Top 10 Best Cooperative Board Games of 2024

Discover the best cooperative board games to play with friends, where teamwork and strategy are key to victory.
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Pandemic coverForbidden Island coverFlash Point: Fire Rescue cover

10 Pandemic

Pandemic cover

  • Age Range: 8+
  • Players: 2-4
  • Play Time: 45 minutes

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Pandemic was the game that made us hold our breath! We played the role of disease-fighting specialists, racing against time to save the world. The slim margin of victory kept us on our toes. It’s beginner-friendly and offers a thrilling sense of urgency.

9 Forbidden Island

Forbidden Island cover

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Players: 2-4
  • Play Time: 30 minutes

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Forbidden Island is like a mini adventure. We loved scurrying around the island, trying to collect treasures before it sank. It’s simple, short, and ideal for new players.

8 Flash Point: Fire Rescue

Flash Point: Fire Rescue cover

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Players: 1-6
  • Play Time: 45 minutes

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Flash Point turned us into firefighters, working together to rescue people from a blazing building. The game’s flexible difficulty levels made it great for both our seasoned and new gamers.

7 Spirit Island

Spirit Island cover

  • Age Range: 13+
  • Players: 1-4
  • Play Time: 90-120 minutes

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Spirit Island had us acting as powerful spirits defending our island from invaders. With its complex gameplay and deep strategy, it became a quick favorite for our more analytical friends.

6 Gloomhaven

Gloomhaven cover

  • Age Range: 14+
  • Players: 1-4
  • Play Time: 60-120 minutes per scenario

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Gloomhaven sucked us into its rich story and campaign-based gameplay. With its detailed world and longevity, it provided countless hours of immersive play.

5 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle cover

  • Age Range: 11+
  • Players: 2-4
  • Play Time: 30-60 minutes

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Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle let us fulfill our wizarding dreams while battling evil. Its deck-building mechanics and themed adventures were a hit with our Potterhead friends.

4 The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine

The Crew: The Quest for Planet Nine cover

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Players: 2-5
  • Play Time: 20 minutes

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The Crew gave us a unique spin on trick-taking games. We had to work in silence, trying to complete missions as a team. It’s challenging yet satisfying.

3 Arkham Horror: The Card Game

Arkham Horror: The Card Game cover

  • Age Range: 14+
  • Players: 1-2
  • Play Time: 60-120 minutes

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Arkham Horror: The Card Game plunged us into Lovecraftian horror. Its customizable decks and evolving storylines kept us coming back for more spine-chilling experiences.

2 Forbidden Desert

Forbidden Desert cover

  • Age Range: 10+
  • Players: 2-5
  • Play Time: 45 minutes

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Forbidden Desert had us trying to survive a relentless storm while searching for parts to rebuild our flying machine. The game’s cooperative play and escalating difficulty made it exciting.

1 Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective

Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective cover

  • Age Range: 13+
  • Players: 1-8
  • Play Time: 60-120 minutes

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Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective stands out as the best. We became detectives solving intricate cases with no board, relying only on our wits. It’s intellectually stimulating and feels like a real detective experience.

Jamie in his proper element: With all of his board games
Jamie Hopkins

With years of dice-rolling, card-flipping, and strategic planning under my belt, I've transformed my passion into expertise. I thrive on dissecting the mechanics and social dynamics of board games, sharing insights from countless game nights with friends. I dive deep into gameplay mechanics, while emphasizing the social joys of gaming. While I appreciate themes and visuals, it's the strategy and camaraderie that truly capture my heart.