Tag Archives: cooperative games

Fireside Games Launches the 2nd Edition of Hotshots

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Hotshots

From the creators at Fireside Games comes a deluxe edition release of Hotshots, a cooperative, press-your-luck board game where players become an elite crew of firefighters battling a raging forest fire. The deluxe edition of Hotshots will launch on Kickstarter April 21, 2026.

In Hotshots, 1–4 players step into the boots of highly trained wildfire specialists known as Hotshots, each with a unique ability and role on the crew. Players roll dice to contain the flames, cut firebreaks, and call in vehicles before the blaze overtakes the forest. Every roll is filled with tension, making every decision matter. If you fail a task the fire spreads, scorches the land, and pushes the team closer to losing everything. In this co-op game you either beat the blaze, or burn together.

The original version of this game was nominated in 2017 for Origins’ Best Family Game Award, and this Kickstarter campaign will update it for a whole new generation of players. Updates include enhanced game components, improved clarity, LED light-up fire tokens, and more.

Each session of the game begins on a changing forest made of modular tiles that flip when scorched, showing the battle between fire and crew. Players roll dice to match firefighting icons, press their luck to extinguish as many flames as possible, and coordinate their actions to win as a team or lose everything together when the forest burns out.

Hotshots plays in 45–60 minutes and is recommended for ages 10 and up.

Kickstarter and Extras
The crowdfunding campaign will spotlight the Deluxe Edition, which includes:

  • LED light-up flame tokens
  • Upgraded firefighter miniatures
  • Tile frames with connectible edges
  • Enhanced component quality and graphic design
  • Expanded content and more surprises to come

Those interested in joining the crew can follow the prelaunch page now to receive an exclusive Hotshots Badge Patch,
updates, early reveals, and exclusive day-one rewards when the campaign launches. Those who reserve their pledge will receive a Hotshots Collector’s Coin.

    Dreadquarters, a New Supervillain Tabletop Game from Headlock Games launches in April

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    Dreadquarters

    Evil has never required this much teamwork. From the wicked minds of Headlock Games comes Dreadquarters, a 1-4 player strategy game of villainous cooperation and tactical defense, launching on Kickstarter April 7, 2026.

    In Dreadquarters, players take on the roles of supervillains who have been “strongly encouraged” to cooperate while establishing a new shared evil lair. Each villain brings their own unique deck of cards, playstyle, minions, and objectives. Objectives include building doomsday devices, harvesting souls, and hatching insect swarms all while working together to defend your lair from waves of do-gooders aiming to destroy it.

    15+ artists have contributed to Dreadquarters, each bringing their own distinct style and imagination to its world of villains. Every card, token, and board is a piece of original art, handcrafted without the use of any AI.

    Each round, players expand their wing of the lair with bizarre rooms, reinforce them with over-engineered upgrades, and deploy their minions to work stations, city raids, or last stands.

    When the heroes arrive, the villains’ traps trigger, and combat erupts. Everything either works together beautifully or collapses. With dozens of villains, cities, and scenario combinations, no two lairs will ever look, or collapse, the same.

    Dreadquarters plays in 60-120 minutes and is recommended for ages 14 and up.

    Kickstarter and Extras
    The Kickstarter campaign will feature the core game along with an array of collectibles and expansions including:

    • Villain Deck Expansion
    • Neoprene Playmat
    • 10 Enamel Pins
    • Art Prints and Art Book
    • Stickers and Themed Tuck Boxes
    • “Insolence” Plush Mascot

    Fireside announces Ham Helsing. A cooperative, deck-crafting adventure based on the graphic novel series

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    Ham Helsing

    Fireside Games presents… Ham Helsing! Based on the best-selling graphic novel by Rich Moyer about a reluctant monster-hunting pig, Ham Helsing is a cooperative adventure board game. Join Ham, Ronin, Malcom, and Lobos as they attempt to save the world! Using a deck-crafting system with transparent cards, you’ll protect locations from endless swarms of minions while improving your skills. Can you power up fast enough to stop the Villain from destroying Mud Canyon and save the day?

    • Blaze a path through the world of Ham Helsing, choosing your battles and leveling up your character.
    • Transparent upgrade cards let you enhance your deck in real-time. If a symbol fits on your card, you can slip the upgrade into the sleeve, improving your abilities for future turns!
    • Triumph together with your team, using card combos and location powers to help each other.
    • Fight fiendish foes, including 4 different Villains with their own unique challenges. But if your team hasn’t brought the Villain’s health to 0 by the end of the last player’s turn at Mud Canyon, your bacon is burnt!

    The game is for 1-4 players ages 10+ with games taking 60-90 minutes. Coming to stores Fall 2025.

    Maestro Media Announces the Launch of The Smurfs Hidden Village – A Cooperative Adventure Game for the Whole Family

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    The Smurfs: Hidden Village

    Get ready to think like a Smurf! Maestro Media has released The Smurfs: Hidden Village, a brand new cooperative adventure game that will have you and your family working together to rebuild the iconic Smurf village! Designed by long-time Smurf fans Antoine Bauza, Corentin Lebrat, Ludovic Maublanc, and Théo Rivière, The Smurfs: Hidden Village is packed with smurftastic artwork and clever strategy, offering players ages 8 and up a chance to immerse themselves in the magical world of the Smurfs while fostering teamwork and problem-solving skills.

    In this cooperative game, your goal is simple: help the Smurfs complete three big tasks. You’ll need to rescue all the lost Smurfs from the Dark Forest, rebuild the mushroom houses, and bake some delicious cakes for the party. But watch out—Gargamel and Azrael are hot on your tail and ready to cause trouble at every turn!

    Game Features Include:

    • Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: It’s all about working together to achieve your goals. Everyone wins—or loses—together!
    • Smurftastic Powers: Every Smurf has a special ability that can help you outwit Gargamel. But don’t be fooled—some Smurfs might end up causing more mischief than you expect!
    • Perfect for Families: Whether you’re a Smurf expert or a first-time adventurer, this game is designed for players of all ages to have a fun-filled experience.

    Whether you’re strategizing to thwart Gargamel’s evil plans or racing to finish the Smurf tasks in time, each playthrough is filled with surprises and laughter. So gather your family, roll the dice, and dive into the whimsical world of the Smurfs—where teamwork is the key to saving the village and ensuring that everyone has a smurftacular time!

    Purchase: Miniature Market – Amazon

    The Op Announces their Newest Rising Game, The Batman Who Laughs Rising

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    The Batman Who Laughs Rising

    Do you hear that laughing? That’s The Batman Who Laughs, the subject of The Op‘s latest “Rising” game, The Batman Who Laughs Rising. Our sister site Board Game Today has the news that DC’s breakout villain is the focus of a new game coming out later this year.

    The Batman Who Laughs is a twisted version of Batman from the Dark Multiverse, one where he was infected with Joker Toxin. Yes, it’s the brains and cunning of Batman mixed with the pure anarchy of the Joker!

    The multiverse’s disturbing cross between The Caped Crusader and The Joker is the epicenter of conflict in The Op’s newest cooperative card and dice game, in which players work together and recruit key Super Heroes to dominate a host of Super-Villains. In The Batman Who Laughs Rising, a passage from the Dark Multiverse has allowed the most dangerous evildoers to infiltrate Gotham City, and these Dark Knights alongside their menacing leader are eager to do their worst to the city.

    Save the multiverse and do battle with Power, Purpose, Determination, and
    Justice with four starting heroes: Wonder Woman, Green Lantern,
    Hawkgirl, and Batman, each with their own teams and special abilities.
    Prominently on the opposition stands a custom sculpted, full color figure of The Batman Who Laughs, crazed and commanding a fistful of chained Evil Robins.

    The Batman Who Laughs Rising

    As the demonic leader doles out damage wherever he turns, regain control by empowering Allies such as Harley Quinn, The Flash, and Cyborg, whose
    skills can complete objectives or help recover what is lost to darkness. Take out villainous versions of Batman such as The Merciless, The Dawnbreaker, The Murder Machine, and more before facing off with the psychotic Jokerized antagonist himself!

    The Batman Who Laughs Rising is the fifth installment of The Op’s cooperative Rising game series of fateful battles, and also features new solo play rules for fans to put an end to the mayhem single-handedly! Made for 1-4 players ages 15 and up, the $49.99 game includes over 200 components and eerie illustrations that will add a uniquely grim visual to your Batman collection this fall

    The Batman Who Laughs debuted in DC Comics’ The Casting #1 in September 2017 and created by Greg Capullo and Scott Snyder.