Never edit Alex, never edit. That's part of what makes your videos great, mainly your personality and enthusiasm but also the unfiltered truth captured on video.
"wich is now inviting them to do, just that... I realise, relutantly..." The realisation is priceless XD I really like the variety you introduced to your video! Ill have to hunt down some of the games you have on that list such as arena and too many bones. Really great job with your video! NEVER EDIT!
You've done a great job adding a variety of interesting topics to your videos, and of course adding the Alex twist to it all. Entertaining as [almost] always, which is key to success.
Still early in the video but here's my list: 10) Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective 9) Exit games 8) 7th Continent 7) Codenames Duet 6) Chronicles of Crime 5) Mansions of Madness 4) Mage Knight Co-op mode 3) Pandemic Legacy Season 1 2) Gloomhaven 1) Spirit Island
i really like these TOP10 with more than 20 recommendations, because sometimes you may already have some of these games or maybe you do not like some of them and there is still more tips to get!
Of your "cheat" choice, The Crew is my favorite. I really appreciate the trick taking turned into a cooperative experience. Pandemic Legacy Season 0 is sitting on my shelf waiting for the real life pandemic to end so I can bring it to the table. Spirit Island is one of my favorite games. I love the asymmetry and replayability.
Excellent list. I'll have one of each please :) Forbidden Desert, as old and simplistic as it is, is still one of our family's Favorited and is not as easy to beat as it may seem. And speaking of not easy.... no co-op game ever gave me the feeling of satisfaction and relief upon winning as Ghost Stories. With all it's flaws still an easy top 5 for me.
1. Arkham Horror: The Card Game 2. The Ravens of Thri Sahashri 3. Pandemic Legacy Seasons 1 & 2 4. Cthulhu: Death May Die 5. Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion 6. Imperial Assault (with the app) 7. Aeon's End: War Eternal 8. Orleans (Invasion expansion co-op scenario) 9. Zombicide: Black Plague/Green Horde 10. Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deckbuilding Game
I love this channeeelll !!! Finally someone who doesn't put Gloomhaven on top of every top 10 list like a lunatic. Best coop, best dungeon crawl, best strategy, best solo, best 2player, story, legacy, rpg, euro..... my ass
Gloomhaven isn't for everyone, but it really is an amazing game. The balance and variety in the characters, the challenge and difference in the enemy types, the sheer amount of content... arguably the biggest weakness is the way many scenarios are just "kill all enemies". There are some people for whom Gloomhaven will not click, but in terms of design, it does deserve those high ratings it gets.
Fantastic list Alex! We have quite a lot in common in our top 10 cooperative games. My list in no particular order is: *Pandemic: Legacy Season 1* *The Captain is Dead* *Gloomhaven* *Too Many Bones* *Horrified* *Cthulhu: Death May Die* *Machina Arcana* *Zombicide: Black Plague* *Trogdor* *Black Orchestra* Honourable mentions: *Dead of Winter* *Nemesis* *Folklore: The Affliction* *Project Elite* *Burgle Bros* I haven't received my *Arena: The Contest* pledge yet so it may make an appearance on my list in future.
The Crew , Zombicide BP, Stuffed Fables, and Run Fight Or Die are the cooperative games we play. As well as the more recently added cooperative games Zombie Kidz and Similo Myths.
@@BoardGameCo I completely agree - so far, everyone I have played it with is loving it, too. Somehow it's just not all too well known. But it's my #2 game of all time. 😍 Then again, there are still quite a few games I will be adding to my collection this year. 😬
Great list of co-ops Alex!! You always do a great job explaining why you enjoy certain games. Even if the trend starts to reveal that you enjoy destruction and violence lol
The two that I’m most interested in are Mechs vs Minions and Cthulhu Death May Die! They’ve been on my list for a very long time. Glad to hear they hold up! :)
Mechs Vs Minions, not a great game but it is one of the most fun games that I have ever played. The transition phase in each scenario from 'we're in trouble and going round in circles' to 'we are mighty dancing robot gods' is excellently balanced by the ramp up in minion numbers from waves to floods.
Like a few people said The Captain is Dead is another great one with different powers and tasks to get done. I also really like Thunderbirds in that genre. Shadows over Camelot is also great and was the first game with a traitor mechanic I played 10 or so years ago. I really need to work on not quarterbacking too much though, i know it can get annoying XD
This is a really nice selection. One of my favorites is a lesser known game titled Hotshots. Add to that Pandemic Iberia and Spirit Island, and I'm cooperating the heck out of my gaming.
I found Hot Shots very enjoyable. Wish I could find a copy of Pandemic Iberia, to give it a try. Pandemic Fall of Rome is a good too. Black Orchestra is one of my favorites; historical, tense, difficult, really puts you in the shoes of a conspirator.
Hi! What I am wondering about Pandemic Legacy is if you can "go back" to vanilla or is that just "meh" after that? I don't want to make my copy bad in comparison just by playing Legacy :D
Played legacy season 1, 2 and half way through 0 and playing base vanilla pandemic is kinda meh at this point. Still have it but I can understand the fear. However the legacy games are soooooo good and if you like Pandemic at all you'll love the legacy games
Lets see if I can get a top 10 coops together (without having it filled by 8+ different pandemics) :D This is in no particular order: - Pandemic Legacy (season 0, 1 or 2, I don't want to spend many spaces with the same system :P But I will diferentiate this from normal pandemic, since the thrill of discovery is such a big thing that changes how this feels drastically and the draw to get back to the game is different) - Pandemic Iberia (this can almost be exchanged with any other non legacy pandemic, we played all different versions and Iberia is just slightly above the others in my opinion) - Mysterium - Codenames: Duet - Robinson Crusoe, adventures on a cursed island - Escape room games - Scythe (either 2 players vs 2 AI or with the coop rules from the Fenris expansion) - Dead of winter - Fog of love (kinda coop, at least most of the time) - Legendary Encounters: an alien deckbuilding game
Just backed the machina arcana latest Kickstarter.. so happy. I’m planning to play it solo or two player ! Can’t wait to play it. Will need to check out trogdor or mechs&minions.
lol I getcha. I just sit down with a pile of games and improvise as well. Though you do it MUCH more smoothly!!! I am constantly so impressed by how little you have to cut, or reword, or edit. Very well done. Do you have experience with public speaking or something like that???
Just the opposite....I hate public speaking :) But speaking of "being friends" the main trick for me is treating the conversation just like one I would have in real life. That changes the entire tone and ease of speaking.
Have had a hard time choosing between zombicide and Cthulhu dmd just because the idea of hordes of zombies lures me in more than the Eldritch theme, plus have seen Black Plague $20 cheaper than Cthulhu. Hoping to eventually pick up both though!
I did! I actually filmed a video on it awhile ago, then traded it...then my comp was destroyed and I lost it and 4 other videos...way back in the day. Overall I liked it, but I much prefer DMD and Rise of Moloch.
Solid picks! Funny enough I've only played The Crew, The Mind, and Magic Maze out of these (own the first two, intend to buy MM sometime). Need to try a CMON pick one of these days!
@@BoardGameCo Oh no, Death May Die is definitely heavy. Too many things to keep track while prevent the elder god to spawn early. I saw Quackalope's gameplay, he loss LOL
Hey wassup Alex, I see your meeple pillow been breeding lol. Haven't been watching your video much lately sorry on that, busy life and all. Saw your video with your daughter, good stuff man. Just wanna drop by and say good vid, I might look into your patron. Have a good holiday
If you count all of the scenarios available for Zombicide: Black Plague and expansions, it’s a ridiculous Gloomhaven level of content. There are something like 40+ scenarios available for printing directly from the Guillotine website. We’ll never play through them all.
Awesome list! Have everything on it except for Trogdor (with Marchina Archana and Arena the Contest backed on kickstarter). Guess I gotta take the plunge and start burninating some peasants. Trogdorrrrrr!
I really want to get Cthulhu: Death May Die, but I want to get the Kickstarter version for the exclusives. What do you think are the chances of it returning to Kickstarter?
Spirit Island is my favorite game, and the game that got me started on solo gaming. Have you had a chance to try out the Jagged Earth expansion? I have been having a great time trying out the new spirits and adversaries from it. Codenames is my favorite party game, and I also really like Codenames Duet.
Have you played the new zombicide based off night of the living dead? Some reviewers are saying it’s not as hectic but are liking it the most of all the games and it has more of a horror aspect. I’m deciding if I should get Black Plague or night of the living dead
Great video. Your selection has a lot of overlap with mine. I have really gravitated to coops since my wife enjoys games but not at a heavy level and it is not fun to overwhelm her in a competitive game. Playing coop allows us to work together at a goal. I love TMB, Spirit Island, and Cthulhu DMD. All excellent games with different levels of brain burn. I agree that the Pandemic Legacy series adds a great experience. A lot of people raised issues with the legacy concept as a money grab by game developers. I found it perplexing that these same people would think nothing of spending the same amount on a movie and popcorn for four. The legacy games give a lot more entertainment time for the money and you get to star in the movie experience.
Wondering since Cthulhu Death May Die is one of your favs , how do you feel about Cmon's practice of paywalling the ryleh rising campaign behind a garden gnome ?
After you saying Machina Arcana is definitely not your favorite dungeon crawler, now I want to know which dungeon crawlers you like better. (Or does that cover your later picks of Arena, Zombicide/CDMD, Too Many Bones?)
Here’s my issue with Cooperative Games: The endless discussion! I get enough unsolicited suggestions from my wife every day! - I don’t need any extra thank you! I just want to play my turn, my way.
As Alex discusses, there are plenty of coop games that either actively prevent discussion, or make it kind of pointless to bother with. Because the game is too complex.
@@BoardGameCo it's ridiculously fun. Everyone scrambles around in the dark in the first part, dealing with threats to the ship you're on in a hectic rush. Then the hilarity ensues in the second part when you find out how different what actually happened in the first part was from what everybody thought was happening. !
Ordered Black Plague before our recent lockdown and my lfgs was never able to get it. T_T Cthulu: Death May Die is something that's been on my sights for awhile but I desperately want that K/S edition...
Great list, still waiting for you to coop test TMB. Can we patreon vote you into filling this gap please :) ? Also after how much quarterbacking is possible in the second half of the presented games?
I'll speak to my wife and get her vote :) And definitely can be some, especially when balancing the aspect of teaching new players vs telling them what to do.
great video man i can tell ur a cmon fan lol i would love to have a conversation with you about how invader is the best of all zombicide games lol Stay Hexy!
@@BoardGameCo i get all my games at retail(frostpunk was the first game i ever backed lol) but im looking forward to season 2 and i will shoot you a mail in next day or 2 thanks man
Love The Mind but am kind of downturned by Magic Maze (although in the same spot in your vid). Havent heard of Quirkys Circuit yet but am eager to find out!
Game boxes front and back not in same orientation!!! O....c.....D... kicking....in.....(wakes up an hour later to all games on shelves organized in alphabetical order) Love Death May Die, never played any of the zombicides, but backed the 2nd edition. Was worried of the overlap between the two because I've heard they are pretty similar. But I think there it's room for both
Any recommendations for a family of beginners (ages 12 to adult) wanting a team co-op game (not card game). That’s easy to understand and get playing. Something that has characters and not pawns. So it keeps it fun for the kids. We are trying to get our kids away from Among Us on iPad lol.
@@BoardGameCo Yeah I think I seen that in the shops, it’s just hard to know if it’s easy to understand as I know some of the rules in these games are complicated. I really appreciate your help
Good choices. The most interesting co op game I've played recently was the Horizon Zero Dawn board game. Really well done and feels like you're working together hunting machines My top co op game is still Star Trek Frontiers. Figuring out how to tackle situations with people is just great in the game. Lord of the Rings Journeys In Middle Earth is fun as well. Sword And Sorcery would be my third choice. Star Trek Panic is a good party game and gets pretty crazy with 6 people. Arkham Horror and Arkham Horror the card game are also good times with the right players. Descent is still fun and I still play it once in awhile. Gloomhaven as well but you really need to be in the right mindset for that game. Otherwise my brother and I introduced his 10 year old daughter to the original Heroquest and that went over well. A good into game for people.
Everyone is talking about Spirit Island in the top ten... I need to buy it 😂. Anyway I don’t know if you like war hammer but Warhammer Quest: Blackstone Fortress is a really good solo coop game it can be also played with the fifth player that control the enemy unit
I love Spirit Island! Missed the last KS but finally picked up Jagged Earth from my FLGS yesterday. Stoked to play it this weekend! Left off my favorite: LotR LCG!
I am really interested in spirit island, but I get the sense that there are too many possibilities and administration steps making the rounds go slow. How do you experience this?
One of my all-time favorite games, but analysis paralysis can run rampant. We have one guy in my group who wanted to talk about the minutia of every possible combination of plays. With certain people, I would think sessions running three hours or more could easily happen. With choices to play at a reasonable pace, the game can be played in less than two hours easily. The “administration” of pieces will be slow at first, but it’s not a time suck once you get comfortable with the game. The issue is analysis paralysis and people who want to make the perfect play on every turn.
@@theresilientsociety6685 People have different opinions about expansions in general, but I can tell you you could get a lifetime of great plays just from the base box.
mine would be 1: Cthulhu Death May Die 2: Dark Souls Board Game 3: Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle 4: Power Rangers Heroes of the Grid 5: Pandemic Reign of Cthulhu
Kingdom Death: Monster is one of the best co-op games I've played. I was fully expecting an overblown, overproduced mini fest, what I wasn't entirely expecting (but got) was a really well paced emergent narrative, tight complex and tactical combat, and a light but really, really engaging civ builder. Now I just need to play it irl, and not just on TTS...
I’ve only played pandemic season 2. It was my least favorite legacy game. We also played code names but that’s a light game. I have arena coming I also have death may die. Only played the first 4 missions so far and the winter everything.
I have not played a lot of Cooperative games in recent years but I still really like Shadows over Camelot. Super easy to teach and one of the few games I have played at a full player count (7 players!!) that still played quickly with first time non boardgamers. Other coops I think are top tier: Gloomhaven Spirit Island Atlantis Rising Aeons End Exit\unlock (really depends on which one is played) Coops that I think are good but I have to be in the right mood or have the right players Dead of Winter Imperial assault Lotr: Journey of Middle Earth 7th Continent Coops I didnt think were all that great: Chronicles of Crime - I found scanning cards so tedious Arkham Horror: The Card Game - This kind of deck builders is just not for me, super expensive to get into The Ravens of Thri Sahashri - I don't understand why but I found the rules horrible and its such a low key game I couldnt find any videos that could help me wrap my brain around it
I love Cthulhu and all theme of the games but there were so many mediocre reviews on this Cthulhu game I’m afraid to spend $100 on something that won’t be fun or won’t last in my collection
@@BoardGameCo I saw on the board game app it was a 6.9 (just checked now it’s been updated to 8.1) and of course zee’s review. I think tom liked it a lot. Hope there’s a Black Friday sale cus I really want ruins of Arnak as well
Personally I'm not a fan of coop, but maybe itvis because I haven't found the right one yet ;) The only coop I like so far i Robinson Crusoe, maybe because I got my character there and still I can do sth different then other players suggest :D but I'm buying Spirit Island for Christmas, from yt reviews I guess I'm going to love it :)
It's just so hard for me to hear 'The mind' described as a game. I can understand it being fun as an activity, but really, as a game? The only way to win without 100% luck is to break the rules. That's unheard of. There's no telepathy. There's no magic. You are reading purposeful or unpurposeful communication. There's no other way to win without luck. That's why all the other games are much better. there's something to allow winning without 100% luck. It's a social experiment. What will a group do in this no-way-to-win-except-break-the-rules situation. Will they pusposfully make up silent communication? will it be subconciously? how will it look like?
Great video! If you have kids also consider Mice and Mystics. The gameplay is a bit clunkier and dice dependent, but the narrative and characters is awesome for the younger ones. Also, Gloomhaven! As big as it can be, imo it offers the best gameplay mechanics I have ever played. and if you don't want the campaign, it has a random dungeon makers right in the box. Talk about overkill :)
I've yet to meet anybody who likes these types of games. It goes against human nature. It is just like playing sports without taking score. It leaves the contestants empty.
Is playing video games sports without the score? I'm not sure you fully understand what a cooperative game is....you still win and lose...just against the game...like a video game :)
Me @16:10: Huh, there's a theme developing here... You @16:50: I'm realising there's a theme here... By the way, for the love of all that is holy, NEVER start editing your videos!
Dude, I respect your passion and enthusiasm, but if you want me to commit a half-hour to watching you talk, you need to show more than game boxes. We get it that YOU love these games, but give us something visual as to why WE should love them as well.
Co-op games tend to see less plays than competitive games for us. I really enjoy them but their staying power seem lacking. Most played would be: forbidden island/desert, codename duet, Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective when we started the hobby. More recently the Crew, Mysterium Park, Jaws of the Lion and Death May Die. I have Chronicles of Crime (1400/1900/2400), Set A Watch and Sprawlopolis/Agropolis coming soon. Apart from that I am still on the fence about Freedom Five. Also I would love to play Marvel Champions co-op but my wife does not like it so I play 99% solo!
Never edit Alex, never edit. That's part of what makes your videos great, mainly your personality and enthusiasm but also the unfiltered truth captured on video.
Lol it won't be happening anytime soon :)
true
"wich is now inviting them to do, just that... I realise, relutantly..." The realisation is priceless XD
I really like the variety you introduced to your video! Ill have to hunt down some of the games you have on that list such as arena and too many bones.
Really great job with your video! NEVER EDIT!
Lol, my family picks and chooses which videos to watch... I just hope it isn't this one.
Great list, good to see a Gloomhaven snub. Horrified is one that I love playing with almost any group.
Gloomhaven is great! Just not on this list.
You've done a great job adding a variety of interesting topics to your videos, and of course adding the Alex twist to it all. Entertaining as [almost] always, which is key to success.
Thank you :)
We're super excited about Cthulhu: Death May Die which is arriving next Monday! Love your energy in the videos and that yarmulke cap you're rocking :)
Thanks! It's an awesome game :)
Agree a very nice game enjoy
I'm ordering a copy this week from Amazon and probably the expansion as well
Where'd you get it? I cannot find it anywhere!
Still early in the video but here's my list:
10) Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective
9) Exit games
8) 7th Continent
7) Codenames Duet
6) Chronicles of Crime
5) Mansions of Madness
4) Mage Knight Co-op mode
3) Pandemic Legacy Season 1
2) Gloomhaven
1) Spirit Island
Chronicles of Crime and the Exit games are some of my favorites too. They are great.
good list. id put mythos tales above consulting detective though (a bit more creative imo)
Thanks for the video! This is exactly the content I am looking for
Happy to help :)
Nice list. Love the raw passion.
Always :)
Glad I ran into this 9 months later just to see you sing Trogdor :)
:)
i really like these TOP10 with more than 20 recommendations, because sometimes you may already have some of these games or maybe you do not like some of them and there is still more tips to get!
Happy to help 😊
I'd love to see top ten quality budget game ($50 or less). It would be a good video in the Hanukkah/Christmas season!
Adding to my list :)
Of your "cheat" choice, The Crew is my favorite. I really appreciate the trick taking turned into a cooperative experience.
Pandemic Legacy Season 0 is sitting on my shelf waiting for the real life pandemic to end so I can bring it to the table.
Spirit Island is one of my favorite games. I love the asymmetry and replayability.
Yes! All are awesome, SI is sooo satisfying.
Excellent list. I'll have one of each please :)
Forbidden Desert, as old and simplistic as it is, is still one of our family's Favorited and is not as easy to beat as it may seem.
And speaking of not easy.... no co-op game ever gave me the feeling of satisfaction and relief upon winning as Ghost Stories. With all it's flaws still an easy top 5 for me.
Forbidden Desert is great, such a solid system.
My wish list keeps growing with every Top 10 (ish) video you do :)
Oops :)
1. Arkham Horror: The Card Game
2. The Ravens of Thri Sahashri
3. Pandemic Legacy Seasons 1 & 2
4. Cthulhu: Death May Die
5. Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
6. Imperial Assault (with the app)
7. Aeon's End: War Eternal
8. Orleans (Invasion expansion co-op scenario)
9. Zombicide: Black Plague/Green Horde
10. Legendary Encounters: An Alien Deckbuilding Game
Nice! I have to try some of those, including orleans coop
I would put Magic Maze on the list. It's fun especially with my house rule: You still can't talk but you can grunt all you like.
Grunting is always cool :)
He did put magic maze on the list. 😉
I love this channeeelll !!! Finally someone who doesn't put Gloomhaven on top of every top 10 list like a lunatic. Best coop, best dungeon crawl, best strategy, best solo, best 2player, story, legacy, rpg, euro..... my ass
It's a solid game :-) but not my number one.
@@BoardGameCo right, solid but far from 10/10. Crazy overrated game
@@BoardGameCo just wondering how much of the game did you complete?
Gloomhaven isn't for everyone, but it really is an amazing game. The balance and variety in the characters, the challenge and difference in the enemy types, the sheer amount of content... arguably the biggest weakness is the way many scenarios are just "kill all enemies".
There are some people for whom Gloomhaven will not click, but in terms of design, it does deserve those high ratings it gets.
@@stickandmud Absolutely true.
Fantastic list Alex! We have quite a lot in common in our top 10 cooperative games.
My list in no particular order is:
*Pandemic: Legacy Season 1*
*The Captain is Dead*
*Gloomhaven*
*Too Many Bones*
*Horrified*
*Cthulhu: Death May Die*
*Machina Arcana*
*Zombicide: Black Plague*
*Trogdor*
*Black Orchestra*
Honourable mentions:
*Dead of Winter*
*Nemesis*
*Folklore: The Affliction*
*Project Elite*
*Burgle Bros*
I haven't received my *Arena: The Contest* pledge yet so it may make an appearance on my list in future.
The Crew , Zombicide BP, Stuffed Fables, and Run Fight Or Die are the cooperative games we play. As well as the more recently added cooperative games Zombie Kidz and Similo Myths.
Awesome that you love Mechs vs. Minions probably as much as I do. 😁
It's excellent :)
@@BoardGameCo I completely agree - so far, everyone I have played it with is loving it, too. Somehow it's just not all too well known. But it's my #2 game of all time. 😍
Then again, there are still quite a few games I will be adding to my collection this year. 😬
I got almost everything Spirit Island.
As you should :-) although now that I think about it, I own everything and still have only played the base game...
@@BoardGameCo - I'm missing the latest expansion. I forgot how it's called, and one of the Promo packs. But I'll get 'em.
Great list of co-ops Alex!! You always do a great job explaining why you enjoy certain games. Even if the trend starts to reveal that you enjoy destruction and violence lol
The two that I’m most interested in are Mechs vs Minions and Cthulhu Death May Die! They’ve been on my list for a very long time. Glad to hear they hold up! :)
They're excellent :)
Mechs Vs Minions, not a great game but it is one of the most fun games that I have ever played. The transition phase in each scenario from 'we're in trouble and going round in circles' to 'we are mighty dancing robot gods' is excellently balanced by the ramp up in minion numbers from waves to floods.
Yep :) It's a ton of fun :)
Like a few people said The Captain is Dead is another great one with different powers and tasks to get done. I also really like Thunderbirds in that genre. Shadows over Camelot is also great and was the first game with a traitor mechanic I played 10 or so years ago. I really need to work on not quarterbacking too much though, i know it can get annoying XD
Captain is Dead I need to try. Thunderbirds as well, I've heard good things about it.
This is a really nice selection. One of my favorites is a lesser known game titled Hotshots. Add to that Pandemic Iberia and Spirit Island, and I'm cooperating the heck out of my gaming.
I've heard good things about hot shots but never had a chance to play.
I found Hot Shots very enjoyable. Wish I could find a copy of Pandemic Iberia, to give it a try. Pandemic Fall of Rome is a good too. Black Orchestra is one of my favorites; historical, tense, difficult, really puts you in the shoes of a conspirator.
Hi! What I am wondering about Pandemic Legacy is if you can "go back" to vanilla or is that just "meh" after that? I don't want to make my copy bad in comparison just by playing Legacy :D
I have played and enjoyed after....but certainly less.
Played legacy season 1, 2 and half way through 0 and playing base vanilla pandemic is kinda meh at this point. Still have it but I can understand the fear. However the legacy games are soooooo good and if you like Pandemic at all you'll love the legacy games
This was a really nice collection! A suggestion: do a top 10 Kickstarters you regret backing :)
Oohh, good choice :)
Lets see if I can get a top 10 coops together (without having it filled by 8+ different pandemics) :D
This is in no particular order:
- Pandemic Legacy (season 0, 1 or 2, I don't want to spend many spaces with the same system :P But I will diferentiate this from normal pandemic, since the thrill of discovery is such a big thing that changes how this feels drastically and the draw to get back to the game is different)
- Pandemic Iberia (this can almost be exchanged with any other non legacy pandemic, we played all different versions and Iberia is just slightly above the others in my opinion)
- Mysterium
- Codenames: Duet
- Robinson Crusoe, adventures on a cursed island
- Escape room games
- Scythe (either 2 players vs 2 AI or with the coop rules from the Fenris expansion)
- Dead of winter
- Fog of love (kinda coop, at least most of the time)
- Legendary Encounters: an alien deckbuilding game
Solid list :) Played most...need to play some.
Our group loves Spirit Island!
It's excellent!
I was just wondering...
Will there be add ons of mechs vs. minions? Where would you rank that in term of coop games and programming games?
I haven't heard anything so I'm skeptical.
Really like your channel !
Just backed the machina arcana latest Kickstarter.. so happy. I’m planning to play it solo or two player ! Can’t wait to play it. Will need to check out trogdor or mechs&minions.
Both awesome!
lol I getcha. I just sit down with a pile of games and improvise as well. Though you do it MUCH more smoothly!!! I am constantly so impressed by how little you have to cut, or reword, or edit. Very well done. Do you have experience with public speaking or something like that???
Just the opposite....I hate public speaking :) But speaking of "being friends" the main trick for me is treating the conversation just like one I would have in real life. That changes the entire tone and ease of speaking.
Have had a hard time choosing between zombicide and Cthulhu dmd just because the idea of hordes of zombies lures me in more than the Eldritch theme, plus have seen Black Plague $20 cheaper than Cthulhu. Hoping to eventually pick up both though!
I completely agree...and yet CMD is likely what I would pick as my preferred game from the 2.
Great list. I'd probably add escape room games to the list: Exit, Unplugged, and Escape Tales. All are enjoyable if you like puzzles.
I debated throwing escape rooms in the list....I need more than 10!
MvM 🥰 it has a special place on my heart. Besides being a very fun, clutch, memorable game... it was the first game to arrive in my collection.
Cool list. Your Machina Arcana link goes to Trogdor!! btw.
Ouch thanks!
Hi Alex! Have you tried The Others? What's your opinion?
I did! I actually filmed a video on it awhile ago, then traded it...then my comp was destroyed and I lost it and 4 other videos...way back in the day. Overall I liked it, but I much prefer DMD and Rise of Moloch.
Solid picks! Funny enough I've only played The Crew, The Mind, and Magic Maze out of these (own the first two, intend to buy MM sometime). Need to try a CMON pick one of these days!
Good choices all the same :)
Very good review! I call the "quarterbacking", the alpha player. :)
Yes! Another common term.
You have me in the few games, then I got lost =)) Those endgames are heavy.
Not that heavy....death may die is so much fun!
@@BoardGameCo Oh no, Death May Die is definitely heavy. Too many things to keep track while prevent the elder god to spawn early. I saw Quackalope's gameplay, he loss LOL
Hey wassup Alex, I see your meeple pillow been breeding lol. Haven't been watching your video much lately sorry on that, busy life and all. Saw your video with your daughter, good stuff man.
Just wanna drop by and say good vid, I might look into your patron. Have a good holiday
Awww :) Thanks for dropping by :)
Where did you get the pillows from?
If you count all of the scenarios available for Zombicide: Black Plague and expansions, it’s a ridiculous Gloomhaven level of content. There are something like 40+ scenarios available for printing directly from the Guillotine website. We’ll never play through them all.
ZBP is still the best zombicide imo. curious how season 2 will turn out and wheter they will make a season2 BP as well.
Awesome list! Have everything on it except for Trogdor (with Marchina Archana and Arena the Contest backed on kickstarter). Guess I gotta take the plunge and start burninating some peasants. Trogdorrrrrr!
I really want to get Cthulhu: Death May Die, but I want to get the Kickstarter version for the exclusives. What do you think are the chances of it returning to Kickstarter?
Spirit Island is my favorite game, and the game that got me started on solo gaming. Have you had a chance to try out the Jagged Earth expansion? I have been having a great time trying out the new spirits and adversaries from it. Codenames is my favorite party game, and I also really like Codenames Duet.
I haven't yet! I really need to get that to the table.
Wow, this was a great video because I share a lot of the same opinions. Indeed, I also hate trick taking games, too. lol
Nice :-) The crew remains my only trick-taking game in my collection
Have you played the new zombicide based off night of the living dead? Some reviewers are saying it’s not as hectic but are liking it the most of all the games and it has more of a horror aspect. I’m deciding if I should get Black Plague or night of the living dead
Not yet, there are aspects of it that intrigued me, but I have heard it's not really that hard.
@@BoardGameCo that’s what worries me. I really like/prefer the horror aspect and feeling of dread but I don’t want it to be easy like horrified
Marco is The One True Omnigamer.
Nice :)
good recommendations, i would only be nice if the video had any images about each games as well
Have you tried Mage Knight cooperative yet? And why hasn't gloomhaven made it to this list?
Great video. Your selection has a lot of overlap with mine. I have really gravitated to coops since my wife enjoys games but not at a heavy level and it is not fun to overwhelm her in a competitive game. Playing coop allows us to work together at a goal. I love TMB, Spirit Island, and Cthulhu DMD. All excellent games with different levels of brain burn. I agree that the Pandemic Legacy series adds a great experience. A lot of people raised issues with the legacy concept as a money grab by game developers. I found it perplexing that these same people would think nothing of spending the same amount on a movie and popcorn for four. The legacy games give a lot more entertainment time for the money and you get to star in the movie experience.
Do you recommend no rest for the wicked expansion?
I own it but haven't played with any of the content yet so I can't say.
Wondering since Cthulhu Death May Die is one of your favs , how do you feel about Cmon's practice of paywalling the ryleh rising campaign behind a garden gnome ?
Meh. The campaign is subpar. There are so many better missions to focus on.
After you saying Machina Arcana is definitely not your favorite dungeon crawler, now I want to know which dungeon crawlers you like better. (Or does that cover your later picks of Arena, Zombicide/CDMD, Too Many Bones?)
It's something I have to think about. As of now I like different parts of different dungeon crawlers
Here’s my issue with Cooperative Games: The endless discussion! I get enough unsolicited suggestions from my wife every day! - I don’t need any extra thank you! I just want to play my turn, my way.
:)))
As Alex discusses, there are plenty of coop games that either actively prevent discussion, or make it kind of pointless to bother with. Because the game is too complex.
A bunch of these actively rule out talking :) Plus some can be played solo :)
Play the mind no talking whatsoever. :-)
Any love for Space Alert? I've never experienced such cooperative hilarity.
I never played it...really need to :)
@@BoardGameCo it's ridiculously fun. Everyone scrambles around in the dark in the first part, dealing with threats to the ship you're on in a hectic rush. Then the hilarity ensues in the second part when you find out how different what actually happened in the first part was from what everybody thought was happening. !
I would love to see how the game looks, not only the box
Agreed, but sadly I can't both do a daily video and edit in b-roll of all the games. Down the road perhaps.
Cdmd is tremendous. I love the buildup to the intense finish. I want more games like that. Reskins would be great
Yes!
Ordered Black Plague before our recent lockdown and my lfgs was never able to get it. T_T Cthulu: Death May Die is something that's been on my sights for awhile but I desperately want that K/S edition...
Great list, still waiting for you to coop test TMB. Can we patreon vote you into filling this gap please :) ?
Also after how much quarterbacking is possible in the second half of the presented games?
I'll speak to my wife and get her vote :) And definitely can be some, especially when balancing the aspect of teaching new players vs telling them what to do.
great video man i can tell ur a cmon fan lol i would love to have a conversation with you about how invader is the best of all zombicide games lol Stay Hexy!
Let's do it :) Did you back season 2? Shoot me an email, alex@boardgameco.com
@@BoardGameCo i get all my games at retail(frostpunk was the first game i ever backed lol) but im looking forward to season 2 and i will shoot you a mail in next day or 2 thanks man
I would love to hear your opinion of the "Captain is Dead" as an alternative to Pandemic
I've heard good things but haven't played that one yet.
The captain is dead is really fun and a great coop game. Horrified is also a very good coop that I also suggest.
Love The Mind but am kind of downturned by Magic Maze (although in the same spot in your vid). Havent heard of Quirkys Circuit yet but am eager to find out!
Game boxes front and back not in same orientation!!! O....c.....D... kicking....in.....(wakes up an hour later to all games on shelves organized in alphabetical order)
Love Death May Die, never played any of the zombicides, but backed the 2nd edition. Was worried of the overlap between the two because I've heard they are pretty similar. But I think there it's room for both
Oh for me there's def room for both....and sorry about the boxes ;)
Any recommendations for a family of beginners (ages 12 to adult) wanting a team co-op game (not card game). That’s easy to understand and get playing. Something that has characters and not pawns. So it keeps it fun for the kids. We are trying to get our kids away from Among Us on iPad lol.
Pandemic is going to be the first thing that comes to mind.
@@BoardGameCo so that has actual characters figures and not just pawns to move around?
@@rickyshoard oh sorry, that definitely has pawns. What about zombicide black plague?
@@BoardGameCo Yeah I think I seen that in the shops, it’s just hard to know if it’s easy to understand as I know some of the rules in these games are complicated. I really appreciate your help
Mine would be:
1. Lord of the Rings LCG
2. Arkham Horror LCG
3. Space Hulk: Death Angel
4. Robinson Crusoe
5. Zombicide: Black Plague
;)
That's only five!
It‘s the five coop he has played 😉
nope, those are just 5 best, the rest would be 2nd tier ;).
Good choices. The most interesting co op game I've played recently was the Horizon Zero Dawn board game. Really well done and feels like you're working together hunting machines
My top co op game is still Star Trek Frontiers. Figuring out how to tackle situations with people is just great in the game. Lord of the Rings Journeys In Middle Earth is fun as well. Sword And Sorcery would be my third choice. Star Trek Panic is a good party game and gets pretty crazy with 6 people. Arkham Horror and Arkham Horror the card game are also good times with the right players. Descent is still fun and I still play it once in awhile. Gloomhaven as well but you really need to be in the right mindset for that game. Otherwise my brother and I introduced his 10 year old daughter to the original Heroquest and that went over well. A good into game for people.
Everyone is talking about Spirit Island in the top ten... I need to buy it 😂. Anyway I don’t know if you like war hammer but
Warhammer Quest: Blackstone Fortress is a really good solo coop game it can be also played with the fifth player that control the enemy unit
SI is awesome! And I used to watch more warhammer back in the day :)
I love Spirit Island! Missed the last KS but finally picked up Jagged Earth from my FLGS yesterday. Stoked to play it this weekend!
Left off my favorite: LotR LCG!
I am really interested in spirit island, but I get the sense that there are too many possibilities and administration steps making the rounds go slow. How do you experience this?
One of my all-time favorite games, but analysis paralysis can run rampant. We have one guy in my group who wanted to talk about the minutia of every possible combination of plays. With certain people, I would think sessions running three hours or more could easily happen. With choices to play at a reasonable pace, the game can be played in less than two hours easily.
The “administration” of pieces will be slow at first, but it’s not a time suck once you get comfortable with the game. The issue is analysis paralysis and people who want to make the perfect play on every turn.
@@chuckm1961 thnx that is what I was hoping to hear so I will buy it :)
@@theresilientsociety6685 People have different opinions about expansions in general, but I can tell you you could get a lifetime of great plays just from the base box.
mine would be
1: Cthulhu Death May Die
2: Dark Souls Board Game
3: Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle
4: Power Rangers Heroes of the Grid
5: Pandemic Reign of Cthulhu
Number 1 I agree haha! Are the dark souls board game complicated? Or good value? And I want to get number 5 in French so bad...
@@zors5188 they are but they are really good I would suggest trying it on tabletop simulator first
I really need to play heroes of the grid! I've heard good things about it!
@@BoardGameCo it is really good just requires some investment after core box to get some good characters
Sneaky...sneaky...sneaky!
:)
Kingdom Death: Monster is one of the best co-op games I've played. I was fully expecting an overblown, overproduced mini fest, what I wasn't entirely expecting (but got) was a really well paced emergent narrative, tight complex and tactical combat, and a light but really, really engaging civ builder. Now I just need to play it irl, and not just on TTS...
People really love it....for myself I'm not pulled in.
Thoughts on Legends of Andor?
Haven't played that one, always been tempted.
Space Alert is quite good.
It's on my shelf! I need to play it :)
I’ve only played pandemic season 2. It was my least favorite legacy game. We also played code names but that’s a light game.
I have arena coming
I also have death may die. Only played the first 4 missions so far and the winter everything.
I have not played a lot of Cooperative games in recent years but I still really like Shadows over Camelot. Super easy to teach and one of the few games I have played at a full player count (7 players!!) that still played quickly with first time non boardgamers.
Other coops I think are top tier:
Gloomhaven
Spirit Island
Atlantis Rising
Aeons End
Exit\unlock (really depends on which one is played)
Coops that I think are good but I have to be in the right mood or have the right players
Dead of Winter
Imperial assault
Lotr: Journey of Middle Earth
7th Continent
Coops I didnt think were all that great:
Chronicles of Crime - I found scanning cards so tedious
Arkham Horror: The Card Game - This kind of deck builders is just not for me, super expensive to get into
The Ravens of Thri Sahashri - I don't understand why but I found the rules horrible and its such a low key game I couldnt find any videos that could help me wrap my brain around it
I love Cthulhu and all theme of the games but there were so many mediocre reviews on this Cthulhu game I’m afraid to spend $100 on something that won’t be fun or won’t last in my collection
What? Who gave mediocre other than DT? Everyone I know loves this game!
@@BoardGameCo I saw on the board game app it was a 6.9 (just checked now it’s been updated to 8.1) and of course zee’s review. I think tom liked it a lot. Hope there’s a Black Friday sale cus I really want ruins of Arnak as well
Personally I'm not a fan of coop, but maybe itvis because I haven't found the right one yet ;) The only coop I like so far i Robinson Crusoe, maybe because I got my character there and still I can do sth different then other players suggest :D but I'm buying Spirit Island for Christmas, from yt reviews I guess I'm going to love it :)
Totally get it. Sometimes it's about getting the right game for you.
I gotta play Cthulu Death May Die. And Too Many Bones. It's time.
Yes!
I'd coin the term "panludical".
I like it :)
I really enjoy Cthullu: Death May Die
It's a blast :)
Great list. I would add gloomhaven base or jotl
I loved what I've played but haven't experienced those enough yet.
@@BoardGameCo Its got those powers and abilities that you love :)
what about zombicide 2?
Haven't played the newest one yet.
It's just so hard for me to hear 'The mind' described as a game. I can understand it being fun as an activity, but really, as a game?
The only way to win without 100% luck is to break the rules. That's unheard of. There's no telepathy. There's no magic. You are reading purposeful or unpurposeful communication. There's no other way to win without luck.
That's why all the other games are much better. there's something to allow winning without 100% luck.
It's a social experiment. What will a group do in this no-way-to-win-except-break-the-rules situation. Will they pusposfully make up silent communication? will it be subconciously? how will it look like?
Great video! If you have kids also consider Mice and Mystics. The gameplay is a bit clunkier and dice dependent, but the narrative and characters is awesome for the younger ones.
Also, Gloomhaven! As big as it can be, imo it offers the best gameplay mechanics I have ever played. and if you don't want the campaign, it has a random dungeon makers right in the box. Talk about overkill :)
Have most of those, but never was interested in The Mind, The Crew, or Quirky Circuits.
Makes sense, they're a very specific type of game to be sure.
Of those games I think I like the crew the most, but I really enjoy trick taking games and making it cooperative puts a twist to it.
DMD is better than Black Plague. There's really no contest here.
Hey! There's a contest! DMD wins but it's a contest!
I've yet to meet anybody who likes these types of games. It goes against human nature. It is just like playing sports without taking score. It leaves the contestants empty.
Is playing video games sports without the score? I'm not sure you fully understand what a cooperative game is....you still win and lose...just against the game...like a video game :)
Zombicide invader or green horde>>> Black Plague
Black plague is my fav so far :)
I haven't tried Green Horde yet but I vastly prefer Black Plague to Invader. To each their own I guess :D
Me @16:10: Huh, there's a theme developing here...
You @16:50: I'm realising there's a theme here...
By the way, for the love of all that is holy, NEVER start editing your videos!
Lol 🤣
My top 2 games: pandemic en zombicide black plague💞 want to try cthulhu death may die.
All 3 solid games :)
Dude, I respect your passion and enthusiasm, but if you want me to commit a half-hour to watching you talk, you need to show more than game boxes. We get it that YOU love these games, but give us something visual as to why WE should love them as well.
I want co op games that everyone ca play with his mind not games that one can play for all
I hear that. I don't mind the mix but I understand the potential problem.
@@BoardGameCo i want to buy spirit island next.did spirit have the same issue or everybody think for his own
Co-op games tend to see less plays than competitive games for us. I really enjoy them but their staying power seem lacking. Most played would be: forbidden island/desert, codename duet, Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective when we started the hobby. More recently the Crew, Mysterium Park, Jaws of the Lion and Death May Die. I have Chronicles of Crime (1400/1900/2400), Set A Watch and Sprawlopolis/Agropolis coming soon. Apart from that I am still on the fence about Freedom Five.
Also I would love to play Marvel Champions co-op but my wife does not like it so I play 99% solo!
👍🏻
:)
I really don't get the hype behind Zombicide I had BP up till yesterday which I sold since I find it very boring and anticlimactic...
Totally fine...not every game is for everyone.
You've got great content, but you need to put some production value into your videos
Need to is a relative term ;)