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cooperative

koh-OP-ruh-tiv /koʊˈɒp.ər.ə.tɪv/

adjectiveB1

neutral

Involving mutual assistance in working toward a common goal; in gaming, a style where players work together as a team against the game itself.

In cooperative games, players win or lose together, requiring open communication and shared planning.

The story behind the word. From the Latin 'cooperatus', past participle of 'cooperari', meaning 'to work together'. It combines 'co-' (with, together) and 'operari' (to work, from 'opus' meaning work). It is the literal act of putting your work together with someone else's.

Word relationships

collaborative: Collaborative is highly formal and used in professional settings, while cooperative is the standard term in tabletop gaming.
joint: Joint refers to shared ownership or action, but doesn't necessarily imply the active teamwork of cooperative.

competitive: Competitive games pit players against each other, with only one winner.

Commonly confused with

semi-cooperative: Semi-cooperative games require players to work together to avoid a group loss, but ultimately only one individual player can win.

Word family

cooperate (verb): To work together toward a common end.
cooperation (noun): The act of working together.
cooperatively (adverb): In a cooperative manner.

Collocations

cooperative game
fully cooperative
cooperative play

Example sentences

"Pandemic is a cooperative game where players must coordinate their unique roles to cure four diseases before the world is overwhelmed." A description of the game Pandemic.

Memory hook

Think of 'Co-op' grocery stores where members work together to run the shop. In a 'co-op' game, players work together to run the board. Co-op: operate together to win.

When not to use

Do not use to describe games where players compete individually but can make temporary alliances (that is 'semi-cooperative' or 'negotiation').

Fun facts

Cooperative games often suffer from the 'Alpha Player' problem, where one dominant player tells everyone else what to do on their turns, effectively playing the game solo.