Cooperative play encourages or requires players to work together to beat the game. Little to no competition exists between the players. This leads to either the players winning the game collectively by meeting predetermined goals or players mutually losing the game by not reaching their objective(s).

Note: cooperative play can include one or more traitors to the group. Once these traitors are revealed, they play along with the game system and they win or lose with the game. Betrayal at House on the Hill is a popular cooperative play game that uses the traitor twist.