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What are The Best Cooperative Board Games? Reviews and Buying Guide for 2022

cooperative board games
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Cooperative board games are a great way to spend time with friends and family. Not only are they fun, but they also promote teamwork and communication. You can find cooperative board games for all ages, so there is something for everyone. 

Many of the best cooperative board games are based on movies, TV shows, and books, so you can find a game that interests you, no matter what the cooperative card game is based on. 

If you are looking for a cooperative board game to play, you have come to the right place. Board Games have been around for centuries, and they are still just as popular today. 

They have evolved over the years, and there are now many different genres to choose from. If you enjoy playing board games, you will love cooperative board games. 

In this article, we will be discussing the best cooperative board games on the market. We will also provide a buyer’s guide to help you make the best decision for your needs.

The Definition of Cooperative Board Game

A co-op board game is where players work together to complete a task or goal. Cooperative board games are different from traditional board games because the players work together instead of against each other. 

This makes cooperative board games excellent for family and friends because it promotes teamwork and communication, as any strategy game does.

There are many different cooperative board games on the market, so you can find one that interests you. 

People of all ages can enjoy cooperative board games, so there is something for everyone. In addition, they are a great way to spend time with family and friends.

The best cooperative board games are a great way to teach teamwork and communication to people of all ages!

21 Best Cooperative Board Games

1: Pandemic Board Game

The Pandemic board game is one of the best cooperative board games that simulates the spread of a deadly pandemic. The co-op game is designed for two to four players, and each player has a specific role in combating the disease. 

For example, the Medic is responsible for treating infected patients as they do in real life, while the Researcher works to develop a cure. 

The game is won by either eradicating the disease or completing specific objectives, such as finding a cure or bolstering the world’s defenses. 

Pandemic is an engaging and fun co-op board game that challenges players to work together to win the game and claim victory.

2: Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate Board Game

Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate is a cooperative board game for three to six players. In the game, players take on the role of heroes who must work together to explore a haunted mansion and uncover its secrets. 

The game is set in the city of Baldur’s Gate, which is known for its dark and dangerous streets. 

The game’s artwork is evocative of the city’s grim atmosphere, and the game’s mechanics are designed to create a feeling of unease and paranoia among the players. 

Betrayal at Baldur’s Gate is a fun and challenging board game that fans of cooperative games will enjoy, no matter how much experience they have.

3: Forbidden Desert Board Game

In the cooperative board game Forbidden Desert, players must work together to find a treasure buried under the sand before succumbing to the heat. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world where a team of survivors must search for a lost city. 

Each player has a unique role, and the cooperative gameplay requires players to share information and cooperate to win. 

The game is challenging but rewarding, and it offers a unique cooperative gaming experience. The artwork and components are high quality, and the game is enjoyable for both children and adults. 

Overall, Forbidden Desert is a great cooperative board game that is challenging yet fun.

4: Arkham Horror Board Game

Arkham Horror is another of the best cooperative board games for 1-8 players. The game is set in the town of Arkham, Massachusetts, in the 1920s. 

Players take on the role of investigators trying to solve a series of murders committed by a creature known as the Ancient One. 

The game features multiple scenarios, each with its unique objectives and gameplay. The investigators must work together to gather clues, defeat monsters, and ultimately prevent the Ancient One from awakening and destroying the world. 

Arkham Horror is a challenging and rewarding game that will provide hours of entertainment for anyone who plays it.

5: Shadows over Camelot Board Game

In Shadows over Camelot, players take on the role of knights of the Round Table who work together to defend Camelot from evil forces. The cooperative board game features multiple scenarios, each with its challenges. 

One thing that makes Shadows over Camelot unique is that it is a cooperative game, meaning that players work together to achieve the objectives. 

This is a refreshing change from other board games, which tend to be competitive. 

Another innovative feature is scenario cards, which add an element of unpredictability to the game. The game is sure to be a blast with all of this said!

6: Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island Board Game

Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island is a cooperative board game for four players. Players must work together to survive and escape from a deserted island in the game. 

The game is based on the novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, and it features many of the same themes of survival and exploration. 

It is challenging and requires teamwork, but it is also gratifying. Players must use their skills to survive and escape from the island. 

The game includes many different scenarios, which can be played in any order. The scenarios range from easy to complex, and they all offer a unique challenge.

7: The Resistance Board Game

The Resistance is a cooperative board game where players work together to complete missions. The catch is that a few players are secretly working for the enemy, and it is up to the other players to figure out who they are. 

The game is recommended for ages ten and up and can be played with 5-10 players. The game takes about 30 minutes to play. 

The Resistance is among the best co-op board games that provide plenty of opportunities for deduction and strategy. 

8: Legends of Andor Board Game

Legends of Andor is a cooperative board game for two to four players. The players take on the roles of heroes who must work together to defend the kingdom of Andor from invading goblins. 

The game is played throughout four rounds, and each round represents one day of fighting. At the beginning of each round, the players must choose which hero will lead the others into battle. 

The leader must then choose two other heroes to accompany them, and the remaining hero goes to the tavern to recruit new allies. 

Once the heroes are chosen, they must face three challenges: a combat challenge, a puzzle challenge, and a riddle challenge.

9: Eldritch Horror Board Game

Eldritch Horror is a co-op board game for one to eight players that pits them against an ancient evil seeking to annihilate the world. 

H.P. Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos inspires the game. It has players assume the roles of various investigators who must travel the world, gather clues, and battle monsters to stop the Ancient One from awakening and destroying the world. 

The game is cooperative, meaning that all players work together to achieve the common goal of defeating the Ancient One. 

Each player has their own unique abilities and must strategize with the other players to make the most efficient use of everyone’s strengths.

10: Mansions of Madness: Second Edition Board Game

If you’re looking for a good co-op board game to play with friends, Mansions of Madness: Second Edition is a great choice. Based in the Lovecraftian expanded universe of the Arkham Horror Files series, Mansions of Madness is all about venturing into spooky houses.

When doing so, you can discover what awful horror befell their residents – and avoiding falling victim to the same fate yourselves. 

Every room in the game could contain a new horror for the players to survive, making for a suspenseful and truly terrifying experience. 

So if you’re looking for a good scare and some fun cooperative gameplay, Mansions of Madness: Second Edition is the game for you.

11: Dead of Winter Board Game

Dead of Winter is a cooperative board game set in a post-apocalyptic world. Players must work together to survive the harsh conditions and escape the zombie-infested city. 

The game is highly thematic, and players will have to make difficult choices that could jeopardize the lives of their fellow survivors. 

The game is also mechanically sound, with a few different ways to win and plenty of player interaction for all who partake. 

Overall, Dead of Winter is a great cooperative board game that will provide hours of entertainment for anyone, no matter their age.

12: Castle Panic

The objective of castle panic is to work together to defend your castle from wave after wave of attacking monsters. The game is won if you can defend your castle for ten rounds or lose if the castle is destroyed or all heroes are defeated. 

To set up the game, each player chooses a hero card and places it in front of them with their starting equipment. The castle is placed in the center of the table, with the outer wall and tower assembled around it. 

The monster cards are shuffled, and four are drawn to form the initial pool of monsters and more. This cooperative board game is perfect for family game night or playing with friends.

13: Forbidden Island Board Game

Forbidden Island is made up of tiles, and with each turn, the water level rises, making the island increasingly unstable. 

Players must strategize to collect the artifacts and make it to one of the escape helicopters before the island sinks completely. 

Forbidden Island is an exciting and challenging cooperative board game that will provide hours of fun. 

The constantly shifting landscape and the ever-present danger of being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time keep players on their toes, and the need to work together to succeed makes for a unique and enjoyable gaming experience.

14: Flash Point: Fire Rescue Board Game

Flash Point: Fire Rescue is a cooperative board game where players work together to extinguish fires and rescue victims. The game can be played with anywhere from two to six players, and it takes about an hour to play. 

The game is set up like a city, with different buildings represented by cards. Each building has a certain number of fire markers, which represent the intensity of the fire. 

Players must work together to extinguish all of the fires in a building before it collapses. 

They can do this by taking action to enter the building, fight the fire, or rescue victims. If any player runs out of action, the game ends, and all players lose.

15: The Grizzled Board Game

The Grizzled is a cooperative board game where players work together to survive the horrors of war, something not seen in many board games. 

The game is set in the trenches of World War I, and players must use their wits and luck to avoid being killed by enemy gunfire, disease, or starvation. 

It’s simple to learn but challenging to master, and it provides a tense and thrilling gaming experience. The art style is bleak and atmospheric, and the game’s mechanics are elegant and straightforward. 

The Grizzled is an excellent board game that provides a challenging and dark gaming experience for those who love the horror genre.

16: Dixit Board Game

Dixit is a visually stunning board game perfect for families and groups of friends. The game’s premise is simple: one player picks a card from their hand and tells a story about it. 

The other players then choose a card from their hands that they think best represents the story. 

The cards are then revealed, and points are awarded based on how well the story was told and how accurately the other players guessed. What makes Dixit so special is its creative storytelling element. 

The beautiful artwork on the cards provides endless inspiration, and the game encourages players to be as creative as possible.

17: Scoundrels of Skullport Board Game

If you’re looking for a board game that’s challenging and fun, you’ll want to check out Scoundrels of Skullport. It’s set in the fantasy world of Dungeons & Dragons, and it pits players against each other in a race to become the most successful criminal in the city of Skullport. 

The game board is filled with colorful characters and dangerous locations, and players will need to use all their cunning and strategy to survive. 

There are plenty of opportunities for treachery and betrayal, and no two games are the same. 

Whether you’re a fan of Dungeons & Dragons or simply enjoy board games, Scoundrels of Skullport is sure to provide hours of entertainment.

18: King’s Forge Board Game

King’s Forge is a worker placement game in which players take on the role of blacksmiths vying for the king’s attention. The game’s goal is to gather the necessary resources and forge the most impressive weapon or piece of armor before the other players. 

The game features beautiful artwork and well-crafted components, and it’s easy to learn and set up. However, it can be challenging to win, as there is a lot of planning and strategy involved. 

Players must carefully decide how to spend their time and resources to create the most valuable item possible. 

The game isn’t too long, but it often feels like it because there is so much to think about!

19: Mysterium Board Game

Mysterium is a cooperative board game for 2-7 players that takes about an hour to play. The game is set in an old mansion, and one player takes on the role of the ghost, while the others are mediums who are trying to communicate with the ghost to solve a crime. 

The game is played over seven rounds, and in each round, the ghost gives the mediums clues about the crime by giving them visions, represented by cards. 

The mediums then use these clues to try and narrow down the list of suspects, locations, and weapons.

At the end of the 7th round, the players vote on who they think committed the crime, and if they are correct, they win the game.

20: Escape: Zombie City Board Game

Escape: Zombie City is a cooperative board game for up to four players. In the game, players must work together to escape a city that zombies have overrun. The goal is to reach the haven while avoiding contact with the zombies. 

The game includes multiple scenarios, each of which presents a different challenge. The base game consists of four scenarios, but two expansions add more content. 

Escape: Zombie City is a fast-paced and tense game that will provide hours of entertainment. It is perfect for fans of horror films or zombie fiction. 

21: The Grimm Forest Board Game

The Grimm Forest is a lighthearted and fun take on the classic tale of Hansel and Gretel. The game can be played with 2-4 players and takes about 30-60 minutes. 

The game’s goal is to be the first player to collect four resources, which can be obtained by gathering food, wood, or stone. 

Each turn, players can either collect resources or build structures. Structures can store resources or help players gather resources more efficiently. 

The game is well-balanced, and there is a good mix of luck and strategy. The Grimm Forest is an excellent choice for family game night. It is easy to learn and fun for all ages.

Why Should You Play Cooperative Board Games

There are many reasons why you should play a cooperative board game. First, cooperative board games are a great way to spend time with family and friends. 

They are also a great way to promote teamwork and communication. If you are looking for a fun and educational game, a cooperative board game is excellent. 

Cooperative board games are also great for all ages. You can find cooperative board games for kids, adults, and even seniors. 

Many cooperative board games are also easy to learn to get started. In addition, you can find cooperative board games that are oppugning if you are looking for a challenge.

5 Things to Explore when Choosing a Cooperative Board Game

1: Picking the theme of the game

There are many different themes to choose from, so it’s essential to pick one that interests you. For example, if you’re a fan of horror movies, you might want to choose a game with a horror theme. On the other hand, if you’re more into fantasy, you might want to pick a game with a fantasy theme. 

There are also games with historical themes and post-apocalyptic themes. It just depends on what you’re interested in. 

Plus, the game’s theme can also dictate the gameplay. For example, a game with a horror theme might be more about surviving than anything else.

2: Figuring out your budget

There are many different price ranges for cooperative board games. Some games can be pretty expensive, while others are very affordable. 

It’s essential to know how much you’re willing to spend on a game before you start looking. This will help you narrow down your options and find the perfect game for you. 

However, keep in mind that the price does not always indicate quality. Many great cooperative board games are very affordable. You have to know where to look.

3: How long the game takes to play

Some games can be played in an hour or less, while others can take several hours. Therefore, make sure you have enough time to commit to the game before you start playing. 

You don’t want to be in the middle of a game and stop because you have to go somewhere. Many cooperative board games can be played in multiple sessions, so you can always come back to it later if you need to. 

Many games also have different difficulty levels, so you can make the game easier or harder depending on how much time you have.

4: How many players the game supports

Most cooperative board games can be played with two or more players, but some games are designed for larger groups. Keep this in mind when choosing a game. 

You want to make sure that everyone who wants to play the game will be able to do so. For example, some cooperative board games can be played with up to eight players. 

If you have a large group of friends, this might be the perfect option. This way, everyone can join in on the fun.

5: The replayability of the game

Some cooperative board games can be played repeatedly, while others are designed to be played only once. If you want a game that you can replay, choose one that can be reset. 

This way, you can play the game again with a different group of people or try a different strategy. When it comes to replayability, it’s really up to you. 

Some people like games that can be played multiple times, while others prefer games that can only be played once. So it really just depends on your personal preferences.

Takeaway

Many people believe that cooperative board games are a great way to promote teamwork and communication. So, if you are looking for a fun and educational game, then a cooperative board game is a great choice. 

Cooperative board games are also great for all ages. You can find cooperative board games for kids, adults, and even seniors. Many cooperative board games are also great for family night. 

If you’re looking for a new game to play with your family or friends, then be sure to check out a cooperative board game. There are many different types of cooperative board games to choose from, so you’ll find one you love!

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