The 11 Best Cooperative Games to Promote Teamwork

Best Overall

Asmodee Mysterium

4.7

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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

_{Number of Players: 2-7 | Duration: 45 minutes | Recommended Age: 10 years and up}

Best Mystery

Hunt a Killer Death at the Dive Bar

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The great thing about mystery games, specifically murder mystery games, is they often task players to work together as a group to reach a final end. Hunt A Killer made waves as a case file-based murder mystery game that provides groups with everything they need to solve a murder, from testimonies to evidence and a lot more.

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

_{Number of Players: 1+ | Duration: 45-60 minutes | Recommended Age: 14 years and up}

Best for Families

Fireside Games Castle Panic

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Castle Panic is a great introduction to board games (or in some cases, a reintroduction, if you're an adult who hasn't played in a while). To play, everyone works together to defend the castle from monsters like goblins, orcs, or trolls. You'll need to fight and slay them (using cards), and also plan ahead to make sure your fortress stays protected.

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

_{Number of Players: 1-6 | Duration: 60 minutes | Recommended Age: 10 years and up}

Best Design

Z-Man Games Store Stuffed Fables Board Game

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We love the design of Stuffed Fables, which is the perfect cooperative game to add to your next game night with friends or family. It's suitable for various ages and provides a unique adventure with every round. Stuffed Fables features adorably brave stuffed toys protecting a little girl from the Master of Nightmares. Players make choices that tell a story through the fantastical world, hopefully ending in escape for the girl and the defeat of evil.

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

_{Number of Players: 2-4 | Duration: 90 minutes | Recommended Age: 7 years and up}

Best for Kids

Gamewright Outfoxed! Game

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You want to teach your kids how to win and lose gracefully, but sometimes, especially in the case of squabbling siblings, you just need a game they can play together peacefully. In Outfoxed, a prized pot pie has been stolen. Using evidence, players must work together to suss out the suspect—using clues and an evidence scanner—before the fox escapes. 

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

_{Number of Players: 2-4 | Duration: 20 minutes | Recommended Age: 6 years and up}

Best Fast-Paced

Z-Man Games Pandemic: Rapid Response

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The dice version of the popular Pandemic board game is for players who want something fast-paced, as each round takes 20 minutes. It works well on game nights when you may have people dropping by at different times since they can jump into the action right away, rather than waiting for a long game to end.

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

_{Number of Players: 2-4 | Duration: 20 minutes | Recommended Age: 8 years and up}

Best Card Game

Ravensburger Disney Hocus Pocus: The Game for Ages 8 an Up - A Cooperative Game of Magic and Mayhem

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Disney fans will love celebrating spooky season all year long with this cooperative card game from Ravensburger based on Disney's Hocus Pocus. Players as young as 8 years old work together to protect the children of Salem from the Sanderson sisters before the end of the night. Match the ingredients, build potions, and more to complete your common goal.

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

_{Number of Players: 2-4 | Duration: 30 minutes | Recommended Age: 8 years and up}

Best Strategy Game

Fabled Nexus Greater Than Games Spirit Island

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Warning: This cooperative game can be complicated to learn and takes a while for each round. But, fans say the investment in time is worth it, and praise the rich details as well as the fact that each player also works independently to manage their own character.

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

_{Number of Players: 1-4 | Duration: 90-120 minutes | Recommended Age: 14 years and up}

Best for Two Players

Czech Games Codenames: Duet The Two Player Word Deduction Game

4.4

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In this game, you and your partner are on a secret mission and need to make contact with certain agents, while avoiding dangerous ones (assassins, yikes). But like all worthy games, there's a catch: You know only the agents that are safe for your partner, and vice versa, so you need to give each other simple, one-word clues. It's quite fun for date nights because it feels like solving a puzzle together, and you can try to tailor your clues based on what you know about how your partner thinks.

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

_{Number of Players: 2+ | Duration: 15 minutes | Recommended Age: 11 years and up}

Best for Preschoolers

Peaceable Kingdom Friends and Neighbors—The Helping Game

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With themes that revolve around social-emotional learning, this game was created to help younger kids practice their empathy skills. Additionally, each game lasts about 10 minutes—perfect for those short attention spans.

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

_{Number of Players: 2-4 | Duration: 20 minutes | Recommended Age: 6 years and up}