Cooperative games

You will also hear them called co-op board games, and many boxes simply say cooperative. It is all the same thing. Want to know how this genre compares with other styles of play? Our overview of types of board games explains it.

Who does playing together work best for?

For groups where not everyone is equally competitive. Anyone new to the game need not worry about finishing last, because that result does not exist.

It works well with children, too. Losing is big news at a young age, and losing together is a lot easier to swallow than losing to your big brother.

And with two players the genre may well be at its very best. Sky Team, in which a pilot and co-pilot land a plane together, won the Spiel des Jahres with it in 2024. You will find more games for two in the board games for 2 players category.

What to watch out for

One thing above all, and it is the best-known objection to this genre: the player who knows the game best soon starts deciding the plan for the whole table. Then four people are playing a game that really only one person is playing.

The solution is an agreement, not a rule: everyone decides their own turn, even if it is not the best move. Some games solve it in the box by simply forbidding discussion.

Also keep an eye on the difficulty. A cooperative game that you almost always win is a puzzle with extra steps. The good ones regularly beat you. Sleeping Gods, in which you explore a world as the crew of a ship, is a good example: it beats you regularly, and that is exactly why it stays exciting.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good cooperative game to start with? Sky Team, in which a pilot and co-pilot land a plane together. It won the Spiel des Jahres in 2024, takes half an hour, and after one game you will know whether this genre is for you.

Can you play cooperative board games solo? Often, yes. Since there are no opponents at the table anyway, you just play all the roles yourself. Check the box to see whether the player count starts at one.

Are cooperative games suitable for children? Definitely, and the genre is ideally suited to them. There are versions for ages 4 and up, where working together is the whole idea.

Which cooperative game should I choose? That depends on your group and on how much time you have. Our blog on the best cooperative board games lists seven games from light to heavy, with who each one is meant for.