Players: 2-4 | Age: 8+ | Time to play: 45 mins. | Genre: Save the World

Ever want to be a hero and rescue the world from certain death? Well, Pandemic is your chance to work with a team of specialists to do just that. Each of the elite crew members have different abilities and must work together to eradicate four diseases before the clock runs out. Or you and everyone on the planet dies horribly.

Every move you make can spread disease and lead to an outbreak. You must be a team player, anticipate, and think creatively or the mission will fail.

As the clock ticks down, a sense of urgency forces you to travel the world, finding solutions as part of a team plan. It actually becomes intense for many players. This is a tribute to the game design and most who play are quickly drawn in.

Also, many cooperative games can lead to one team member going rogue or taking over (a.k.a. “quarterbacking”). But not with Pandemic, the obvious need for teamwork is one reason why it is consistently a top rated and award winning cooperative board game.

The game is popular for other reasons, too. Its rules are fairly easy to grasp and it is not very expensive compared to other games.

But just because the rules are understandable, do not make the mistake of thinking this game is easy to beat. It is not. In fact, you should be prepared to fail the first time you play. Once you have played the game a few times, you can raise the level of difficulty to keep things challenging, if necessary.

This game can be addictive and most will want to return for another attempt, even after a harsh defeat. Since every game played is different, you can play repeatedly and have a go at saving the world as many times as you like.

Players: 1-4 | Age: 12+ | Time to play: 60-120 mins. | Genre: Fantasy/Adventure

If it was possible to stuff Dungeons and Dragons without the dice or Dungeon Master into a single board game, with a pinch of Game of Thrones thrown in, you would have something close to Gloomhaven.

The main concept is simple, your mercenary team embarks from Gloomhaven on an adventure in search of wealth and fame. But none of the local villagers expect you to return alive.

That is because your team will have to explore perilous caves, clear out dangerous crypts, and travel through dark forests. Along the way, fantastical monsters and enemies will be encountered, and fought.

To make things harder, the board constantly evolves and changes based on your decisions and actions.

So, players must work together to adapt to the changing scenarios and defeat the monsters. Take too long to clear a dungeon and exhaustion can force you to retreat, or worse. In one variant you can play called Permanent Death, it is possible for your characters to die.

Instead of the ubiquitous dice employed by many of the other popular role playing games, cards are used for combat in Gloomhaven. This adds to the strategy aspect of the game as you must rely on the cards you select to play and consider how they work with others on your team.

In this regard, Gloomhaven is at its core a board game, not a role playing affair, and you need to focus on your strategy, not your cosplay.

The map tiles and accessories are extensive. In fact, the game’s box is a beast, weighing just over 20 pounds.

Playing cards, tokens, map tiles, miniatures, cardboard cutouts, etc. are numerous and the assorted accoutrements are one of the reasons this game has gained a strong following. It is also why this is one of the more expensive cooperative board games on the market.

A single game can be played in an hour or two, but many who are drawn to this type of board game will take advantage of the campaign aspect. This means each play session can build on what transpired in previous games.

Players: 2-7 | Age: 10+ | Time to play: 45 mins. | Genre: Sleuthing/Paranormal

Chasing ghosts in a haunted mansion sounds interesting, but pursuing a ghost for its assistance so you can solve a crime is even more entertaining. That is precisely your task as a member of a psychic investigation team, determine the details of the ghost’s murder through contact with the apparition.

But your job is complicated since the spirit cannot speak. It can only share surreal visions that are vague. You must then interpret the odd images and piece them together to uncover the murderer, location, and weapon.

In this regard, it is a little like the old game Clue, but the similarities end there. In Mysterium, you play as a team, not against each other. Plus, things can get a little weird as the players try to comprehend the pictures provided by the ghost.

The abstract visions do have many potential meanings so the investigators must communicate with each other and “vote” on solutions based on their reading of the images. The team offers its best guess, and in the end, you either solve the crime or let the criminal escape as a team.

The art work and maps present an old, almost Victorian setting, with a paranormal twist. It is done well, and pulls you into the crime solving more than than the dark, eerie side of the paranormal.

One unique aspect of this game is one player must play as the ghost. This role is entertaining, though, since the spirit role allows you to watch as the psychic team correctly, or incorrectly, decipher the visions offered.

Players: 2-4 | Age: 10+ | Time to play: 30 mins. | Genre: Fantasy Quest

A quest to find sacred artifacts with your friends on a remote island, in 30 minutes, is a good hook. But this is no ordinary island, it sinks every time you take a step.

Your time is short and you must collect all four treasures before the entire island sinks, or the whole team loses. Cooperation and communication is crucial, and to win you must employ some creative thinking.

The game duration is shorter than most cooperative board games, so it is attractive to those who do not like long, drawn out games.

Also, some have called this game Pandemic “lite” as it is less urgent and intense. But it uses similar mechanics for the gameplay that is a bit faster and easier to use. This aspect does make Forbidden Island more accessible to younger ones and some use this game to introduce friends to the Pandemic style of gameplay.

The price is low compared to other options, making Forbidden Island accessible to just about everyone interested in cooperative board games.

Players: 1-4 | Age: 14+ | Time to play: 90-120 mins. | Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Quest

While many games put players in the role of explorer or adventurer, Spirit Island flips things on its head. In this game, you are part of a team of spirits, defending your island and the native inhabitants against vicious, invasive explorers.

These outsiders build settlements and bring hardship and blight to your island. As one of the spirits, you fight back using your paranormal powers. Each spirit has vastly different powers and some powers take longer than others to have an impact.

Things get even more complicated because the natives can assist you and your fellow spirits. But it does not always result in the way you intended.

So, players must work together and use their disparate powers to augment one another. Also, while the game progresses, you acquire new powers, which keeps things evolving and interesting. You pay attention to the details and think creatively.

The game also allows you to increase the difficulty level in a clever way, you get to pick the invaders. Each group of invaders brings a different challenge and keeps the game replayable.

The playing time on the box is optimistic and games have been known to go longer than 120 minutes, so be sure you have some time before sitting down for a session.

Players: 1-4 | Age: 12+ | Time to play: 60-120 mins. | Genre: Dice Builder RPG

While some games eschew the use of dice, Too Many Bones embraces the dice heritage of role playing games (“RPGs”) and boldly includes 136 custom dice in the box.

There are four characters, or gearlocs, included in the game and the manufacturer does sell additional add-ons if you want more character choices. Each gearloc comes with a detailed profile, spelling out their abilities, and a tray to collect the dice and other information as you play.

Of course, the gearlocks abilities vary to make things interesting. You must formulate strategies to coordinate with each other to be successful in your mission.

At the beginning of a game, you must acquire “loot and trove loot” to build your character’s strength and power. Once you have enough “loot”, you can confront and attempt to defeat the seven tyrants who have invaded your land. Did we mention the tyrannical invaders?

This game is well constructed and intricate, but you have to pay for quality and it is expensive. However, many feel it is worth the price and some go so far as to say that Too Many Bones is built to be waterproof. Yes, even the cards are printed on plastic.

Somewhat similar to Gloomhaven with dice, this game is complex and not for those who despise details or rules. As you add gearloc abilities, you have to deal with even more rules and it can become difficult to keep track of everything. This may be hard for younger players to follow.

While this might sound like a game destined for drawn out campaigns, it is actually intended to be played in a single session game. The manufacturer has a beta campaign version in development, but for now, this is not a campaign style game. Plus, they are adamant that Gloomhaven will never be a legacy game.

Speaking of the manufacturer, this game is sold direct. You might find a used one for sale on some of the popular shopping sites, but there is a concerted effort to sell this game and its expansion packs direct.

Players: 1-6 | Age: 10+ | Time to play: 60 mins. | Genre: Medieval Fantasy

Some games are simple but fun, and Castle Panic is one such game. The rules are easy to understand and the game is appropriate for the entire family. Unless you have very young children, this game is a good choice for some interactive time with your friends and family.

The premise is you and your team work together to defend the castle tower from approaching monsters. You play cards to battle the attackers and some strategy comes into play as you are allowed to trade a card with another player during your turn.

Many games are for four or less players, and many are best when played with three or four players. Castle Panic is flexible and works quite well with just two players, or six, and it can even be played in a solitaire mode.

One of the other nice touches is the ability to tweak the rules. You can use these variations to mix things up and keep the game interesting.

For example, it is unusual to have a “winner” in a cooperative game, and make no mistake, this is a cooperative game. You either save the castle tower, or you lose as a team.

But in one version of the rules, you keep each monster token as you kill it so it can be tallied. At the end, the one with the most monster life points earns a special slayer title. An individual title is unusual but adds another dimension to this cooperative board game.

While Castle Panic might not be elaborate enough for hard core gamers, it is more flexible in the number of players needed than other games. Plus, it is easy to learn and would earn a “G” rating if it was a movie, so get the kids involved.

Players: 3-6 | Age: 12+ | Time to play: 60 mins. | Genre: Haunted Mansion Crawler

If you like surprises and blood curdling situations, then Betrayal at House on the Hill may be your game. Unpredictable, strange events await in this creepy haunted house that you construct, then work cooperatively with the other players to escape alive. It is not an easy task.

If that is not strange enough, during the course of play one of the players may betray the group. This traitor will have to be defeated while dealing with the bizarre supernatural occurrences and fighting off monsters.

Players also encounter spirits and omens along the way that foreshadow their fate. In order to get out alive, you must work with the other players and use shared strategy based on what the team members have learned.

Some of the material is surprisingly dark, and the 12+ age rating is a good guideline for parents to follow. But for fans of horror and the supernatural, this cooperative board game will be a favorite.

Players: 2-4 | Age: 8+ | Time to play: 20 mins. | Genre: Cards/Mind Reading

The Mind is not technically a board game as it does include an actual board. But the 120 cards used to play the game are piled in the center of the table and serve as the game center in the same manner as a board. Plus, cooperation is needed as you must read each other’s minds.

After the numbered cards are dealt, the players simply need to unload the cards from their hands in ascending order. But there is a catch, you cannot talk to each other or show anyone the cards you are holding. You must use nonverbal communication to figure out which card should be played next.

There are increasing levels of play, and you must draw the number of cards for the level. For example, each player takes one card in level one, two cards in level two, and so on. Then all of the player’s cards must be restacked in ascending order without the players communicating, other than ESP.

There are some aids in the game that do allow you to make mistakes every now and then. But getting to the higher levels is a challenge, and it is addictive to try and reach a new best with your team.

Players: 2-4 | Age: 11+ | Time to play: 30-90 mins. | Genre: Wizarding/Deck-building

The Harry Potter series is well known and loved. Marrying this franchise with a cooperative board game seems pretty obvious, but it is tricky to do. Let’s face it, fans can be easily disappointed if the game fails to provide a gaming experience that mimics the series.

Fortunately, this game provides the Hogwarts experience with the seven different levels, each tantalizingly packaged in individual brown leather print boxes. The Dark Lord is lurking, and you must keep him from taking over the castle.

Fans will appreciate that you can play as Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley or Neville Longbottom. Plus, many of your favorite villians are here, too, and you get to fight them.

One little nitpic is it would be fun to play as some of the other many popular characters in the franchise, Luna for example. There is an expansion pack, but the four levels in the expansion pack are best played after completing the first seven adventures in the base game.

Just as in the books, you will need to work together to defeat all the villains and secure various castle locations. Strategy is needed and the players cards are visible to all, which helps coordinate tactics.

The build quality is good and the price is moderate. Combined with the recognizable Harry Potter name, this game has become quite popular giving people a chance to try their hand at casting spells.

The recommended age is on the high side. The game is not too complex and younger Hogwart movie fans will enjoy this game. Other sites have mentioned the age range should be more like 8+.

Also, this is a deck-building game. That means you only start with a few cards and must build your deck as you play. Your deck determines how much power you wield, and during a cooperative game, strategy by the team comes into play as to who should obtain certain cards.

Players: 1-8 | Age: 12+ | Time to play: 90 mins. | Genre: Sleuthing

This Sherlock Holmes based game has been around since 1981. But it remains popular and is still high on many “best of” lists.

The reason is simple, solving crimes is fun and it is even better when you get to compare your skills against the master sleuth.

Prowling the city is necessary as you search old London for leads and people to interview. But, villains lurk about and you must be careful as you are immersed in the streets of Victorian London, visiting places like an opium den beneath the Bar of Gold or the rat infested docks.

As a player, you are a member of the Baker Street Irregulars, armed with a map, casebook, and newspapers, and must use your wits to solve a crime together with your team. No dice rolling or chance involved here, this is a test of your mind and ability to cooperate.

At the end of the game, an interesting aspect is that your score is rated against the master himself. Of course, your hope is to best Sherlock, but it is quite hard to do. However, that is an aspect that draws fans to this game.

With regards to accuracy, this game will not disappoint. Research and care were used to provide a true representation of Holme’s bygone world. Consulting Detective could not remain as one of the most popular cooperative board games for decades if it were not accurate to the period.

The box comes with 10 cases for you to solve, but these are not replayable. Some pass the game on to friends after completing them all, or there are expansion packs if you just cannot let the game go.

Players: 1-2 | Age: 14+ | Time to play: 60-120 mins. | Genre: Horror/Deck Building/RPG

Arkham is a quiet New England town. But below the surface, there are strange creatures, foul rituals, cultists, and haunted houses. You are one of the town’s residents, tasked to solve the eldritch secrets. But you may not live to tell anyone what you found.

The danger and horror are taken straight from the 23 Cthulhu tales written by H.P. Lovecraft. So, the hazards and monsters are weird, unpredictable, and scary. The art work is good and helps to pull you into the game.

This is a deck-building game, but different. The manufacturer calls it a living card game, because your deck is used for campaigns over multiple games. In addition, new cards are released regularly and this allows players to customize their “living” deck to make it unique to them.

But this is also a role playing game, sort of. You assume a character, defined by a detailed profile card. Of course, everyone has different abilities so you must work as a team to compliment your strengths and delve into the town’s secrets.

So, it is a blend of role playing and deck building, and the box does include the tokens and 5 investigator (character profile) cards.

Also, every move you make has consequences. You might burn down a building, or release the Ancient Ones from a world beyond. So, strategy and planning your moves to work with your partners is a must.

The base game allows 1-2 players, but 1-4 players are possible if you purchase two sets.

Players: 1-4 | Age: 14+ | Time to play: 90-180 mins. | Genre: Quest/Exploration/Survival

Shipwrecked, you and your fellow castaways must build shelter, find food, and fight wild beasts. That’s just for starters.

Then there is treasure to be found, secrets to unravel, hidden villages, and other adventures to seek out. Through all of this, you have one core job, stay alive. It is very, very hard to do.

You can assume the role of four different characters; cook, carpenter, explorer or soldier. Each has different skills and you must debate, discuss, and decide as a group to complete your mission successfully.

In the box, you will find a lot of pieces. That is because this is a complex game with a lot going on. This is an immersive, mission based game with 7 different levels of difficulty. In level seven, you are actually trying to capture King Kong.

The build quality is impressive. Detail like the many wooden tokens add to the immersive experience.

Playing this game is an intense experience, and that leads to most frequent complaint. There is no downtime or small victories. Staying alive is almost impossible, and you can never let your guard down.

Players: 2-4 | Age: 12+ | Time to play: 90 mins. | Genre: Puzzle/Time Travel

Boasting a sleek, good looking game board, the concept sends you hurtling through time as a T.i.m.e. agent. You must stop temporal faults and paradoxes while inhabiting the body of another being. These odd missions are called runs.

Plus, you must complete the run as fast as possible. If time runs out, then the scenario is reset and you must keep trying until you succeed. The fabric of the universe must be maintained to protect humanity.

A run is never simple and unpredictable events do occur. You may be forced to jump from one host to another or even play against your fellow agents at times.

While playing, you may be required to search a dungeon for a hiding Syaan king, or confront massive creatures under the Antarctic ice. Just about anything is possible.

The build quality is good, but that also makes this game a little pricey.

This is an intriguing game, but can take some time to play and that is made worse when someone has to repeat a run. It not only extends the play time, but the multiple runs get repetitive for the player.

However, players can save their game using an included insert, which allows play over multiple sessions as a campaign style game.

Once your mission is complete, it is essentially not playable again. But as you might guess, additional scenario expansion kits can be purchased.

Another interesting feature of this game is that you can create your own custom scenarios using a designer kit published by the game manufacturer. It is best to wait until you complete the included missions in the base game as there are spoilers in the designer’s kit.

Players: 2 (or more) | Age: 11+ | Time to play: 15 mins. | Genre: Word Association/Spying

If you want a game that is fun to play at a party, allows others to get involved, and only takes 15 minutes to play, Codenames: Duet is your game. A cooperative version of the original Codenames game, some will recognize the word association core concept still present.

While Duets was designed to be a two person affair, it does allow the game to be played by more by forming two teams of multiple players. Combined with the short playing time, this makes it a good game for parties where everyone can jump in and play.

The concept is you must identify 15 agents by correctly picking words associated with verbal clues offered by the other player/team. For example, one clue might be Egypt 2. That means there are two words on the board that could be associated with Egypt.

If you select a wrong word, your turn stops. But there is a risk. Select a particular wrong word and you to uncover an assassin, which ends the game immediately.

This is a fast paced, fun game that can be played repeatedly. But it also includes game maps, and these allow you to play a campaign style game, over multiple sessions if are so inclined.

In addition, the game can be played using rule variations, to increase the difficulty factor and keep things interesting.

With a small price tag and multiple ways to play, this cooperative game has surprised many fans of the original Codenames and earned a strong fan base.