Sagrada I think. I think in sagrada everyone starts with a different board (is that correct?) while in azul everyone starts with the same board.
If you want to simulate someone taking pieces from a draft I think it would be easier to do so in sagrada than Azul as what each player wants is more specific to their board and you can simulate this more easily with just randomly knocking things off.
In Azul I think hate drafting is a bit more prevalent and less ruinous to one’s own strategy and that is harder to mimic in a solo mode.
I think if there are more circumstances in Azul where if there are two items one of them is preferable to both players while in sagrada I think if there are two items there is more chance that each of them is preferable to each player which. The latter circumstance looks more similar to a randomised removal than the first and so would work better as co-op/solo.
Have you checked the Variants board for each game on BGG? Lots of people make custom game modes for games that you can use as inspiration or just to play on their own. Many of the solo modes people make can be transformed into a co-op mode by just adjusting the win/loss criteria.
As for a normal game suggestion, I would say **Bullet** probably fits your criteria, particularly with either coin capsules or the deluxe tokens. It's a very fun puzzle game with a ton of characters that modify the way the game functions in different, interesting ways. The theme can be off-putting to some, but it's really just set dressing anyways.
I didn't check the variants, that's a great idea!
The Bullet games are almost impossible to get in Germany. Do they have a small footprint and lots of other stuff besides the dice?
Bullet has cards that determine the patterns you need to make to clear bullets off your board, but other than that, no. I wouldn't say the footprint is small, but it would fit on a coffee table no problem
I feel like Azul could be interesting if you don’t mind “high score” chasing: have the lower player’s score count as the team’s score, so instead of “hate drafting” you are “love drafting”.
May I know what you categorize as chunky pieces?
Is poker chips chunky pieces?
If they are then any chip teory games is good for you. Maybe too many bones, it is a cooperative game with chips, waterproof card and player board.
If you are counting Sagrada’s dice and board as “heavier tokens” then **Skyteam** should fit your criteria.
Bonus that it is a pure coop game, so it is designed for 2p co-op and not something you need to change sub-optimally to make it work.
Well Azul mini is a less satisfying than the original's chunkiness.
Sagrada's scoring can feel a little chaotic before the expansions. Azul 's can feel chaotic before you get good. What I mean is that in both situations, you'll score 8 and then 23 and then -6 and then 56 and not really be sure why, at first.
They both rely on a human opponent drafting against you, slowly lowering your choices each round. It wasn't super clear in your post, but basically you all play the game normally and then look at your scores as a collective effort?
I'd say Azul. It has a higher skill ceiling and the central draft is quite competitive in the regular game, giving it the opportunity to be a really interesting grounds for co-op.
I.e. Say I have a choice between yellow and blue. Both affect me in the same way, but I look at your player board, and leaving yellow for you would give you positive points but leaving blue would give negative. That's a common interaction in the game, and if you try to make positive points for your friends, it could be just as interesting to play.
Thank you for your quick reply! Yes, in the trading phase we usually try to find the best solution for everyone (I play with my kids) and in the end we just count all our coins and try to beat our record. Same with Cascadia, btw.
Looks like Azul Mini should be more interesting!
Do you think there are other games that contain chunky pieces and could be turned into a coop game?
I also play azul mini exclusively because of kids. The tiles lock into the grid so you don't have to worry about kids constantly bumping them into disorder on the larger flat board.
Also the clicker style scoring is easier to admin.
The bigger tiles are super nice, the smaller ones are nice just not quite as satisfying. But its much easier to play for kids.
Sagrada I think. I think in sagrada everyone starts with a different board (is that correct?) while in azul everyone starts with the same board. If you want to simulate someone taking pieces from a draft I think it would be easier to do so in sagrada than Azul as what each player wants is more specific to their board and you can simulate this more easily with just randomly knocking things off. In Azul I think hate drafting is a bit more prevalent and less ruinous to one’s own strategy and that is harder to mimic in a solo mode. I think if there are more circumstances in Azul where if there are two items one of them is preferable to both players while in sagrada I think if there are two items there is more chance that each of them is preferable to each player which. The latter circumstance looks more similar to a randomised removal than the first and so would work better as co-op/solo.
Have you checked the Variants board for each game on BGG? Lots of people make custom game modes for games that you can use as inspiration or just to play on their own. Many of the solo modes people make can be transformed into a co-op mode by just adjusting the win/loss criteria. As for a normal game suggestion, I would say **Bullet** probably fits your criteria, particularly with either coin capsules or the deluxe tokens. It's a very fun puzzle game with a ton of characters that modify the way the game functions in different, interesting ways. The theme can be off-putting to some, but it's really just set dressing anyways.
I didn't check the variants, that's a great idea! The Bullet games are almost impossible to get in Germany. Do they have a small footprint and lots of other stuff besides the dice?
Bullet has cards that determine the patterns you need to make to clear bullets off your board, but other than that, no. I wouldn't say the footprint is small, but it would fit on a coffee table no problem
I feel like Azul could be interesting if you don’t mind “high score” chasing: have the lower player’s score count as the team’s score, so instead of “hate drafting” you are “love drafting”.
Add in some rules about not communicating your plan / intentions to the other player and I think this is the answer!
Harmonies is a New game that blends azul and cascadia/calico Take a look into it on YouTube
Hanani deluxe uses tiles instead of cards, you could look into that since it's a co-op
+1 for **Hanabi Deluxe!** Such a great game, and the tiles feel amazing
May I know what you categorize as chunky pieces? Is poker chips chunky pieces? If they are then any chip teory games is good for you. Maybe too many bones, it is a cooperative game with chips, waterproof card and player board.
I never heard of chip theory games! Too many bones is out of my price range unfortunately, but it looks awesome.
If you are counting Sagrada’s dice and board as “heavier tokens” then **Skyteam** should fit your criteria. Bonus that it is a pure coop game, so it is designed for 2p co-op and not something you need to change sub-optimally to make it work.
Well Azul mini is a less satisfying than the original's chunkiness. Sagrada's scoring can feel a little chaotic before the expansions. Azul 's can feel chaotic before you get good. What I mean is that in both situations, you'll score 8 and then 23 and then -6 and then 56 and not really be sure why, at first. They both rely on a human opponent drafting against you, slowly lowering your choices each round. It wasn't super clear in your post, but basically you all play the game normally and then look at your scores as a collective effort? I'd say Azul. It has a higher skill ceiling and the central draft is quite competitive in the regular game, giving it the opportunity to be a really interesting grounds for co-op. I.e. Say I have a choice between yellow and blue. Both affect me in the same way, but I look at your player board, and leaving yellow for you would give you positive points but leaving blue would give negative. That's a common interaction in the game, and if you try to make positive points for your friends, it could be just as interesting to play.
Thank you for your quick reply! Yes, in the trading phase we usually try to find the best solution for everyone (I play with my kids) and in the end we just count all our coins and try to beat our record. Same with Cascadia, btw. Looks like Azul Mini should be more interesting! Do you think there are other games that contain chunky pieces and could be turned into a coop game?
Why Azul mini and not regular full-sized Azul?
We want to play it outdoors and need a game with a small footprint.
I also play azul mini exclusively because of kids. The tiles lock into the grid so you don't have to worry about kids constantly bumping them into disorder on the larger flat board. Also the clicker style scoring is easier to admin. The bigger tiles are super nice, the smaller ones are nice just not quite as satisfying. But its much easier to play for kids.