May 4th, 2025 on

Best Co-op Board Games for Couples | Forbidden Island | Fun, Strategy & Replayability

Hey Friends! I have recently gotten into board games with my husband, and it’s been such a fun way to unwind after work. It’s screen-free, low-key, and surprisingly addictive. As newbies, we have found that co-op games that are easy to learn, a little strategic, and have great replayability are what we really enjoy. So, in this series, I’ll be sharing the games we have played and loved, with a quick rundown of the pros, cons, and my final thoughts.

Each post will focus on one game, covering everything from the gameplay mechanics to why we love (or sometimes don’t love) it.

Today’s pick:

Forbidden Island (2010)

How to Play

The goal of Forbidden Island is to collect four treasures and escape the island before it sinks! On your turn, you’ll do four things:

The setup! Everything in place and ready to play!

Move Move your character to an adjacent tile (land or treasure).

Shore Up You can use one action to shore up a tile that’s sinking (if it’s flooded, flip it back over).

Draw Cards Draw two treasure cards, and if you draw a flood card, a tile sinks. Watch out! The more cards you draw, the faster the island sinks.

Give or Receive Treasure Cards If you’re on the same tile as another player, you can give or receive treasure cards to help collect sets needed to claim treasures.

You win if you collect all four treasures and make it to the helicopter pad before the island sinks. The game ends in failure if the island sinks completely, or if any treasure is lost underwater!

Here's what's left...we managed to secure the treasures and escape the island! We won! Here’s what’s left… we managed to secure the treasures and escape the island! We won!

You can find plenty of YouTube videos with tutorials and reviews to dive deeper into the game, but I think this playthrough at All Aboard Boardgames is a great starting point to see if it’s something you’ll enjoy.

Pros

Replayability The game changes every time you play, because the tiles and treasures are shuffled. You’ll never have the same game twice, so it keeps things interesting.
Great Price It’s usually around £20 in the UK (about €24/$25), and you can often find it on sale. We got it for just £17, which felt like a total bargain for how much fun it is.
Quick to Play The first time it might take about an hour while you learn the ropes, but after that, it’s usually just 30 minutes a game.
Co-op This is a teamwork game through and through! You’ll need to talk, plan, and strategize together. If you’re not into communicating with others during the game, this isn’t for you. But if you love working together to beat the game, it’s awesome.
Easy Setup and Low Complexity The game has a quick setup since it doesn’t use a board, just shuffle the tiles for a new layout every time. It’s easy to learn, with just the right amount of challenge.

Cons

Best for 2 Players The game is for 2-4 players, but in my opinion, it’s best suited for 2. With more players, the game feels too short, like it wraps up in 15 minutes. The strategy and collaboration just don’t have the same depth with more people, and the thrill of building tension or agonizing over decisions can be lost.
Bad Luck! As with many co-op games, there’s a bit of luck involved, and sometimes it’s just not in your favor. We had a game where the tiles were scattered far apart, we drew characters with limited abilities, and then the water rise three times in a row. It felt like everything was stacked against us. But hey, sometimes that’s just how the game goes, and you’ve got to roll with it!

Last, Just My Final POV

Forbidden Island holds a special place for me because it’s one of the first games we started playing, and maybe that’s why I love it so much. It’s comforting, familiar, and just a lot of fun.

From an objective point of view, the game keeps you on your toes right until the very end. It’s all about teamwork, communication, and making the best of the cards you’re dealt (sometimes literally!). There’s a good amount of strategy involved, but you’ll also need a bit of luck to make it through.

I highly recommend Forbidden Island if you’re looking for a co-op game to enjoy with a partner. It’s really the kind of game that shines when you’re playing with someone you know well, someone you can easily talk to and plan with.

There are two sites that can really help if you’re just getting into board games. Board Game Geek has reviews, answers from developers, and a huge community - it’s the go-to place for everything board games. And Board Game Prices lets you compare prices and find the best sales. Hope this helps!

Until next time, happy gaming!