To help find the best cooperative game for your group, we researched dozens of choices that range in varying age recommendations, themes, and duration. Our best overall pick, Asmodee’s Mysterium, takes players through a spooky mystery to solve a murder. With expansion packs available and a two-player option, It’s is the perfect versatile game to bring friends and family together. Here, the best cooperative board games that require teamwork to win. Mysterium’s premise: A murder has been committed at a mansion called Warwick Manor. The players are psychic investigators trying to determine what happened with one person acting as the ghost, trying to lead them to the answer. The ghost can only communicate through visions (depicted by cards), and the others, using intuition and the clues they’ve been given, must work together to figure out the weapon, location, and killer. Because there are so many different options for weapons and locations, the game can be enjoyed over and over. Plus, there are also a handful of expansion packs available. Each round takes about 45 minutes, making it ideal for family game nights. It can be played as a two-person game as well, with one player taking on the role of two psychics, while the other is the ghost. The versatility and awesome storytelling of this game earn it our top spot. One thing to note—setup can take a while, so prepare to set some time aside to truly enjoy this game to its full potential. Price at time of publish: $44 In this version, there’s been a murder at a local dive bar. You must make your way through ciphers, puzzles, and dilemmas to ultimately find the guilty suspect. We love that there’s no player limit for games like this, so they are perfect for murder mystery parties or family game nights of any size. As with many of these games, it’s important to be aware that there are dark themes that may not be suitable for young ones, so definitely take the age recommendation seriously. While there’s low replay value after the case is solved, Hunt A Killer offers tons of other cases for when you’re ready for your next challenge. Price at time of publish: $30 Younger kids can also play with a little patience and assistance, and you can choose to add one slightly competitive element: Although you win or lose as a team, the person who earns the most Victory points is named Master Slayer. As the name suggests, there are definitely moments of suspense, so it’s a good way to get video game-loving kids interested in off-screen family time. Price at time of publish: $28 The gorgeous illustrations and fun stuffed animal pieces add interest to this game for kids and adults alike. Every choice changes the story and the ending, so no two games are the same. The storytelling element keeps the attention of kids, while adding enough intrigue for teens and adults, as well. The duration of play may be a bit long for young kids with short attention spans, but otherwise, we love Stuffed Fables for families, couples, groups of friends, and more. Price at time of publish: $61 Outfoxed gives children a chance to practice several important skills: deductive reasoning, memory, and cooperation. Some parents also make the game a little trickier for older kids by creating new rules, such as increasing the fox’s range and not allowing clue spots to be visited more than once. Price at time of publish: $19 With the tagline “Can you save humanity in time?”, the basic idea involves setting the timer for 20 minutes, rolling the dice, and trying to deliver crucial supplies before the game ends. All players are part of a squad that’s working together (there are seven specific roles, such as engineer and analyst) and you can add Crisis Cards (such as supply spills or extreme winds) to make things even more challenging. Price at time of publish: $27 We love this portable option for kids and families because players of all ages can reflect on the nostalgia of Hocus Pocus and the excitement of the latest sequel. It takes about 30 minutes per round to keep kids engaged with enough time to play a few times in one night. Kids and adults alike agree that this game may feel daunting and challenging at first, but it’s worth the challenge to get to the fun. Price at time of publish: $14 The premise is that each person represents a spirit with their own distinct powers, and the goal is to defend the land from colonist invaders. For many, this is a refreshing twist, because often board games are set up so the players represent the invaders trying to take over new territory. Because there are so many different spirit characters and ways to play (no two games are identical), the replay value of the game is quite high, and there are expansion packs available as well. The game also encourages lots of table talk among players, because you’re working towards a common goal and you need to plan ahead, strategize, and figure out the best ways to divide your strengths. Price at time of publish: $63 Our tester loved the high-energy nature of this game, saying “Since each round only takes about 15 minutes, the game is fast-paced and engaging.” However, it may bit a bit overwhelming for young players, so be sure to stick to the age recommendation. You don’t need to own the original Codenames to play this one, but if you do, you’ll be happy to know that there are 400 new words that are compatible with that version. Price at time of publish: $19 The game boards in this pick depict certain situations, like a child who is afraid of the dark or a cat who is stuck in a tree. Players reach into the bag of “helping tokens” and try to make a match—like a teddy bear or a ladder. When parents or caregivers play one-on-one with a child, it can lead to some interesting conversations, which is the true magic of the game. Because while it’s fun to make the matches, what’s even more fulfilling is the chance to talk to your little one about how these situations might relate to their own life. Price at time of publish: $20 The cases are meant to be played in order since clues from the earlier ones will help you solve the later ones. But due to the mystery factor, this game doesn’t have a ton of replay value. To keep the game moving, some players find it helps to impose time limits on how long it takes to guess. Price at time of publish: $46
Theme
Geography, history, battle defense, mystery, and horror are just a few popular board game themes. If you have tweens and teens in the mix, choosing something that reflects their interests might make them more likely to put down their phones and engage with the game.
Length
For younger children with shorter attention spans, 10 to 30 minutes for each round make for an ideal playing time. When you’re playing with just your own family, you can experiment with longer games that might spread out over a few weekend days—just make sure to tell the players in advance. Shorter games, on the other hand, work well for game nights with groups of friends who might be stopping by at different times.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Lexi Dwyer, who has been contributing to The Spruce since 2019 and has written about family games, board games, and trivia games many times. Additional reporting was done by Julia Fields, a lifestyle writer for The Spruce, covering toys, gifts, and the holidays. She’s also covered similar topics in other roles, including toy reviews, product round-ups, expert-focused articles, and more.
