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Top Ten Cooperative (and Semi-Cooperative) Board Games – 2011 Update
Here is an updated list of my top ten cooperative (or semi-cooperative) games. This list only includes games I have played. There is a list of honorable mentions at the bottom. It also contains board games that I haven’t played but have heard good things about.
My Top Ten Cooperative Board Games
10. Scotland Yard – This is quite honestly a classic in the genre, but may be more fun for Mr.X than the detectives.
9. Castle Panic – Tower defense game that is great for a variety of ages.
8. Space Hulk: Death Angel – This game is full of tension with a suspenseful atmosphere. Unfortunately if your marines die (which is likely) you have to watch.
7. Lord of the Rings– Another classic that oozes theme with mechanics that are easy to learn and teach.
6. Sentinels of the Multiverse – A super hero co-op card game that is plain old fun. I love the theme and variety of the heroes to play.
5. DnD Adventure System Board Games – Castle Ravenloft, Wrath of Ashardalon, and The Legend of Drizzt are built with the same engine. Each is a bit different, great for nights you may not have enough PCs for your normal RPG and fun.
4. Shadows Over Camelot – This game starts out a purely cooperative, but there could be a traitor.
3. Space Alert – Real-time action requires total cooperation. If it didn’t get a bit too easy once a game group has this figured out, it’d be rated higher.
2. Pandemic – You must save the world from disease. This games simple gameplay makes it one of the best gateway cooperative board games.
1. Defenders of the Realm – Similar to Pandemic, but with more theme, slightly more complex mechanics and a bit more randomness. This all adds up to a better experience.
Honorable Mentions:
Arkham Horror series, Forbidden Island, Descent: Journeys in the Dark, Cranium Hoopla, Battle Star Galactica, World of Warcraft: the board game, Mousquetaires du Roy
If you agree, disagree, or just have more to add in the comments section.
12 Responses to “Top Ten Cooperative (and Semi-Cooperative) Board Games – 2011 Update”
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Of those I’ve played, I really enjoyed Castle Panic and Space Hulk.
What no love for:
– Arkham Horror
– Ghost Stories
Thx.
About Space Alert:
Do you own the expansion?
There are a lot things which makes the game a lot harder and more interesting.
I put Arkham Horror in the Honoarable Mentions as I have never played it. I do want to try it though…
Same thing with Ghost Stories I have never played it and not heard too much about it. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve to be on this list. It means I am ignorant…
Thanks for the feedback
I don’t own the Space Alert expansion, but the list is basically for base games. Maybe I should have added that caveat.
Again I want to try the expansion for Space Alert and that might vault it to number one and it would definitely pass Pandemic. I love the urgency and laughs that Space Alert brings to the game table. But after awhile my group was kicking alien butt even in the advanced scenarios and looking out the window a lot. I absolutely think everyone should try this game once as it is so unique and such a fun experience.
Shadows Over Camelot over Battlestar Gallactica? Really?
I suppose it is more accessible, but as far as being a better game I completely disagree.
You missed a few light classics: The Resistance and Saboteur.
Saboteur is excellent.
Panic Station is new and seems to be fun after an initial play with a new ‘infection’ mechanic.
Battlestar Galactica is just a bit too complex. My group hated it and I think that taints my view. I know it is not bad but experiences with it have been.
I never played any of these, but I will have to do some research. Thanks for the input!
What about Werewolf/Mafia? As much as I like some of those you mention, Werewolf/Mafia is clearly much better than all those.
The Resistance is somewhat a rework of Werewolf/Mafia for fewer players.
Werewolf starts to work only from 7 players onwards with a peak at 11. The Resistance plays well from 5 player.
Werewolf/Mafia is fun but you need a decent sized group to play it. I have never played the Resistance but I want to give it a try.
I highly recommend Level Seven! Very creepy. Challenging but not impossible after several plays.
Love love love Arkham Horror!