Make Players Feel That They Are Genuinely Playing Together as a Team
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The following list outlines some ideas that can be implemented in your game to enhance the cooperative experience and make collaboration between players more engaging and enjoyable.
Ensure Every Player Has a Purpose
Players who are inclined to cooperate typically share a desire to pursue a common objective. Whether that goal is to defeat enemies, search for treasure, construct buildings, or accomplish any other task, each player should be assigned one or more meaningful roles. In certain scenarios, multiple players may assume the same role, while in others, each role must be uniquely filled. Consider the following examples:
Example: Reaching a Desired Destination in an Action Game
Three players decide to utilize an armored vehicle, which supports a maximum crew of four. One player takes the driver’s seat, the second player rides in the passenger seat, and the third operates the main weapon mounted on the roof. Each player assumes a distinct role:
The first player is responsible for driving the vehicle.
The second player supports the third player by attacking enemies with personal weapons and explosives.
The third player engages enemies using the roof-mounted weapon.
Players also have the flexibility to switch roles at any time, including while the vehicle is in motion, thereby promoting dynamic cooperation.
Example: Neutralizing Enemy Forces in a Strategy Game
Four players join forces to battle another team of four. Each player must select a single role from the following three categories:
Role 1 – Ground: The player commands tanks, howitzers, armored vehicles, and infantry units.
Role 2 – Naval: The player controls aircraft carriers, battleships, destroyers, frigates, and submarines.
Role 3 – Air: The player manages bombers, fighter jets, helicopters, support aircraft, and drones.
In this scenario, the first two players select Role 1 due to the terrain’s navigability, while the third and fourth players choose Roles 2 and 3, respectively. Each role has its strengths and limitations, which means that every player depends on the others to counter different types of threats. This interdependence fosters meaningful teamwork and sets clear expectations among players.
Facilitate Communication Between Players
Refer to Allow Players to Communicate with Others for further information.
Enable Players to Share Rewards
Allow players to share rewards among themselves in order to facilitate mutual progress. These rewards may include:
Resources.
Example:
Players may access and utilize a shared pool of resources, such as those used for unit construction in strategy games.
In-Game Currency.
Example:
Players may contribute to a common fund for purchasing equipment or upgrades, especially in action or cooperative games.
Provide Opportunities for Trading and Exchange
Incorporate mechanics that allow players to exchange or trade various rewards, as illustrated in the following examples:
Weapons and Ammunition.
Example:
In action games, players may exchange gear to adapt to different combat situations.
Inventory Items.
Example:
In role-playing games, players may trade crafting ingredients, mechanical parts, and other valuable materials.
Units and Resources.
Example:
In strategy games, players may share military units or economic assets.
Custom Vehicles.
Example:
In racing games, players may trade uniquely customized cars or components.
Eliminate Disruptive Behavior
For players to enjoy a multiplayer experience, team members must generally maintain a respectful and cooperative atmosphere. Unfortunately, this is not always the case, and there may be situations in which players engage in disruptive or harmful behavior. Consider the following examples:
Pushing Other Players’ Characters
Imagine an action game in which the mechanics permit players to physically push each other’s characters. If one player is using cover to engage enemies and a teammate pushes him out into the open—either intentionally or unintentionally—it can lead to immediate in-game penalties and considerable frustration. While similar issues may also arise with non-player characters, thorough testing can help prevent such undesired mechanics from appearing in the final release.
Team Killing
If your game allows friendly fire, it is crucial to anticipate the possibility of abuse. Some players may exploit this feature to intentionally harm their teammates. One solution is to empower the host with the ability to remove disruptive players from the game.
Alternatively, you may implement a voting system that allows players to vote on whether to remove a teammate. However, for this system to be fair, it should be supported by an algorithm that verifies whether the accused player truly warrants removal. The algorithm might check for the following:
Whether the player has caused damage to teammates or to team-owned assets.
Whether the player has remained inactive for a defined period, such as several seconds or more, to confirm whether they are still engaged in the match.
In addition, the host may be given the ability to issue formal warnings to misbehaving players before proceeding with removal.
Without such protective mechanisms, voting systems may be exploited to unfairly expel players.
Example:
A lone survivor from Team A is removed simply because they were unable to secure a win against Team B.
A player is expelled because the rest of their team is impatient to start the next match.
A high-performing player is removed due to a display of exceptional skill, such as executing a well-placed missile strike, which may be misinterpreted by others as cheating.
Annoying Communication
Games that feature integrated voice and text chat should account for the possibility that some players may wish to mute or avoid unwanted communication. One effective solution is to offer settings that allow players to globally disable voice and text chat, or to selectively mute specific individuals.
If the game provides notifications for incoming messages, players who prefer not to respond should be given the option to set their status to “Busy,” disable notifications entirely, or mute specific users. These features allow players to manage their social experience in a manner that aligns with their preferences and comfort level.