Best Cooperative Board Games

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Finding the best cooperative board games isn’t difficult because there are a ton out there to choose from. However, the key to loving a coop board game is to find one that works well with you and the people who are playing!

The great part about playing cooperative board games is that everyone playing is working together towards a common goal.

That goal? To beat the game and win, of course!

Cooperative board games are great because they require teamwork to be able to tackle it together. One player can’t do it all on their own because each person playing holds some sort of “key” or “power” that is needed to try and win.

Cooperative board games are a ton of fun and are often quick and engaging to those who are playing. It’s not uncommon to look at the clock and notice that 2 or 3 hours have passed since you’ve started playing the game.

While cooperative board games may be new for you and your gaming strategy, it’s one simple way to stay involved and active in almost every strategic move that is played.

What are cooperative board games?

Cooperative board games have the look and feel or regular board games, but they’re different in how they are played. While traditional board games are “everyone for themselves” type mentality, cooperative games are different than that. They are played where everyone works together to solve or beat the game.

Most players have a specific job or an important role in how they will be of assistance. Once everyone joins in on the fun, it’s obvious to see why these type of games are so popular.

What ages can play these type of games?

That just depends on the game that you’re going to be playing, but cooperative games are created for all different variety of ages. There are some that are appropriate for children all the way down to 4 years of age! And of course, no one is ever too old to join in on the fun!

Just keep in mind that even if the game may seem a little too difficult for younger players to play, there is probably some aspect of the game that they can help with. With everyone playing together, it’s a great way to create fun memories and bonding time.

How long do cooperative board games take to play?

Each one is a different time. For the younger kids, most can be played within 15-30 minutes. However, more advanced games can actually take several hours depending on the number of players and strategies used.

Best Cooperative Board Games

The great part about playing cooperative board games is that they are available for all ages and families to do. While some may have a more grownup feel or aspect to them, others are aimed towards the playing of younger children as well. One thing is for certain…you’re going to need each and every player to become victorious!

Here are just a few of the best cooperative board games for all varying ages to enjoy!

Best cooperative board games for kids

Let’s start with showcasing some of the best coop games for kids that were created for the younger ages!

Mermaid Island

Not only does everyone love mermaids, but the great part about this board game is that it only takes 15 minutes to play.

This is a quick, cooperative game that is suited for children.

The goal of this game is to get all the mermaids to swim to Mermaid Island and to beat the sea witch.

See if you and your kids can win at this game!

Race to the Treasure!

Can you beat the ogre and get to the treasure first? When you’re working together as a team, it’s absolutely possible!

While it only takes about 20 minutes to play this game, your child will learn a ton of great concepts that they can use in their everyday life. Strategy, critical thinking, and emotional understanding are just a few!

Get Race to the Treasure and have a game night this weekend!

Hoot Owl Hoot

The owls are lost and needing help back to their nest!

This cooperative board game for kids teaches strategy and the ability to follow directions. It was also created to encourage teamwork in a non-stressful environment.

Your child will love learning all about cooperative play with this fun game. Pick it up today!

Best cooperative board games for families

While most cooperative kid board games can be played with families as well, these game options are even more board games that the entire family can enjoy tackling and playing together!

Wildcraft – An Herbal Adventure Game

My boys enjoy playing this game. It’s perfect for a family!

There is no reading required to this game making it super family-friendly for all.

In this game, you are trying to make it to the top of the mountain to collect berries and back home again to Grandma’s house before it gets dark. You collect herbs along the way. If someone in your group gets injured or receives a bug bite then your group can help heal the person so they can keep going.

If your family loves outdoors and plant life, they’ll love this cooperative board game. It teaches all about the possibilities of healing herbs!

Gnomes at Night!

In this fun game, you are trying to find treasures that were stolen from the queen. The treasures can be found around the castle’s stone maze. You are gnomes searching along the stone maze at night, trying to find all the treasures before night ends.

Pick it up today and see if you are able to collect all the treasures.

Mole Rats in Space

In Mole Rats in Space you are a mole rat in trying to escape from the snake invaders. In order to escape, you’ll need to gather up your equipment before then go to the escape pod.

Ghost Fighting Treasure Hunters

In this fun cooperative game, Ghost Fighting Treasure Hunters everyone is working together to leave a house, but they also need to have eight treasure jewels. They are trying to leave before 6 of the rooms are haunted.

Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle Cooperative Deck Building Game

Anyone else with Harry Potter fans in their house?

This Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle Cooperative Deck Building Card Game is perfect for those kiddos who can’t get enough H.P.

You get to choose between four character – Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione, and Neville. You need to combine forces with the other player to beat the villains.

Pandemic

Pandemic is an awesome cooperative game where you are working together to save the world from four deadly diseases. This game takes about 45-ish minutes to play.

Castle Panic

In Castle Panic your castle is being attacked by monsters and you need to work together defend it. This game has a lot of strategy to it. The game play is great, where you don’t feel like you are waiting a long time for your turn, because you are strategizing and talking to the other players during this game. Playing this cooperative board game does tend to have a longer play time of about an hour to an hour and a half, so you will want to plan accordingly when figuring out when to play it.

Forbidden Island

Forbidden Island is a game we have and all enjoy playing. For a long time it was the game of choice for all three of my boys. They have found it frustrating when playing with friends who couldn’t quite wrap their head around the concept of everyone working together in a board game.

In Forbidden Island, each person chooses a certain adventure (such as pilot or navigator) to be. Each adventure has a special ability to help you in the game. You need to collect 4 treasures and then have everyone on the same tile to leave by helicopter to win the game.

While you are finding the treasures, the islands you travel to start to flood and can totally sink. You need to find the treasures and escape before the islands sink.

See how fun and diverse these games can be?! It’s possible to have everyone in the family join in on all the fun!

When it comes to finding and playing a cooperative game, it’s not hard to find several that are suitable to play. Stock up your game closet or camper with several options so there’s always a wide variety to choose from.

What’s great about cooperative games is a lot of different people can play at once. There’s no waiting or needing to worry about losing when it comes to being able to enjoy and play together!

Do you have a favorite cooperative board game that you and your family love to play?

If you found some new cooperative family board games, I’d love for you to “Pin It’!

Author

Jenny

Jenny is a homeschooling Mom to 3 active boys. She lives in an old 1915 farmhouse and loves it.
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