Not all board games will have you up against all the players at the table. Sometimes you have to gather your friends around a table and think about how you should work together and beat the board game. Co-op games are a great adventure in video games, and board games regularly feature more titles for gamers. Here are some of the best cooperative board games that you can use to play with your friends.
Best Co-op Board Games
Pandemic
The world is on the brink of destruction, with a series of four different viruses infecting the population. It's up to you, a small team of as many specialists in the world, to travel the world and find a cure for these diseases while trying to control their exposure. You and your friends choose to play as different specialists, each with a unique ability to give yourself an advantage. You have to work fast because the longer you play, the more the disease spreads. While there are many ways to lose this game, there is only one way to win and that is to cure the four diseases.
You will be hard pressed to play this game for the first time, but once you master the mechanics, you and your friends will be able to play it in no time. There are ways to increase the difficulty of the board by putting more dangerous cards into play, removing useful cards, or even introducing a fifth pathogen controlled by another player who is actively trying to disrupt everyone else. While Fifth Disease ruins the cooperative nature of the game, it's a unique element for veteran players to grasp.
Gloomhaven
Are you a fan of fantasy? Do you want to go on a dungeon adventure with your friends without having to make a Dungeon and Dragons game? Well, Gloomhaven ticks all of those boxes for you. There are over 95 potential scenarios for you and your team to participate in, with 17 classes available to choose from, giving everyone around a table a unique experience almost every time they play it. There is a lot of randomization, with players having to work together to fight monsters, attempt to heal themselves, and decide what to do next.
The rules take a bit of time to learn, but if those at the top are willing to listen and get involved, it's fun.
The Dresden Files Cooperative Card Game
Answer the phone. Harry Dresden, the only registered professional wizard in Chicago, calls on you to help him and his friends get him out of his case. The Dresden Files Cooperative Card game is based on the successful Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. Up to five players can play the game through decks designed explicitly from the books in the series, in which players assume the roles of the main characters. They must work together to solve the mystery of the book, while also facing the many villains that Dresden has faced.
There are many strategies in play, as players are not allowed to accurately detail the cards in their hand, while they are sharing the same pool of points for playing cards. It's a race against time because by the time the characters play all their cards, they have to solve the problem and beat enough baddies to win.
Aeon's End
Another cooperative, bridge building game. You and your team of adventurers will defend their city, Gravehold, against a massive horde of enemies led by a terrible and powerful nemesis. The Nemesis and the Horde change every game, forcing your team to use their abilities, spells, and other skills to try and defeat them. Your goal is to gather power to gain new strength as you attempt to fight the horde and outlast the monsters.
Randomness arises from the change in turn order after each complete turn. One person could do the first round, and the next one will be the last. This mechanic forces everyone to think about how they want to deal with the monsters, which means things could get terrible very quickly if someone isn't ready to take their turn.
Winter death
What could be worse than getting stuck in a building when it's snowing, forcing yourself and your allies to fight against the elements? Fight the cold while trying to survive an attack from the living dead. Most of the world has passed to the undead horde, or they are dead. You and your friends lead individual factions and try to work together to achieve the main goal. However, everyone has a secret goal to achieve at the same time. It's a cooperative experience, with a little more flavor for those who like to mix it up, forcing everyone to be on their toes.
It's a longer game, much like some of the other titles here. As long as you and your friends are interested in the long haul, you should prepare yourself for a wonderful weekend of tabletop games.
