Overcooked & Overcooked 2 (inc. the definitive Overcooked: All You Can Eat Edition)
Overcooked is at first glance a simple game with friendly cooking mechanics in which up to 4 players work together in a kitchen environment. The game is accessible regardless of experience and abilities, but difficulty escalates quickly requiring coordination amongst players to serve in time increasingly complex dishes and avoiding obstacles like trucks or swinging boats. In Overcooked 2 things can get really imaginative yet chaotic!
These are particular suited games for team-building, since it requires communication, roles organisation and quick-problem solving. Players can only be successful if they split tasks and responsibilities: while one prepares the ingredients, another one cooks and serve the dishes and another one clean plates and make them available for the cook. Situations are fast-paced are hilarious, and chaos will be often present asking teams to work together or they will burn in flames.
Overcooked is a great bonding experience that will combine teamwork with laughs.
Platforms:
Nintendo Switch,
PlayStation 4 & 5,
Xbox One & Series,
Windows.
Number of players:
Up to 4 simultaneously.
Original release date:
2016 (Overcooked),
2018 (Overcooked 2),
2020 (Overcooked: All You Can Eat).
Human: Fall Flat
Platforms:
Nintendo Switch,
PlayStation 4 & 5,
Xbox One & Series,
Windows.
Number of players:
Up to 8 simultaneously.
Original release date:
2016
A physics-based puzzle platformer game where up to 8 players control wobbly humanoid characters to solve challenging puzzles. The objective is to manipulate objects, use tools and join forces with other players to reach the end of the level. Controls seem simple at first, but unpredictable physics make every action feel comic. Thus, moving boxes, climbing ledges and pulling levers become a challenge in itself.
As a puzzle game, Human: Fall Flat is strong on creative problem-solving and collaboration, since it is important to communicate and coordinate even to achieve the simplest tasks and in the increasingly complex puzzles in each level. The degree of unpredictability leads to hilarious situations that can foster camaraderie among the team.
Portal 2 (co-op mode)
Portal 2 is the sequel to Portal, a first-person shooter puzzle game spin-off to the renowned Half Life saga. Portal relies on the player using a ‘Portal gun’ to open two interconnected portals in compatible surfaces to travel or move objects between them. While the game can be enjoyed as a solo-experience, the cooperative mode with 2 players is a puzzle-solving experience like no other, given the still fresh straightforward gameplay combined with complex and clever puzzles that require perfect cooperation to progress.
Portal 2 is a great small team-bonding experience that forces constant critical thinking and communication. Some puzzles are designed to be unsolvable alone, so teamwork is absolutely necessary with due planning and trust in each other.
Platforms:
Nintendo Switch,
Linux/Mac/Windows,
Xbox 360 (compatible with
Xbox One and Series).
Number of players:
Up to 2 simultaneously.
Original release date:
2011
Among Us
Platforms:
Android, iOS, PC,
Nintendo Switch,
PlayStation 4 & 5,
Xbox One & Series.
Number of players:
Up to 4-15 simultaneously.
Original release date:
2018
A digital version of the Werewolf game where 4-15 players work together as the crew of a spaceship, trying to complete multiple tasks while 1 to 3 imposters amongst them secretly sabotage the mission and eliminate the crew. Game can be played locally or online and relies heavily on communication, logic and persuasion.
Among us is a perfect experience for team building because it encourages interaction and joint task solving, while staying alert to detect suspicious behaviour and reveal impostors. Chaotic discussions and blame shifting, mixed with tense gameplay make it excellent for icebreaking sessions while having fun. It is also free-to-play and went viral a few years ago, so it is an extremely accessible option.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
The definitive version yet of the iconic racing series with the classic Mario Bros characters. In this version up to 12 players can compete at the same time, 4 in a single Nintendo Switch console, competing in creative tracks with an accessible and enjoyable experience for newcomers yet engaging for veteran players.
Mario Kart is the ultimate party game blending skills and unpredictability. Even the most skilled players can be out of the competition with a single item, making every race exciting and full of surprises, which makes it a great environment to foster team bonding.
Super Mario is also the guest star in many other games worth mentioning in this list, such as Mario Party, the latest platform games (Wonders or 3d World) or their sports games. They all could have been in this article, but Mario Kart is always the safe choice for everyone!
Platforms:
Nintendo Switch
Number of players:
Up to 12 simultaneously.
Original release date:
2018
Also, this article’s writer is confident enough to say he is the best Mario Kart player in the whole group. Ping him if you are open to an online challenge 🙂
Level up your team-building activities
Effective team-building does not have to be restricted to conventional methods. Videogames these days offer more than just entertainment and can be a great opportunity to practice quick thinking, problem solving or team bonding. Picking the right game for a team dynamic can turn any session into a fun and engaging experience, whether you choose safe competition with Mario Kart, collaborative chaos in Overcooked or intense persuasion with Among Us. So, grab your controllers, gather your team, and get ready to level up your team-building activities!
In the next issue we will go through PNO group favourite videogame experiences, so feel free to reach me out to me with your suggestions and reviews!
