Allow Players to Choose Whether to Cooperate with Their Teammates
Multiplayer games can feature a wide variety of modes. For instance, in first-person shooter games, players may engage in modes such as Team Deathmatch, Domination, Capture the Flag, among many others. In certain modes, players are divided into two teams, while in others, each player competes individually against the rest.
Cooperation vs. Lone Wolves
Consider, for example, the Team Deathmatch mode, where two teams compete against each other. Players on the same team are typically given the opportunity to either cooperate with their teammates or act independently as lone wolves. Regardless of whether the game is designed as a war simulation or not, it ultimately remains a game in which players seek an emotionally immersive and engaging experience. Therefore, if your game supports team-based gameplay, it is advisable not to impose cooperation. Instead, the decision to collaborate with teammates should be left to the discretion of the individual players.
Some players prefer to engage with the game in their own way, without the intention of adapting to team strategies. This approach should be accepted and even welcomed, as players are not actual soldiers bound by military orders. Conversely, there are players who enjoy cooperative play and who may go so far as to coordinate tactics using voice communication. As such, designers should avoid penalizing players who choose to play independently, even if that choice involves a lack of cooperation with other team members.
On the other hand, when players choose to engage in cooperative efforts, it is beneficial to reward them for their teamwork. Such rewards serve as positive reinforcement and may encourage continued collaboration among players.
Dedicated Cooperative Mode
In some cases, a game may offer a dedicated cooperative mode. In such a mode, it is essential to assign each player a meaningful role within the team.
To encourage participation in cooperative gameplay, consider implementing one or more of the following incentives:
Collecting Resources: Increase the efficiency of resource gathering when players work together.
Constructing Buildings or Machines: Design the construction of structures or devices to be engaging, requiring collective effort from all team members.
Defeating Opponents: Enable players to use diverse strategies, weapons, abilities, and skills that complement one another to overcome enemies more effectively.
Getting Special Rewards: Provide exclusive rewards—such as perks—that can only be unlocked in co-op mode, and then allow these rewards to be used in single-player or standard multiplayer modes.
Following the Story: Allow players to experience the game’s narrative together by completing story-driven objectives as a team.
Hunting for Treasures: Present players with obstacles and challenges that require collaborative effort in order to discover hidden treasures.
Interacting with Other Players: Offer mechanics that enable players to heal, repair, exchange gear, trade items, or even communicate with one another through in-game dialogue systems.
Traveling Around the Game World: Introduce travel systems in which moving as a group provides clear advantages over solo travel, such as increased speed, safety, or reduced costs.
Puzzle Solving: Incorporate puzzles that require simultaneous input or action from multiple players, ensuring that each team member contributes to the overall solution.