When my daughter was young, I noticed that she got a bit upset when she lost board games — a typical response for many young children. While I think it is important for kids to learn to lose gracefully, I decided I wanted to make games more pleasant for both of us by mixing in the occasional cooperative game.
My first cooperative game purchase was Break the Safe. My daughter and I enjoyed it, although I learned that she was as unhappy when our team lost to the timer as she would have been losing to me. I’d review that game for my weekly “something wonderful” post, but Mattel stopped manufacturing it. It costs more than $50 on Amazon. While some complex games cost at least that much, Break the Safe is not that sort of game.
More recently, I purchased Forbidden Island by Gamewright, the same company that makes Sneaky Cards. Forbidden Island is inexpensive and easy to find.
The object of the game is to collect four sacred treasures from an island that begins sinking as soon as your team sets foot on it. If you start gameplay at novice level, this seems quite doable at first. Players can use their turn to work on treasure retrieval or, if needed, to shore up part of the island. In addition, each player has certain skills that help the team achieve its object. The Engineer, for instance, can shore up more of the island per turn than any other player.
The problem is that, sooner or later, a player will get an unlucky card that will increase the pace at which the waters rise. As play continues, the island floods more quickly. Losing is a very realistic possibility. And if, by chance, you find the odds aren’t as much against you as you’d like, you can always start the game at a more challenging level.
Forbidden Island moves quickly; you can easily play more than one round during the time it would take to watch a movie. Gamewright recommends the game for ages 10 and up.
If you haven’t tried a cooperative board game, I highly recommend Forbidden Island. It’s entertaining and easy to learn. And, much as I enjoy movies, there’s a lot to be set for sitting down with friends and family and playing a game.