Ah, co-op real-time board games. Set the timer, work together to tackle challenges under pressure, and then take a breath.
Some people love the tension that real-time games bring to the table, while others don’t like that kind of stress. My group really enjoys these games because they’re some of the most interactive experiences you can have with a board game. It’s important that we’re all in the mood for a little bit of chaos, though.
Real-time games aren’t the types of board games that I’m going to recommend to everyone, but I do think it’s worth having at least one on your shelf for when you want an intense challenge that requires a lot of teamwork. They’re also fantastic for introducing friends to modern board games because they’re so engaging. Plus, with real-time games, you rarely deal with the alpha player problem, which is a huge bonus.
Note: This list hasn’t changed much in the last few years because, well, not a lot of new real-time games have come out recently. That’s a shame because this is an awesome board game genre.
Let’s get to the list! Below you’ll find some of the best cooperative real-time board games!
10. Unlock!
Players: 1-6 | Ages: 10+
Unlock! is an escape room system with simple, accessible rules, yet each game offers a unique theme and plenty of puzzles to solve. Your mission in every Unlock! game is to use the cards you find to crack puzzles as quickly as possible.
Unlock! has been a very successful series, which is great because it means that there are now plenty of games to choose from. You can pick the themes that you’re most interested in or you can just pick based on the games’ difficulty ratings.
Read our Unlock! review
9. Slide Quest
Players: 1-4 | Ages: 7+
Slide Quest is a real-time dexterity game in which you use four levers to move a knight around a map to complete your mission’s objectives. You can play it with or without the timer, but you’ll want to play it as a timed game after a couple of warmup rounds.
Slide Quest is one of the best co-op family games out there and it also works quite well as a co-op game for kids. It has simple rules, it’s a lot of fun to play, and it’s unlike any other cooperative game out there.
Read our Slide Quest review
8. Illiterati
Players: 1-5 | Ages: 7+
Illiterati is a fast-paced word board game in which you work together to form words and bind books while racing against the clock. Coming up with words while on a timer is very tough, but that also means it’s very satisfying when you’re able to work as a team to pull off the wins.
If your group enjoys word games and feels confident coming up with words under pressure, Illiterati should be on your radar.
Read our Illiterati review
7. Kitchen Rush
Players: 1-4 | Ages: 12+
Kitchen Rush is a real-time game to get if you like the restaurant theme. Throughout the game, you and your teammates run around the kitchen trying to fill orders by grabbing the ingredients you need, cooking them, and then getting the plates to the customers.
This clever blend of real-time gameplay and worker placement makes Kitchen Rush a great option for fans of challenging co-op games. I honestly haven’t met anyone who didn’t enjoy playing this one.
Read our Kitchen Rush review
6. Now Boarding
Players: 2-5 | Ages: 10+
Now Boarding was one of my group’s top co-ops of 2018. Its aviation theme, combined with a clever pick-up-and-deliver mechanism, makes it both engaging and memorable.
In this timed game, you play as pilots flying passengers across the U.S. while managing delays and complaints. As the game progresses, you upgrade your planes, but the challenges increase with unhappy passengers piling up. It’s a high-energy, thematic experience that most co-op fans will love.
Read our Now Boarding review
Check out our Top 10 Co-op Adventure Games!
5. Magic Maze
Players: 1-8 | Ages: 8+
Magic Maze puts a unique spin on the real-time genre. You can’t talk to each other for most of the game and everyone is controlling all of the characters, making it a unique puzzle to try to solve.
Your goal in Magic Maze is to move around a mall and grab equipment in a limited amount of time. Your goal is to navigate a mall and grab equipment within a tight timeframe. The mix of chaos and strategy makes Magic Maze a must-try, especially if you’re looking for a game that accommodates five or more players.
Read our Magic Maze review
4. Space Alert
Players: 1-5 | Ages: 12+
Space Alert is a real-time game that has been around for a while, but it’s still a one-of-a-kind experience. Its fantastic gameplay focuses on coordinating with teammates to navigate a spaceship and fend off incoming threats.
Many gamers still consider Space Alert the gold standard for real-time games. While it’s more complex than most, it’s well worth trying if you enjoy space-themed or programming-style games.
Read our Space Alert review
3. FUSE
Players: 1-5 | Ages: 10+
FUSE is a real-time dice game in which you attempt to work together to diffuse all of the bombs before time runs out. It’s 10 minutes of pure chaos as you try to get the dice you need while also communicating with your teammates to make sure all of the dice go to the right players.
FUSE remains a favorite in my group. It’s quick and portable, and the app adds to the intensity, making it a great party game and one of the top real-time board games available.
Read our FUSE review
2. Project: ELITE
Players: 1-6 | Ages: 14+
Project: ELITE is pure real-time chaos in the best way possible. It’s incredibly stressful as you race to complete objectives and fend off waves of aliens, but it’s also extremely satisfying when you succeed.
If you’re a fan of real-time board games and don’t mind high-stress games, definitely look into playing Project: ELITE. It was one of our top co-op games of 2020, which was a stacked year.
Read our Project: ELITE review
Get your copy of Project: ELITE
1. 5-Minute Dungeon
Players: 2-5 | Ages: 8+
For a long time now, 5-Minute Dungeon has been my group’s top real-time board game, and it’s one of our top co-op board games overall. Unlike most other real-time games, this is one that my group will happily play on any game night.
In 5MD, you try to make it through a horde of enemies and take down the final boss in each dungeon. You do that by quickly using your heroes’ cards and abilities as time is running down. It’s easy to learn, it’s a quick play, it’s very intense, and the narration in the app is fantastic.
If you only have room for one real-time game in your collection, 5-Minute Dungeon is the one I’d suggest getting. It’s one of the better five-player board games out there, but it plays well at all player counts.
Read our 5-Minute Dungeon review
Get your copy of 5-Minute Dungeon
What are some of your favorite cooperative real-time board games? Any that aren’t on the list?
Be sure to also take a look at our Best Co-op Board Games list and our other board game rankings.
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