It has been just under five years since we started the Tabletop Co-Op column here at Co-Optimus. Even before we looked at Space Hulk Death Angel the card game back in September 2011, we had covered other co-op tabletop games like Pandemic and Castle Panic in the now-retired Co-Op Casual Fridays column. We’ve taken a closer look at more than forty different board and card games that feature cooperative mechanics since we started.
Tabletop gaming is becoming more popular at an impressive rate. The so-called “golden age of board gaming” is in full effect, and co-op games are gaining an ever-increasing share of the market. Walking into your friendly local gaming store can be an overwhelming experience, with a huge variety of gaming options available. It can be difficult to find exactly what you are looking for when the shelves are full of cardstock and chipboard goodness.
Worry not, though, friends, we here at Co-Optimus are here to help. We’ve compiled a list of great options for those of you who are new to modern board and card games. The games on this list were chosen with three important factors in mind. First of all, complexity. These games are simple to learn, but deep enough to promote repeated plays. Secondly, thematic appeal. The idea is to get a game that all sorts of people will want to play, not just hardcore fans of a particular genre. Lastly, and most importantly, cooperation. All five games on this list require all players to team up and make decisions in order to meet their shared goals, and do so in enjoyable ways.
Without further delay, and in no particular order, here is the list!
Forbidden Island - If I were to put only one game on this list, Forbidden Island would be it. Players take on the roles of a party of adventurers exploring a sinking island. They must team up and use their specialized skills effectively in order to obtain four artifacts and escape via helicopter without losing a member of the team. The game has great components, solid gameplay, and enough challenge to keep you coming back for more. I’ve introduced this one to youngsters and older non-gamers with great results.
Pandemic - Forbidden Island’s older, more complex sibling is the quintessential cooperative board game. Four deadly diseases are spreading across the globe, and you and your teammates must find the cures before it’s too late. Balancing treating the populace with researching the cures is a genuine challenge. Pandemic perfected the compelling, ever-increasing pace that makes great co-op games such a blast to play.
Flash Point Fire Rescue - Probably the strongest integration of theme of any game on this list. Players are fire fighters, sent to rescue those trapped inside before the building collapses. I adore the fire fighter miniatures, but the rest of the components are fantastic as well. A simple introductory variant is fun on its own, but when you add in specialist abilities like firing the deck hose or scanning for survivors, the game really heats up, if you’ll pardon the pun.
Hanabi - One of the most unique games I’ve ever played, Hanabi is only very loosely themed (players are trying to create a successful fireworks display) but the gameplay more than makes up for it. Each player has a hand of cards that they hold where only other players can see, and then take turns either giving clues or guessing which pile to put their cards in. It sounds simple but it is far more difficult than you might think! Two versions of the game are available, a value-priced card game version, as well as a deluxe edition with beautiful, hefty tiles.
Shadows Over Camelot - The tale of King Arthur has been popular for centuries, and this game takes the theme and integrates it wonderfully. Players take on the roles of various knights, each with differing abilities, and can team up to take on quests. Jousting the Black Knight, retrieving Excalibur, and finding the Holy Grail are accomplished by matching cards. The game also includes a “traitor” variant, which adds a lot of second guessing but takes away from the sense of teamwork.
Honorable mentions include Sentinels of the Multiverse as well as the D&D Adventure Games, including Castle Ravenloft, Wrath of Ashardalon, Legend of Drizzt, and Temple of Elemental Evil. These are a bit more complex than a gateway game should be, and also feature themes which may not appeal to many players.
Each of the games on this list make a great introduction into the hobby of tabletop gaming. They aren’t too complex to figure out quickly, and have themes that will appeal to a wide variety of both gamers and non-gamers. Best of all, they all require working together with your friends in order to beat the game itself. If none of these sound appealing, take a look through the Tabletop Co-Op archives, where you will surely find something you like.