Recommend a co-operative board game for a seven year old please

[Ohisitjustme]

Hi,
I have DC age 7.
DC enjoys ludo, orchard toys games, rock paper scissors, snakes and ladders but as is natural for that age hates to lose.

On visits to family, my siblings and older generation will make no allowances for his age and will generally seem to make sure he loses because "he has to learn sometime". Which upsets both DC and me.

So I've decided to buy a few co-operative games to head this off. Any recommendations?

I've not played it myself as my children are still a little young, but I've heard great things about Outfoxed.

Forbidden Island is good but only up to 4 players. For a larger player group we really enjoy The Captain is Dead and I've facilitated a group from age 7 playing that. Spirit Island is probably too hardcore for a 7yo thought I know some 11yos who play it enthusiastically.

Outfoxed
Race to the Treasure
Kingdomino (7yo would probably need to be teamed up the first few times, but it’s a quick learning curve and has great re-playability for all ages)

Mine (and I!) loved all of these.

Tbh allowances for age aren’t needed, board games are a fight to the death 😂 outfoxed is good! Would pandemic be too much? Stuffed Fables?

Second OutFoxed, and Forbidden Island.

Not quite cooperative, but you can cooperate in it if you choose to - Carcassone.

If you fancy a game for the older kids, which your DC can join in on, then Mysterium is a good one too. Very cooperative.

Cauldron Quest and Forbidden Island were family favourites at this age.

DD started playing Pandemic around that age. Also another recommendation for Outfoxed. Zombie Kidz is also good and had added bonus of being a legacy game, DD loved opening all the extra envelopes as we went along

Have you got Dobble? Not a board game, but pretty easy for a 7 year old to thrash an adult at it (especially if you train him up a bit at home first) because their reflexes are generally better and their eyes are sharper...

Yes I am always roundly thrashed at dobble!

Forbidden island/forbidden desert are good
Scotland yard isn't quite a collaborative game but most people work as a team

Zombie Kidz is what you want. Thank me later. :-)

Just been looking this up it looks perfect!

I play these with kids four to eight years.

Chess
Scrabble
Monopoly
Outfoxed
Guess Who
Battle ships
Pictionary
Draughts
Uno
Gnomes at Night
Team Digger
Chinese Checkers

Settlers of Catan family version can be played co-operatively as can family version of Agricola.
I'd say go to a board game cafe and ask for advice. There's tons of games out there but I can't remember them - DnD do some good quest ones, there's card games too.

The London Game/Great Game of Britain.
Mind the Gap.

The Dogman board game, if he's into Dogman.

Have a look at Castle Panic. We used to enjoy as a family when kids were around that age. Also agree with Forbidden Island recommendation. There's a decent list here you might get ideas from:
https://tabletopbellhop.com/gaming-advice/cooperative-kids-board-games/

On visits to family, my siblings and older generation will make no allowances for his age and will generally seem to make sure he loses because "he has to learn sometime". Which upsets both DC and me.

I'd protect him from that mindset by banning them from playing games with him altogether.

Pandemic. Forbidden island. (And if pullling out teeth with pliers is your idea of a good time - legends of andor)

TBH the older ones don't even care about winning the game, they're just insistent on making sure my child loses!!!

Castle Panic is great too. There’s also a really good indie game (made by a family) called Zoo Break. It’s kind of like pandemic but with animals escaping a zoo and lovely pieces.

I'm on the verge but he loves playing board games with them which is even more sad that they're mean 😢

I do step in but I'd like to not have to supervise a group of 40-70 year olds!!!

I'm going to start with outfoxed and zombie kidz and we have dobble so I can train him up!!

It's fairly similar mechanically to Zombie Kidz, but Ghost-Fighting Treasure Hunters is the big favourite here.

As others have mentioned, Castle Panic is a really good one - DH and I happily play it as adults, too! There’s a junior version, but he’s probably old enough for the full version by this stage.

Theres also a Harry Potter game called Hogwarts Battle that’s excellent; it does involve a bit of reading, but as it’s cooperative you can help him with that. Again, DH and I play it all the time without the kids, although they enjoy it too. There’s a similar game based on Toy Story (I think it’s called Obstacles and Adventures) which is good too.

I’d hold off on Pandemic for a few years yet, unless he gets really into board gaming - you could scare him off it if you go too soon!