It’s not easy to find any type of board game for more than four players. That’s especially true when you’re looking for cooperative board games for five or more players.
The truth is that most of the best cooperative board games max out at four players. While there are plenty of co-op games that support higher counts, many are just “playable” at those levels and are often better suited for smaller groups.
To me, the best 5+ player board games are the ones that keep every player engaged while minimizing downtime. If adding more players only makes a game longer, that’s usually a sign it’s better with fewer players.
The games on this list aren’t necessarily best at higher player counts, but they all perform well and remain enjoyable at those higher counts.
With all of that out of the way, let’s get to it! Below are some of the best cooperative board games for 5+ players!
10. So Clover!
Players: 2-6 | Ages: 10+
So Clover! is a word association game in which you first write down connections between your words and then your teammates try to find those connections.
What I like about this one is that everyone is working on their boards simultaneously before trying to solve their teammates’ clues one at a time. That gives the game a better flow than you get from most other party board games.
If you like word games and want one that plays well at higher player counts, So Clover! should work well for you.
Read our So Clover! review
9. The Grizzled
Players: 2-5 | Ages: 14+
In The Grizzled, you play as soldiers during World War I who are just trying to survive in the trenches until the war ends. What’s interesting is that there is no fighting in this game. You just have to work together to survive through all the threats (bullets, bad weather, etc.) that come your way.
The tension seems to ramp up even more in five-player games, as every card choice feels more impactful. My group has had multiple nail-biting games of The Grizzled at this player count, and it’s always memorable.
The Grizzled offers a unique perspective on World War I, making it a must-play for fans of war games and tense, survival-themed games.
Read our The Grizzled review
8. Flash Point: Fire Rescue
Players: 1-6 | Ages: 10+
Flash Point: Fire Rescue is one of the best family board games for five players or more. You work together as firefighters to save people and pets from burning buildings while managing hazards like explosions and collapsing walls.
Flash Point works well as a five or six-player board game because turns go by quickly and the cooperative strategic discussions keep everyone involved throughout. Plus, the firefighting theme is something that most people can get into and the rules are simple enough for newer gamers to grasp.
Read our Flash Point: Fire Rescue review
Get your copy of Flash Point: Fire Rescue
7. Hanabi
Players: 2-5 | Ages: 8+
Hanabi is a cooperative card game in which you try to build a perfect fireworks display. The catch? You can’t see your own cards and must rely on hints from your teammates.
Hanabi is fantastic as a five-player card game because more players add an extra layer of tension and make the game that much more challenging. It’s also compact and quick to play, making it an excellent choice for game nights with more than four players.
Hanabi is a game I think most people should have in their collections since it works well as a filler game and it’s one of the best affordable games you can get.
Read our Hanabi review
6. Magic Maze
Players: 1-8 | Ages: 8+
Magic Maze is a real-time game with a limited communication twist. You’re attempting to move around a mall, steal items, and get out. That’s a tough task, though, because you can’t talk to each other and each player only has so much control over the four characters’ movements.
I haven’t had a chance to play an eight-player game of Magic Maze yet, but I can say that it works very well with five, six, or seven players because it’s pretty much the same game regardless of the number of players. The silent gameplay creates chaotic moments as everyone tries to coordinate movements without speaking.
If you’re into real-time board games or just want a unique board game to play at higher player counts, Magic Maze is worth checking out.
Read our Magic Maze review
Check out the Best Budget Board Games!
5. Atlantis Rising
Players: 1-7 | Ages: 10+
Atlantis Rising is an awesome cooperative worker placement game in which you try to gather resources and get off your island before it sinks. My group ranks it as one of the best co-op board games of all time because it requires a lot of cooperation to beat, looks fantastic on the table, and has a nice blend of worker placement and push-your-luck dice play.
While it’s great at most player counts, I think Atlantis Rising shines as a five-player board game. If you’re a fan of worker placement games, I highly recommend getting this one.
Read our Atlantis Rising review
Get your copy of Atlantis Rising
4. The Captain is Dead
Players: 1-7 | Ages: 12+
The Captain Is Dead is an excellent board game to get if you like the science fiction theme and enjoy challenging co-ops. In this one, you’re working together to fix your ship’s engines while simultaneously trying to fight off the aliens that are trying to destroy you before you get away.
I think The Captain is Dead plays best as a five-player game, and it’s still very playable and fun all the way up to seven players. It has a great sci-fi theme and plenty of replay value.
Read our The Captain Is Dead review
Get your copy of The Captain is Dead
3. 5-Minute Dungeon
Players: 2-5 | Ages: 8+
5-Minute Dungeon is a real-time game in which you get five minutes to use your heroes’ cards and abilities to get through each section of the dungeon. In my opinion, this is still the best real-time board game out there right now.
I’ve played 5-Minute Dungeon more than any other game on this list. The chaotic energy is awesome (if you like that sort of thing), and the game is over so quickly that we usually play a bunch of dungeons per session.
I like 5-Minute Dungeon best as a four or five-player co-op game since it creates even more chaos, but it’s a great board game no matter how many people are at the table.
Read our 5-Minute Dungeon review
Get your copy of 5-Minute Dungeon
2. Mysterium / Mysterium Park
Players: 2-7 | Ages: 10+
Mysterium and Mysterium Park are two different but similar horror board games in which one person plays as a ghost and the other players are investigators trying to solve a murder. The ghost gives clue cards with unique images to the investigators and then the investigators try to figure out what those cards represent.
I think a lot of people would put these two games near the top of their best 5+ player games lists. They play the same way regardless of player count, but having more than four players at the table gives them a true murder mystery feel.
I recommend getting Mysterium if you want more of a classic haunted house/ghost story vibe. Mysterium Park is a great choice if you want a more streamlined game that is easier to get to the table with different crowds.
Read our Mysterium review
Read our Mysterium Park review
Get your copy of Mysterium … or Get a copy of Mysterium Park
1. Just One
Players: 3-7 | Ages: 8+
Just One is a simple but brilliant cooperative word game in which one person has to guess a word based on the one-word clues that their teammates give them. The twist is that any matching clues get canceled out, so everyone has to think creatively.
Just One is my group’s favorite board game for five or more players (and our top party board game) because it’s been the most consistently fun experience at higher player counts. It’s great even with three players, but with five, six, or even seven players, it’s especially hilarious and awesome because the odds of there being matching clues are very high. That creates some extra (satisfying) tension.
If you like word games and are looking for a great co-op board game for 5+ players, I highly recommend adding Just One to your collection.
Read our Just One review
What are your favorite 5+ player board games? Any that didn’t make this list?
Be sure to also take a look at our Best Cooperative Board Games list and our other board game rankings.
If our site has been valuable to you, please consider supporting us at Ko-fi.
Subscribe to the Co-op Board Games Newsletter
Though I guess they’re not really co-op…lol
Thank you for this list! We enjoy Sushi Go Party and Telestrations also 🙂
Both of those are great competitive games. I’m surprised there isn’t a cooperative set collection game like Sushi Go. That’d be fun!