My take on co-operative games - and why I don't like them as much as I should.

[cygninae]

I'm posting this here because I don't really have anywhere else to post it yet. I might do so later as a note on Facebook, but for now I want to vent my spleen about co-operative games, following a very bad article about games being good for your brain, including, gods forbid, Monopoly. One of the games included was Pandemic, the mention of which

Comments

[sorcha]

Yes, that timed one was stressful, wasn't it? :-)

I've not played many co-operative games (er, two, or three? Maybe?) and I've not played Pandemic, but yes, I can easily see how it's possible for certain types of players to dominate the game and order the other players around. Which is not my idea of a good time either.

Himself maintains that you can learn a lot about people's management styles from collaborative games. I guess it comes down to knowing the right games to play with different people, so that everyone enjoys themselves.

I do remember having a lot of fun defeating Great Cthulu (barely!) in Elder Sign once. Which as I recall is a good game, but that session had excellent players too! :-)

[robharper]

I agree, it's all about the players in any game, but in co-ops even more so. An alpha player can just wreck the experience for everyone

[cygninae]

Thank you - I was hoping for your take on this, and figured if anyone might be able to suggest a co-op game that can get around the alpha player issue, it would be you. Hanabi certainly sounds interesting.

I've played Shadows Over Camelot, which I kind of enjoyed, but that was down to the traitor mechanic.

[resident_gnome]

I must admit for the most part I dislike co-operative as well. The main exception being Scotland Yard, I also quite like Pandemic, but I agree with what you are saying, it is easy to fade into the background. My belief is that it depends on the group playing more than the game itself, so I agree with Rob. Also I think it is great to say there are some games and game types you don't like then you can focus on playing the ones you (and your group) like.....