You found our list of fun cooperative games.
Cooperative games involve players working together towards a common goal rather than competing against each other. Examples include Pandemic, Suspended Object Races, and Spider Web Escape. These games foster teamwork, improve communication skills, and promote group problem-solving abilities.
These cooperative games are types of team building games similar to collaboration games, problem-solving games, and communication games.
This list includes:
- cooperative board games
- cooperative card games
- cooperative games for kids
- cooperative games for adults
- cooperative games for small groups
- cooperative games examples
Let’s get to it!
Cooperative board games
1. Pandemic
Pandemic is a board game in which players collaborate to stop the spread of diseases worldwide. Each player has a unique role and special abilities to control outbreaks by working together and sharing information. Participants race against time to discover cures for diseases before they become uncontrollable. The game encourages teamwork, communication, and critical thinking as players collaborate to prevent widespread devastation. By balancing immediate goals with long-term plans and efficiently managing limited resources, players encounter unexpected challenges that assess their problem-solving abilities and decision-making skills during crises.
Learn more about Pandemic.
2. Forbidden Island
In the cooperative game Forbidden Island, players must work together to collect four sacred treasures from Jungle ruins. Each player assumes a role with unique abilities and uses strategy to shore up the island’s sinking parts, gather resources, and evade disastrous pitfalls. Coordination and collective problem-solving are key, as the island’s tiles progressively flood and sink, making every move crucial. This thrilling adventure is perfect for families, friends, or coworkers who enjoy a dynamic, collaborative challenge with a moderate pace and escalating intensity.
Learn more about Forbidden Island.
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3. Hanabi
Hanabi is one of the best cooperative card games. Players work together to create a beautiful fireworks display. Players need to play cards strategically in sequence without looking at their own hand, depending on teamwork and memory skills. Restricted communication increases the difficulty of each turn, demanding successful cooperation and strategic thought.
Learn more about Hanabi.
4. Flash Point
In the cooperative board game Flash Point, players play as firefighters who rescue people and animals from a burning building. The game requires teamwork, strategic thinking, and quick decisions to put out flames and save lives.
Each player has a unique role with special abilities that help the team succeed. The game has an intense theme and challenging gameplay and encourages communication among players.
Players must manage actions and resources to stop the fire from spreading while rescuing trapped occupants. With different difficulty levels, Flash Point is suitable for all skill levels and highlights collaboration and problem-solving under pressure.
Learn more about Flash Point.
5. Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a popular collaborative game where players work together to explore magical worlds filled with creatures and missions.
By roleplaying characters such as wizards or warriors, players use their special abilities to overcome challenges set by the game master. Working as a team and communicating effectively are essential in this engaging activity, as players plan together to reach common goals. The game encourages creativity, problem-solving, and cooperation as individuals face hurdles and influence the story with their choices.
Dungeons & Dragons provides an exciting opportunity for folks to work together, unleash creativity, and build strong friendships.
Learn more about Dungeons & Dragons.
Cooperative games examples
6. Fire Hose Pipeline
The Fire Hose Pipeline is an exciting team-building activity that challenges groups to work together to transport a ball through a series of interconnected pipes. Participants must carefully align the pipes and hold them in place while ensuring the ball rolls smoothly from one end to another without falling out. This requires effective communication, problem-solving, and coordination as team members strategize how to position the pipes and maintain their connections.
The Fire Hose Pipeline fosters teamwork and encourages participants to think creatively under pressure, making it a fantastic addition to any group event.
7. Blind Tent Building
Blind Tent Building is a fun team activity that tests how well teammates can communicate and work together.
In this challenge, one team member wears a blindfold and has to set up a tent using only the instructions given by their teammates. The teammates must explain instructions clearly to guide their blindfolded friend through the process.
This activity helps build trust and teamwork while creating lots of laughs, especially when instructions go a bit wrong.
8. Spider Web Escape
In Spider Web Escape, players collaborate to navigate through a tangled web of ropes without touching them. The goal is for the team to safely pass all members from one side of the “spider web” to another.
This game fosters teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills as players strategize to maneuver through the obstacles.
“Spider Web Escape” prompts players to think critically and cooperate efficiently to reach a shared objective while enjoying themselves.
9. Group Balloon Hover
During Group Balloon Hover, participants work together to keep a balloon in the air without allowing it to touch the ground. This enjoyable activity promotes teamwork, communication, and coordination as players aim for a shared objective.
By highlighting group success rather than individual achievements, the game fosters problem-solving skills and successful collaboration.
You can adjust the game for different group sizes and environments, making it appropriate for various events.
10. The Stepping Stones Game
The Stepping Stones Game is a fun team challenge that encourages teammates to work together and think creatively.
In this game, teams must move across a designated area using a limited number of “stone” tiles, which they can share and move around. Team members need to plan together how to place the tiles so every team member can cross without stepping on the ground.
This activity helps improve communication as players share ideas and listen to each other to find the best way to succeed.
11. Balloon Net Drop
Balloon Net Drop is an exciting team game focusing on teamwork and fun.
In this activity, teams use a large shared net to catch balloons that fall from above. The challenge is ensuring no balloon touches the ground, which means every player needs to react quickly and communicate well.
Players work together to move the net around and catch as many balloons as possible. With laughter and cheers all around, this game creates a lively atmosphere.
You can also check out field day games.
12. Shared Knowledge Bank Trivia
Shared Knowledge Bank is one of the best cooperative games for adults. This engaging trivia game promotes teamwork and inclusivity among participants.
In this activity, groups work together to answer a series of trivia questions, but with a twist. Each team member can only contribute one answer per round. This rule encourages every player to actively participate and share their unique knowledge, ensuring that groups equally utilize all team members’ skills. This version of the game also requires strategy.
Here are more trivia night ideas.
13. Chain Reaction Build
The Chain Reaction Build is an exciting and creative team activity that challenges participants to design and construct a series of contraptions that operate sequentially, similar to a Rube Goldberg machine.
In this collaborative project, teams must brainstorm and plan their designs, considering how each component will interact with the next to create a successful chain reaction.
Participants engage in problem-solving and critical thinking, testing their designs and making adjustments along the way. The final reveal prompts anticipation and laughter as teams watch their contraptions come to life, each triggering the next in a delightful display of engineering ingenuity.
14. Suspended Object Race
The Suspended Object Race is one of the most fun cooperative games for small groups. In this race, players work in teams to maneuver an object along a set path using only strings or wires. Each team gets an object attached to multiple strings and must coordinate their movements to safely guide the object through obstacles to the finish line without dropping it. This game requires effective communication and collaboration, as each participant controls part of the object’s trajectory. The race is a test of physical dexterity, patience, and teamwork, making it a favorite in cooperative game lists.
15. Giant Origami Creation
Giant Origami Creations are one of the most unexpected cooperative games. Working together, each participant contributes by folding massive paper sheets according to precise patterns. Communication and coordination are key as the structure gradually takes shape, transforming into a colossal, intricate paper sculpture.
The activity highlights the importance of harmony and collective effort and allows participants to connect in a fun, engaging, and highly memorable way.
16. Rhythmic Dance Chain
Rhythmic Dance Chain requires players to form a synchronized chain and add distinct dance moves to make a continuous sequence.
This collaborative activity helps develop teamwork, coordination, and creativity as players cooperate to keep the rhythm. Participants must observe each other’s motions for a smooth dance chain, fostering camaraderie and unity. The game promotes non-verbal communication through movement and music and is great for group bonding.
The exercise is also one of the easiest cooperative games for kids.
17. Magnet Human Train
In this cooperative game, players link hands and navigate through a maze or obstacle course together, mimicking the connected cars of a train. The lead player steers, while those players behind need to follow seamlessly without breaking the chain.
This activity fosters teamwork and communication as players must constantly adjust and coordinate their movements to progress. The Magnet Human Train is a fun and physical way to build trust and awareness among participants.
18. Whispered Drawing Relay
In Whispered Drawing Relay, players divide into teams and sit in a line, ensuring they cannot see each other’s papers.
The first player views an image and has a short time to draw it from memory. Participants pass the drawing down the line, with each subsequent player attempting to replicate the drawing based solely on the previous player’s version.
This exercise continues until the last player in the line completes their version. The results are often hilariously different from the original.
19. Mismatched Object Scavenger Hunt
The Mismatched Object Hunt is a thrilling and interactive team challenge that combines problem-solving with a scavenger hunt format.
Each team begins with half a unique item, such as a torn postcard or a broken key. The objective is for teams to collaborate with other groups to search for the other half of that item.
Once the team finds their matching pieces, they must work together to assemble the completed items, which will then reveal the next clue in the hunt.
This activity encourages communication, teamwork, and strategic thinking. Participants must navigate the space and interact with other teams to succeed. The excitement builds with each discovery, making the Mismatched Object Hunt a fun and memorable way to foster collaboration and engagement among teams.
Check out more scavenger hunt ideas.
20. Riddle Relay
In Riddle Relay, group members work together to solve one riddle at a time before moving on to the next. Each player presents a riddle, and the team discusses it to find the answer. This game helps improve cooperation by encouraging every player to listen, share ideas, and think together. As participants solve each riddle, players learn to trust each other and build stronger connections. Riddle Relay makes teamwork fun and teaches valuable teamwork skills.
Here are lists of icebreaker riddles and relay race ideas.
Final Thoughts
Trying out cooperative games benefits groups looking to improve teamwork and problem-solving skills. These games are fun and help strengthen relationships and strategic thinking in the workplace. Participating in these activities can boost cooperation and communication among team members. When you consider adding these games to your group activities, consider the various options available to suit different group sizes and interests.
Next, check out our posts on teamwork games and ways to improve cooperation at work.
