That Sinking Feeling (A Review of Forbidden Island)

They call the island, Forbidden.  A little dramatic, perhaps.  You don’t believe in any of that superstitious, mumbo-jumbo.  But maybe there is a reason for the dour adjective?  I mean, every time they want to keep people out, they slap on some ominous-sounding name to discourage snooping, right?  Rumor is there are untold treasures hidden away on the island.  And they can all be yours!  Straight out of a pulp fiction yarn, you and your team ignore the warnings and fly in searching for fortune!  Only to find out the island is aptly named, after all!  Can the stories of great riches be true, as well?  Can you find out before the entire island sinks into the depths – claiming you with it?!

So Happy Together (A Guide on Cooperative Games)

Only you and your teammates can stem the tide of disease in Pandemic

When non-gamers first hear that I like to play board games, I think one of the first scenes they imagine in their minds is the one with a group of young siblings playing a competitive game of monopoly or sorry until they get in a fight and quit angrily.  And while some relish the conflict and competition inherent in most board games, there is a genre of game which pits players not against each other, but against the game itself.

Even though cooperative games aren't a new phenomenon, many outside of the hobby gaming scene haven't heard of them, and aren't sure what that means.  Usually one of the first questions I get when I introduce a cooperative game is, "So you're on, like, teams?"

Fortunately, if you've run into trouble explaining the concept, or are unsure what it means yourself, this guide is here to help you out.  

So, what is a Cooperative game?