board game made by Gamewright and is one of the most popular cooperative board games on the market. It features similar mechanics to Pandemic board game, so that means that it can be played by 2-4 players and the playtime ranges from 30 – 60 minutes. These 60 minutes will be filled with much fun, as this game requires strategic thinking and superb cooperation skills to win the game. The goal of this cooperative board game is to collect the 4 treasures on the Forbidden Island before it sinks into the sea. You can achieve these goals thanks to the different classes this game offers and every class has its special powers that can come handy in treasure-hunting.

Features and Specifications:

The Premise – this cooperative board game has a fascinating theme and it is played on a board that has a drawn map of the Forbidden Island. The Forbidden Island is based on the ancient legend of the Archaean Empire, that was a civilization that could control the four elements – Fire, Earth, Wind and Water. These four elements are 4 treasures that players need to find before the island sinks into the sea. You can set the water level higher if you want to increase difficulty and prepare for the most fun treasure hunt.

The Goal – this game can be played by 2-4 players and the goal of your team is to work cooperatively and strategically to capture all 4 treasures and bring them to Fool’s Landing before the island sinks. That mission can be completed by using different combinations of Adventure, Flood and Treasure cards on the 24 tiles that comprise the Forbidden Island. If the island sinks before you collect all the treasures and escape the island, the game ends in your defeat. High level of cooperation and strategic thinking is required to win this game, and that makes it immensely fun to play. Every player is dealt a corresponding pawn and class based on the Adventure card first dealt, and every class has a set of special skills which must be combined to find all the treasures and win the game.

Box Contents – inside the packaging of this extremely fun cooperative board game is the water level meter and water marker that indicate the difficulty of the game and the time left to find the 4 treasures. It also contains 24 island tiles on the board, 58 playing cards, 6 pawns and 4 treasure figures. Along with these items, there is also a comment card, Gamewright catalog and rules of play.

 
 
 
 

3. Legends of Andor Board Game

That is a cooperative board game made by Thames & Kosmos, and is one of the best fantasy-themed cooperative board games currently available. The game can be played by 2-4 players and the play time ranges from 60-90 minutes. That is essentially a role-playing cooperative board game and features 5 distinct scenarios with its narrative. Players can play with 4 heroes, each with his set of strengths and weaknesses. The cooperative play is heavily emphasized in this cooperative game, and if you don’t want monsters to overrun the castle, then you must think strategically and work cooperatively to defeat the evil that is treating the Kingdom of Andor.

Features and Specifications:

Number of Players and Roles – 2-4 players can play this cooperative board game. Each player gets a hero card, each one having its special skills and set of strengths and weaknesses. Players must combine the strengths of their heroes smart if they want to stop the evil forces from capturing the castle. This cooperative board game is a fantastic social experience, as it requires high cooperation skills and problem-solving skills.

Gameplay – each game starts with choosing one of the 5 possible scenarios called Legends. There are 71 different legend card that tells a specific narrative. Each player has a set number of turn which they can use to traverse the land, fight monsters, uncover what’s behind the fog to find treasure or monsters, drink from the well to restore willpower or buy items from merchants and level up. This game has a fun and rewarding gameplay and if you want to save the Kingdom of Andor you have to find the witch and her medicinal herbs, explore the ancient mines for gemstones and defeat the ancient slumbering dragon that threatens the land. Each of these quests can be completed with smart cooperative gameplay, and that’s what’s most fun about this cooperative board game.

Design and Contents – this cooperative board game features a beautifully illustrated double-sided board made for male and female heroes alike, 41 game figures, 4 hero boards, a quick start guide, user manual and much more. The game is also expanded by expansion packs, which give access to 2 new heroes that allows for 6 player games and adds new quests for more fun for your money.

 
 
 
 

4. Betrayal At House On The Hill

That is a cooperative board game made by Avalon Hill and is one of the most popular cooperative board games on the market. It is essentially a horror role-playing board game, in which you must traverse the haunted house and survive longer as possible. That is a long game with some complex rules with playtime ranging from 60 to 90 minutes. What makes this cooperative board game unique is its Haunt mechanic, in which a player that is haunted teams up with the monsters and uses the collected items and the set of skills against other players. To win at this game, players must work cooperatively and strategically to overcome the evil forces of the house successfully.

Features and Specifications:

Number of Players and Roles – this cooperative board game can be played by 3 to 6 players. There are also six player character figures and each one of them features a dual-personality that is used in the Haunt phase so that mean that you can play as 12 characters in this game. Each character also has a statistic panel that indicates the strengths and weaknesses of that character, and every character can upgrade his statistics to explore the haunted house more efficiently.

Gameplay – along with the already mentioned character customization aspect, this game also features 50 scenarios which greatly increases the replay value of this cooperative board game. The game board is also unlike any other, as you have room tiles that are connected to main hall tiles, and every game will be different because of that, further increasing the replay value of this cooperative board game. This board game can be divided into two phases. The Exploration phase is based around finding items and increasing stats while expanding the tiles of the house. There are also many event and haunt cards that add spice to the gameplay. The second phase is the Haunt phase, and it triggers whenever someone draws the Haunt card, and it makes the player who drew that card team up with the denizens of the house, and players must work cooperatively to defeat the evil that haunts the haunted player. There are many Haunt variations, and seeing all of them may require some time. If players want to win this game, they must work with much cooperation and strategic thinking.

Box Contents – inside the packaging of this cooperative board game comes many plastic figurines as well as many game cards. The packaging features a rulebook, 1 entrance or main hall tile, 44 room tiles, 2 haunt cards, 6 player figures, 6 character cards that are two-sided, 149 tokens and 80 cards. Based on the high number of cards and figures in this cooperative board game, you can expect this game to last long; from 60 to 90 minutes of play time.

 
 
 
 

5. Codenames

That is a team-based cooperative board game that is made by Czech Games and is one of the best board games available on the market today. What’s great about this game is that it has a very simple premise and can be played by 2-8 players in two opposing teams. Cooperation and deduction skills are required to excel at this game. The goal of each team is to guess as many words that are the same color as the team. Spymasters know every word on the table, but they must provide clues for their team members in the hope of them guessing the right word. This game is immensely fun and will be played for many hours to come.

Features and Specifications:

Number of Players and Roles – this board game can be played by 2-8 players that are then divided into two teams. Each team has a spymaster that knows what 25 words are on the table and their job is to provide hints for their team members so that they could guess what word is on the table. This board game requires a superficial level of cooperation and deduction skills and it is guaranteed that every game will be filled with fun and discussion. There is also a game mode in which players try to attain the highest score possible by playing the game.

Gameplay – this cooperative board game is a word game that requires high deduction skills and provides every player with lots of fun. Two teams are formed at the start of the game, spymasters being hint-givers and other team members trying to guess the word hinted by the spymaster. On the table are 25 random words and the team that guesses the most words that have the team color wins. If players want to win this game, they must use their deduction skills to decode the hints of the spymaster into actual words, and much fun will come from that gameplay element. Players must also avoid the assassin that will kick you out from the game if you happen upon that card. This game is also great because it will improve your deduction skills. What’s best is that the playtime of this cooperative board game is just 15 minutes, so you can expect high replay value and fun for many hours to come.

Box Contents – this cooperative board game features many cards and other goodies that greatly boost the replay value of it. Inside the packaging are: 16 agent cards in two colors that represent the two teams and the words they must guess, 1 double agent card for an added twist to the gameplay, 7 innocent bystander cards, 1 assassin card; a role everyone must avoid, 40 key cards, a rulebook and 200 cards with 400 codenames to spice up the replay value even more.

 
 
 
 

6. Eldritch Horror

That is a cooperative board game made by Fantasy Flight Games and it is inspired by Arkham Horror, one of the most popular horror board games. In this game for 1-8 players you must work cooperatively to stop the four Ancient Ones; Eldritch beings known to anyone who has heard of H.P. Lovecraft from expanding their influence through the world. The game is played on a fairly big board that represents our Earth and there are also many different heroes with a specific set of strengths of weaknesses which you must use cooperatively to achieve success. Once you learn the somewhat complicated rules, you can enjoy in this fun and immersive role-playing cooperative board game.

Features and Specifications:

Number of Players and Roles – this horror board game can also be played solo as well as with 8 players. It is guaranteed to provide fun for the whole company as its apocalyptic Cthulhu theme is highly atmospheric and provides fun for hours to come. Players can choose from 12 investigators that come from all corners of the world in hopes of stopping the evil Eldritch influence. Each investigator has its set of strengths and weaknesses, for example, the musician can get out of many troubling situations by using his musical talent. These investigator traits add up a spice to the gameplay and introduce a high emphasis on role-playing elements.

Gameplay – as this is a story-driven game, you can expect much reading in this game. That is not a bad thing, as this game has an interesting and deep theme which bears the marks of legendary H.P. Lovecraft. 4 Ancient Ones are unleashed in the world that is represented on the board, and players must work together and find clues to stop the influence of these Eldritch beings. Each Old One features its theme and set of stories that make this game extremely replayable. This game is also very long and will provide fun for hours to come. The gameplay is greatly expanded thanks to the number of expansions released for this game that add more heroes and clues to find and conquer. There are also many different Condition cards that provide a twist to the gameplay by making your investigation harder.

 
 
 
 

7. Flash Point Fire Rescue 2nd Edition

Thi is a cooperative board game made by Indie Boards & Cards, and it perfectly embodies every player in a role of a firefighter. It can be played by 2 to 6 players that play as a firefighting team; the goal of every player is to save as many victims from the fire and extinguish the blaze before it consumes the whole board. Its playtime is 30 minutes so the replay value of this cooperative board game is high. No rounds will be the same thanks to the two rulesets and 3 difficulty levels that boost the replay value even more.

Features and Specifications:

Number of Players and Roles – this cooperative board game can be played by 2-6 players with an estimated playtime of 30 minutes. What makes this cooperative board game special is that it provides players with an immersive look into the firefighter experience. Every player chooses a role that has a different set of strengths and weaknesses and players must utilize cooperative play style and strategic approach to finish the game victorious. Each player can change the class through the game to adapt to the different situations. Some roles can treat wounded victims, drive fire trucks and ambulance and much more, which adds to the immersive experience of this board game.

Gameplay – this cooperative board game takes place in a building that is on fire. The goal of the player team is to establish their cooperative skills and use a strategic approach to save as many people as possible and extinguish the flame inside the building. There are also many random events that may further make your task more difficult so you must adapt your specialization to every event. This board game also features 5 expansion packs which adds more events, specializations and much more to enhance the fun gameplay further. It also features 4 difficulty levels if you want to squeeze more fun from this great experience.

Box Contents – this robust board game experience also features many goodies inside the packaging: gameboard on which you play the game, rulebook, 33 Threat Markers, 24 Damage Markers, 24 Hot Spot Markers, 18 POI Markers that indicate people that can be saved, 6 Hazmat Markers, 3 Heal Tokens, 21 Action Tokens, 3 Vehicle Markers, 6 Firefighter Figures, 8 Specialist Cards, 6 Player Card and two dice. A number of gameplay features this board game has are robust and further establishes an immersive experience.

 
 
 
 

8. Robinson Crusoe: Adventure on the Cursed Island

This is a cooperative board game that is made by Z-Games and is one of the most unforgiving board games on the market, but that also is its main charm, as it will keep you hooked, adding to the replay value. It can be played by 2-4 players with the goal of surviving on the island against all the odds. The playtime of this board game is approximately 120 minutes but will keep you coming back and back again in hopes of winning the various scenarios.

Features and Specifications:

Number of Players and Roles – this cooperative board game can be played by 2-4 players that choose one of the 4 roles to survive on the island. You can choose roles of Cook, Explorer, Carpenter or Soldier. Each role has its set of strengths and weaknesses and it’s up to the players to use their skills in a most effective way. Every decision requires a high level of cooperation and strategic thinking and if you do a wrong decision, it will come to haunt you later in the game.

Gameplay – this cooperative board game is notorious for its high level of difficulty and the best part is that the gameplay is deep and fun enough to keep you coming back again after failing many times. The emphasis is on the cooperative skills and strategic thinking, as players must gather and spend resources that are scarce in the most efficient way possible. Event cards give twists to the gameplay and after every cycle, they are drawn out and often do some effects that will make your survival on the island much harder, but there may be situations when the Event card works in your favor. This board game also features 6 different scenarios; in one scenario you have to build a fire and survive for 12 months, in another scenario your goal is to find the treasure and much more. The game also gets support from many passionate players who print out the custom scenarios for you to enjoy and conquer.

Box Contents – the packaging of this cooperative board game is filled with many items that further contribute to the castaway theme of this board game. Inside the box you can find: 90 Adventure cards that can lead you to other castaways, treasure or native tribes, 70 Event cards, 52 Mystery cards, 12 dice, 6 scenarios, 4 character cards, wooden cubes, plastic cubes, beast deck which you will often fight, inventory deck, starting deck and much more. The amount of care nad polishing this game had is astonishing and that is why this cooperative board game is one of the best on the market.

 
 
 
 

9. Descent: Journeys in The Dark Second Edition

This cooperative board game is made by Fantasy Flight Games, and is one of the best dungeon-crawling themed board games on the market. It is very similar to the highly praised Dungeons & Dragons board game, but this game takes a larger emphasis on fighting the evil minions of the overlord. Every player must complete quests to gather experience and explore the world to get better items and more experience. After the players have gathered enough experience and risen in power, they may attempt to vanquish the evil overlord. 2-5 players can play this cooperative board game and the estimated playtime is 120 minutes, making it a long, but absorbing board game experience.

Features and Specifications:

Number of Players and Roles – this cooperative board game. One player gets the role of an evil overlord, essentially being a dungeon master and trying to vanquish the opposing team with the help of his minions. Other players can take the roles of 8 different classes. Each class has its set of strengths and weaknesses, and it is up to the players to think strategically and to cooperate if they want to win the game.

Gameplay – this is a dungeon-crawling game with an immersive story and that is why it is so fun even though the round may last for 2 hours. During each game, players must solve quests in a story driven adventure that will take them through various locales to fight enemies, earn experience and find rare items. After the team decides that they have grown in power immensely, they may choose to take on the Overlord himself and attempt to win the game. If the players work cooperatively and make use of different skill combinations they may stand a chance against the mighty overlord. There is also a campaign mode added with this edition that boosts the playtime greatly but also provides much more house of great fun with your friends or family.

 
 
 
 

10. Battlestar Galactica

That is a cooperative board game made by Fantasy Flight Games and is heavily inspired by the SyFy show Battlestar Galactica. It can be played by 3-6 players and the approximate play time ranges from 1-2 hours that will be filled with much fun. What makes this board game different from the others is that it features a Traitor concept which makes one or more players an enemy force, Cylon, that wants to wipe out the other players. The goal of the players that control the humans is to survive the Cylon attacks and to figure out which player is Cylon. That is an extremely fun game that will require high deduction skills and a high amount of cooperation and strategic thinking to make it through to the end.

Features and Specifications:

Number of Players and Roles – this cooperative board game can be played by 3-6 players. Players take roles of 10 different characters from the TV show and every character has his set of strengths and weaknesses and it is up to the player team to determine which strengths are most efficient to use in any given situation. This game also features a twist on the role mechanic as one or more players can assume the traitor role of Cylon, and their goal is to disrupt the progression of human players as much as possible.

Gameplay – this cooperative board game emphasizes cooperation and strategic thinking above everything else, and that’s where the fun factor comes in. The goal of the human players is to use strategic thinking and cooperative skills to make the journey to Kobol and that journey will be full of treacherous surprises and events. There are also Crisis cards that are event cards that will often hinder the progression of your journey through space as you will lose resources and other valuables. Cylon characters also have a set of their skills that will hinder the journey of humans. High deductive skills are required to recognize the traitors, and if put to good use, will greatly influence your victory. Be prepared to have some free time, as this game can take a good amount of 2-3 hours of playtime.

 
 
 
 

Benefits of Board Games

Board games are essentially learning, joy and life that are packaged in a box. Every board game you play, regardless of genre, will require the use of your social skills and lessons you learned from life. It is also widely known that board games greatly benefit children, as they can learn and improve their basic skills thanks to the friendly and casual atmosphere of board games.

If we talk about the history of board games, the use of board games is recorded to 2500 B.C. Even though board games were played through all that time, their boost in popularity happened in the 20th century. The increased interest in board games came from American culture, where the middle class was developed and their free time was greatly spent in a company of friends and family playing board games.

There are many types of board games. Some of them are based on pure luck, some require strategic thinking, some require extensive knowledge, but most of them require a combination of all three virtues. For example, strategic thinking is greatly emphasized in chess, while pure luck and strategic thinking is required in Monopoly. Another popular board game, Candy Land, relies purely on luck, as the main game element of that game is drawing the right card.

Board games are also great for you as they are greatly entertaining as well as educational. It has been proved by research that teaching methods that include fun are more efficient in the early development of children. Games have an advantage over traditional instruction methods as they hold interest thanks to the fun factor.

Board games also provide every player with a relaxed and casual environment that also includes laughter, a key factor in learning new ideas.

Social skills can also be improved thanks to the board games. As these are kinds of games where communication and competitive spirit is king, the verbal expression will be encouraged by that. It has also been proven that persistence and patience are greatly increased if you play board games.  The attention span of children is also boosted by board games, as they require focus from players and remembrance of rules. The element of luck in board games also mimics the uncertainty of life itself, and it sends a positive message to every player.

The greatest benefit of playing board games is the time well spent in a company of friends and family. Your self-esteem and social skills will be greatly boosted when in a positive environment filled with people you love and respect. The board games are also a great, stress-free solution for enhancing the intellectual characteristics of young children. That’s why many parents keep board games in their home.

Why are Board Games so Popular?

In a technologically advanced age where gaming is getting closer to complete immersion thanks to the graphical improvements and where virtual reality is becoming a thing able to teleport you into imaginary worlds, and where humans are one with the machine, it is peculiar that we’re apparently in a middle of board game revivalism. Why do people still have a desire for games that feature plastic figures and cards when they can play video games for maximum immersion?

The board game sales have been rising for every year in the past decade. There are also many lists of most popular cafes for board games and that tells of their high popularity. The rising popularity of board games is also greatly indicated in the rise of YouTube channels that are based on board games, some of them getting more than 10,000 subscribers.

There also many communities that have formed in the 70s and 80s and they remain even now, in modern times. Dungeons & Dragons and Warhammer have got strong cult followings, and even organize all kinds of events, clubs and meet-ups. Even the classic board games like Monopoly and Magic: The Gathering have been digitalized, but their physical sales grow rapidly.

The huge rise in popularity of board games is thanks to the transfer from the niche and geek market to the mainstream market. Main perception of lots of people back then were that nerds played board games in dark rooms. Things are different now.

The popularity of board games has also risen thanks to the benefits of playing such games, and because of the interaction element, which improves social skills greatly.

Conclusion

There are many types of board games that have appeared over the years, but the most popular board games have come to attention in the late 20th century. Board games are also great for enhancing your personal traits, as they make use of your perception and strategic skills while promoting cooperation and interaction.

Some board games are also based on luck more than skill, but every board game shares the same thing: they are immensely fun and rewarding to play and promote positive interaction and atmosphere.

There are roughly two types of board games: competitive and cooperative. Competitive board games require more concentration and skill from their players, as you’re in the heat of battle and there is only one winner. Cooperative board games are great for family fun and promoting a positive atmosphere, as you’re cooperating with other players in the game and that is a very fun and rewarding experience.

Whether your preference is, board games are an excellent way to socialize and have fun with your friends and family and they aren’t also very expensive. It is also a great stress-reliever, thanks to the positive atmosphere it creates. Board games are also very important in improving the social and other important skills of young children, so it’s no wonder that many households have a board game.

The popularity of board games has also risen greatly, and many events mimic the video game events. They are an excellent way to connect people and that’s why they popularity will continue to rise over the following years.