You know the feeling, don't you?
You've beaten the campaign.
You've maxed out the builds.
You're still hanging out, but nobody really feels like starting the game again.
That's co-op fatigue, and it doesn't necessarily mean the group is done gaming together; it means they're done gaming the way they're gaming. Sometimes the best thing to do for a multiplayer gaming group is to mix things up and give them something different to do.
When co-op gaming feels like a second job, sometimes the best thing to do is give the group a break from it with some other, shorter-form multiplayer gaming options.
For instance, Buckshot Roulette is a great choice for a co-op gaming group looking to mix things up a bit. It's tense, it's absurd, and it's based on peer pressure rather than skill sets. The gameplay is fast-paced, the rules are simple, and the majority of the fun comes from seeing how other people react to the game rather than how you do in it.
The same can be said for Gang Beasts, another game that's chaotic, unpredictable, and completely imprecise in its gameplay mechanics. Nobody really cares how well you do in the game; you just jump in, you have a good laugh at the physics engine, and you get out before it gets old.
Not every co-op gaming group needs to be filled with chaotic gameplay; sometimes, they just need something different from the usual shared objective gameplay.
Light competitive games can satisfy that itch without making the whole night toxic. Games like Ultimate Chicken Horse or Move or Die are great for hanging out with friends, competing with each other, and even sabotaging each other in a light-hearted manner.
Since every round is short and every rule set is simple, there’s no feeling of punishment when you lose. You’re only one round away from a comeback, or a spectacular failure that everyone will laugh at more than your victory.
The problem isn’t always with the game; it’s with the fact that there has to be a main game.
More groups are starting to explore social nights where they don’t have a main game, just playing mini-games, web-based games, or even just watching a friend stream some crazy stuff and hanging out on voice chat.
An option that some groups are experimenting with is a virtual casino night, where you have slot tournaments, private poker rooms, etc., not as a gambling option, but as a social activity where conversation comes first.
However, it should be noted that this has some practical issues, especially if your group has friends living in different countries.
Online casinos are usually geo-restricted, meaning that your friends will see different offers, and you won’t even be able to join each other’s tables. For example, if part of your group lives in Ireland, it should be noted that there are significant differences when it comes to bonuses for Irish players and even availability, with some casinos not even allowing Irish players to join some of their tables.
It’s enough to say that this option is very situational and not necessarily a go-to option when it comes to alternatives to games that are made for multiplayer.
The real problem with co-op fatigue isn’t that it’s boring; it’s that there’s pressure.
There’s pressure to advance.
There’s pressure to keep up.
The pressure of making every session count.
The games that make groups last are the ones that take that pressure away completely. Brief sessions. Simple rules. Laugh-per-minute potential.
If your regular co-op night is feeling stale, don’t look for the next big game to invest your time in. Look for something small, weird, or disposable that reminds everyone why co-op was so great to begin with.
Occasionally, breaking the routine is all you need to make the group last.
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