My favourite is probably Betreyal at the House on the Hill. I like the idea that it begins as a competitive game where everyone tries to get the best equiptment and to search the house for the fullest. But then all of the sudden it changes and now it's co-operative to survive against the betrayer.. (Perhaps you can think it's not entirely co-op, but it's a fun game still.)
Since you asked what our favs are, mine is Flash Point. Surprisingly, I enjoy it even more as a solo game than with other players. Often while playing it I notice a big ol' smile on my face.
***** Yeah, there's always something new-ish for Flash Point. The latest, on kickstarter now, is called Honor & Duty, where you can fight fires on a plane and in a subway. I'm not a big fan of expansions for any game (so far). If I feel like playing a game, the base game suffices. If I'm not in the mood for it, I'll play a different game instead of spicing it up w/ expansions. That said, I will house-rule at the drop of a hat if I perceive something in the rules that isn't as good as it could be. In spirit it's like using an expansion, but cheaper and with less additional clutter. :)
Hey Danny! Loved your video. I found your explanations very clear, concise, and definitely easy to follow. I've played a few of your recommendations before watching the video and introduce these games to new players as well :) If I may suggest to check the focus of the camera for future videos? Although this is a minor gripe on my part and didn't really devalue the video. I look forward to future videos :)
Enjoyed this! Kudos for including Castle Panic on this list. Too many "serious" gamers write it off because it is not a complex game, but everything you said is spot on: Bottom line, it's FUN in every way a co-op game strives to be.
Great video and some interesting games on your list... always good to have some new ideas. We like coop games and our current favorite is "Legends of Andor". We play it as a family with our 8 year old son and he is really into it. We are currently playing the expansion "Reise in den Norden", I don't know if there is an English version yet. I am aware of the critics of the game, but as long as one does not expect to get a RPG, but a well balanced coop game with a great theme that plays more like a traditional Eurogame, one will not be disappointed. Pandemic is not in our collection yet, but so many people say, that this is a must-have, so we will definitely get it sometime.
***** From what I read, Shadows over Camelot seems to be an interesting idea indeed. However, because of the fact that there is a traitor, we wanted to give it some more time before introducing it. Anyway, the German version of the game is out of print anyway and seems to be hard to get at a reasonable price. Pandemic will definitely not be to light or boring for us. We also like to play Forbidden Island and Forbidden Desert, so Pandemic should be fine as the play mechanisms seem to be similar.
my own favorites... for purely coop, I'd have to choose either Mice and Mystics (which I'm only really now getting into) or Forbidden Desert. I love games that make you REALLY stress against the game, and try to defeat it as a team. and FD really gets the points right. many lose conditions, several ways to just punch you in the gut with stress, but a number of ways to tackle it, as well as being a very portable game. if pandemic wasn't already in the video, I'd have put it as a tie with Forbidden Desert. Mice and Mystics is just a fun RPG in a box with a unique theme. for coop with a traitor, I'd go with either Betrayal at House on the Hill (for reasons several commentors have already brought up ) or Dead of Winter. it hits similar points to FD and Pandemic, but adds the stress of apocalypse and a traitor.
M&M wasn't something originally on my radar, and a few of my friends turned me onto it, and I've been falling in love. It just seems like something that, when looking from the outside, is less deep than it actually is once you get into it. For FD, I WISH I had a copy. My buddy does, and we play a decent bit, but I'd love to have my own for travel and random pick up games DoW honestly attracted me for that reason alone. I like a game where it can really combine the desperation of an apocalyptic coop with the traitor mechanic. Usually, the traitor thing is the main stressor, but DoW let's both the main survival goal and the traitor play off each other for a really intense experience. And YES. I'm so glad someone else agrees with me on the crossroads. It just adds a really cool spin to the game, and it's pulled off well with how it works.
***** absolutely. I wouldn't suggest most people actually grab FD unless they feel the need to. I'm just usually gaming with friends/family, where I'm the big gamer of the group, so I'd get one. I just don't have the time to hit up game store, book store, or event stuff as of present, otherwise I'd be on the same page as you. X3 I'd LOVE to see the scifi crossroads game. Money nonwithstanding, I think it'd easily make its way into my collection. I'm born and raised on scifi (mom's a trekkie/whovian, and my dad... well he married her, so he has to be ok with it. Also star wars) add to that my own love of cyber/steampunk and im jsut a huge scifi geek. so mixing the two is just... My money couldn't leave my wallet fast enough, is all I'm saying
I can't wait to see what they come up with. There's something so chilling, no pun intended, about the idea of being stuck/lost out in space. I've seen it done where they involved parties are basically on top of things, but need to get home. Sadly not as much of the more dire side of the possibility. I've seen it done well in novels (the Star Wars novel "Death Troopers" comes to mind) so it could totally translate to the game board well. I mean DoW has shown that the fear and dire nature works, it'd just be a matter of the actual gameplay, and what your character(s) do. I'm just imagining situations like in DoW where a dog is trying to jump start a shuttlecraft, or a random ninja coming from nowhere
Excellent tips. Although I wouldn't agree with all of your choices, but no problem. You should check out the new (soon to be released) XCOM: The Board Game -- by Fantasy Flight -- the mechanics are awesome, because you HAVE to use an digital device (iOS or Android) in order to play the game! perfect combination to the theme itself.
If you know a bunch of people who are quantum physics nerds AND you can get them together to play a board game, kudos to you. In fact, if you have more than one close friend who knows more about quantum physics than how to pronounce it, and you're not Neil De'Grasse Tyson, you're a pretty rare individual.
My new favorite co-op is Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island. Killer game! Nice and hard. I wouldn't put it on a list to introduce new players, though. heh It is a bit more complicated than the average co-op. I also love that it is quite good as a solo game. In fact... I think I will give the game a go in a short bit! :-D
Shadow Hunter is not that close to being a cooperative, sorry... In my opinion, the only games that are semi cooperative are ones with a hidden traitor (like shadows over Camelot or battlestar galactica), and is typically the traitor versus everyone else. Even games like Descent, where it is everyone vs the dungeon player are more cooperative in nature I feel. Not equal sized teams vs each other, like shadow hunter.
***** I love shadow hunters don't get me wrong, it is actually one the games that really got me into the board gaming hobby. I agree it has cooperative nature to it because of the teams, so I understand where you are coming from having it as a honorable mention. To me though, when people talk about a cooperative board game, it is every person playing together vs the game itself (or possibly one or two traitors). I just feel there is big difference between a team game and a cooperative game. Anyway I can't argue too much =D this is defiantly a great game, so props for that!
My favourite is probably Betreyal at the House on the Hill. I like the idea that it begins as a competitive game where everyone tries to get the best equiptment and to search the house for the fullest. But then all of the sudden it changes and now it's co-operative to survive against the betrayer..
(Perhaps you can think it's not entirely co-op, but it's a fun game still.)
Since you asked what our favs are, mine is Flash Point. Surprisingly, I enjoy it even more as a solo game than with other players. Often while playing it I notice a big ol' smile on my face.
***** Yeah, there's always something new-ish for Flash Point. The latest, on kickstarter now, is called Honor & Duty, where you can fight fires on a plane and in a subway. I'm not a big fan of expansions for any game (so far). If I feel like playing a game, the base game suffices. If I'm not in the mood for it, I'll play a different game instead of spicing it up w/ expansions. That said, I will house-rule at the drop of a hat if I perceive something in the rules that isn't as good as it could be. In spirit it's like using an expansion, but cheaper and with less additional clutter. :)
Hey Danny! Loved your video. I found your explanations very clear, concise, and definitely easy to follow. I've played a few of your recommendations before watching the video and introduce these games to new players as well :) If I may suggest to check the focus of the camera for future videos? Although this is a minor gripe on my part and didn't really devalue the video. I look forward to future videos :)
Enjoyed this! Kudos for including Castle Panic on this list. Too many "serious" gamers write it off because it is not a complex game, but everything you said is spot on: Bottom line, it's FUN in every way a co-op game strives to be.
LISTEN UP! DON'T BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. BELIEVE IN ME! BELIEVE IN THE KAMINA WHO BELIEVES IN YOU!!!!!!!!!
Great video and some interesting games on your list... always good to have some new ideas. We like coop games and our current favorite is "Legends of Andor". We play it as a family with our 8 year old son and he is really into it. We are currently playing the expansion "Reise in den Norden", I don't know if there is an English version yet. I am aware of the critics of the game, but as long as one does not expect to get a RPG, but a well balanced coop game with a great theme that plays more like a traditional Eurogame, one will not be disappointed. Pandemic is not in our collection yet, but so many people say, that this is a must-have, so we will definitely get it sometime.
***** From what I read, Shadows over Camelot seems to be an interesting idea indeed. However, because of the fact that there is a traitor, we wanted to give it some more time before introducing it. Anyway, the German version of the game is out of print anyway and seems to be hard to get at a reasonable price. Pandemic will definitely not be to light or boring for us. We also like to play Forbidden Island and Forbidden Desert, so Pandemic should be fine as the play mechanisms seem to be similar.
my own favorites... for purely coop, I'd have to choose either Mice and Mystics (which I'm only really now getting into) or Forbidden Desert. I love games that make you REALLY stress against the game, and try to defeat it as a team. and FD really gets the points right. many lose conditions, several ways to just punch you in the gut with stress, but a number of ways to tackle it, as well as being a very portable game. if pandemic wasn't already in the video, I'd have put it as a tie with Forbidden Desert. Mice and Mystics is just a fun RPG in a box with a unique theme.
for coop with a traitor, I'd go with either Betrayal at House on the Hill (for reasons several commentors have already brought up ) or Dead of Winter. it hits similar points to FD and Pandemic, but adds the stress of apocalypse and a traitor.
M&M wasn't something originally on my radar, and a few of my friends turned me onto it, and I've been falling in love. It just seems like something that, when looking from the outside, is less deep than it actually is once you get into it. For FD, I WISH I had a copy. My buddy does, and we play a decent bit, but I'd love to have my own for travel and random pick up games
DoW honestly attracted me for that reason alone. I like a game where it can really combine the desperation of an apocalyptic coop with the traitor mechanic. Usually, the traitor thing is the main stressor, but DoW let's both the main survival goal and the traitor play off each other for a really intense experience. And YES. I'm so glad someone else agrees with me on the crossroads. It just adds a really cool spin to the game, and it's pulled off well with how it works.
***** absolutely. I wouldn't suggest most people actually grab FD unless they feel the need to. I'm just usually gaming with friends/family, where I'm the big gamer of the group, so I'd get one. I just don't have the time to hit up game store, book store, or event stuff as of present, otherwise I'd be on the same page as you. X3
I'd LOVE to see the scifi crossroads game. Money nonwithstanding, I think it'd easily make its way into my collection. I'm born and raised on scifi (mom's a trekkie/whovian, and my dad... well he married her, so he has to be ok with it. Also star wars) add to that my own love of cyber/steampunk and im jsut a huge scifi geek. so mixing the two is just...
My money couldn't leave my wallet fast enough, is all I'm saying
I can't wait to see what they come up with. There's something so chilling, no pun intended, about the idea of being stuck/lost out in space. I've seen it done where they involved parties are basically on top of things, but need to get home. Sadly not as much of the more dire side of the possibility. I've seen it done well in novels (the Star Wars novel "Death Troopers" comes to mind) so it could totally translate to the game board well. I mean DoW has shown that the fear and dire nature works, it'd just be a matter of the actual gameplay, and what your character(s) do.
I'm just imagining situations like in DoW where a dog is trying to jump start a shuttlecraft, or a random ninja coming from nowhere
Excellent tips. Although I wouldn't agree with all of your choices, but no problem. You should check out the new (soon to be released) XCOM: The Board Game -- by Fantasy Flight -- the mechanics are awesome, because you HAVE to use an digital device (iOS or Android) in order to play the game! perfect combination to the theme itself.
If you know a bunch of people who are quantum physics nerds AND you can get them together to play a board game, kudos to you. In fact, if you have more than one close friend who knows more about quantum physics than how to pronounce it, and you're not Neil De'Grasse Tyson, you're a pretty rare individual.
Soft focus on the dude talking, but the background shelf of games is super sharp!
My new favorite co-op is Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island. Killer game! Nice and hard. I wouldn't put it on a list to introduce new players, though. heh It is a bit more complicated than the average co-op. I also love that it is quite good as a solo game. In fact... I think I will give the game a go in a short bit! :-D
***** I hope you can find it for a good price. I managed to get my copy for $55. :-D Not a bad deal! Granted, I did buy it online, though.
***** Indeed. After playing it, I would gladly pay MSRP if necessary.
Not sure if i'll get a reaction on this, but what do you think about d&d castle ravenloft? I'm loving the game.
good shit. didnt know pandemic was co-op. going to pick up in the next while
thx for the info, will check them out.
I have king of tokyo and love letter and im in love with both
what other games do you recommended?
peace from Mexico
You had me at Elder Signs :-)
Hahaha happy to have it on the list :D
Shadow Hunter is not that close to being a cooperative, sorry... In my opinion, the only games that are semi cooperative are ones with a hidden traitor (like shadows over Camelot or battlestar galactica), and is typically the traitor versus everyone else. Even games like Descent, where it is everyone vs the dungeon player are more cooperative in nature I feel. Not equal sized teams vs each other, like shadow hunter.
***** I love shadow hunters don't get me wrong, it is actually one the games that really got me into the board gaming hobby. I agree it has cooperative nature to it because of the teams, so I understand where you are coming from having it as a honorable mention. To me though, when people talk about a cooperative board game, it is every person playing together vs the game itself (or possibly one or two traitors). I just feel there is big difference between a team game and a cooperative game. Anyway I can't argue too much =D this is defiantly a great game, so props for that!
Really really really