Cooperative Games
Do your gamers want to work together instead of compete? Do they want a challenge that is going to take everyone give their all to overcome? Cooperative games have players working together as a team to overcome the computer or some set challenge. There are so many great cooperative games out there. Here's a list of some of our favorites!
Overcooked
1 - 4 Players PS4, XB1, & PC
E for Mild Cartoon Violence
Which of you thought this was a good idea?
Overcooked is a cooperative game where gamers run a kitchen. Players chop, cook, serve, and then clean dishes. Sounds simple, but things get complicated when you decide to take your kitchen out on the road, literally. One level finds players juggling ingredients between two moving trucks, and there are many more like it; from lava planets to haunted pizza mansions. Even without these challenges there’s a lot to keep track of; making sure customers get what they order and not burning the meals. It a game about efficiency, using your team as a well oiled machine, and then adapting when it all goes sideways.
This is one of my favorite games because it’s simple to learn, difficult to master, and something always ends up on fire anyway.
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
1 - 4 Players PS4, XB1, & PC
E for Fantasy Violence
So many choices, so little health bar.
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a game where players pilot a spaceship. It’s a blend between platforming and spaceship battles because as situations change players need to run to the different stations and adapt to the situation. Players pilot stations like the engine, lasers on various sides, shields, and the ultimate weapon. Meanwhile outside players are being attacked and trying to make their way across the map to rescue caged bunnies, birds, and other space critters.
This game is a fantastic cooperative experience and gives players the fun of operating a spaceship together without the complexity.
Pac-man 256
1 - 4 Players PS4, XB1, & PC
E for Mild Fantasy Violence
ghosts + lasers = fun
Pac-man 256 is a cooperative twist on a retro game. Players navigate a maze together while dodging ghosts and gobbling up fruit. There are power-ups as per the usual pacman, but some of them are new; laser beams, lava, tiny pac-man clones, and more. As players gather up coins and points they can be redeemed to make these new power-ups last longer or give more points. Another unique feature is players reviving dead players, which is where the cooperation really comes in. After all the more of you there are the further you’re likely to get.
This game is a lot of frantic fun and an excellent choice if you’re looking for something that looks a little retro for your collection.
Monaco
1 - 4 Players XB1, XB360, & PC
T for Violence, Blood, Suggestive Themes, Mild Language, Crude Humor, Use of Tobacco
You know it's secure when it has lasers and dogs.
Monaco is a cooperative top down bank heist. Players can take in a team of up four players to sneak into a location, grab the loot, and then hustle back to the getaway van. There are a variety of characters to choose from and each comes with their own special skill; locksmith opens locks quickly, lookout is great at knowing where all the guards are at, hacker can use computers to shut down security, and there are many others. Players have the option of being super sneaky, and when that doesn’t work out they have guns or other secondary items to help them get out of there. Should a teammate drop, players are able to revive them if they can reach them. The guards however can do the same.
Monaco is a blast! If you don’t mind having a game that’s all about robbery, then Monaco is an excellent pick. It’s so much fun seeing how the different groups of characters manage to get in and get out.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes
2+ Players PC
E
Nothing more relaxing than a timer ticking down.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is all about disarming bombs. The catch is that only one player can see the bomb and everyone else has the manual to disarm it. This game can be played with as many people as you can gather around however many manuals have been printed out or digitally downloaded. Gameplay consists of the bomb player describing the different elements of the bomb, and then the others looking up how to disarm it in the manual. The manual however is written in the most opaque way. Directions such as “If this then refer to that. If not then refer to this that will then refer you to that.”
This is such a great game. It can be played with many or even just two. It’s really easy for people to drop in and out of. And with the manual and a clock ticking down it’s really easy to get immersed into. If you have a game collection I highly recommend it and it’s amazing for teaching skills like skimming, reading comprehension, and communication.
Stephanie Frey can be found roaming Twitter. She can also be found selling goodies on Society6.
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