From Pandemic Legacy to Serious Games: A Systematic Review of Cooperative Board Games Under the Educational Perspective

Cooperative board games promote engagement, teamwork, and strategic problem-solving, making them useful in educational contexts. This Systematic Literature Review employs the PRISMA methodology to identify cooperative board game mechanisms and design considerations along with their adaptation potential in serious contexts and the alignment with learning theories such as social constructivism and experiential learning. Key mechanisms, such as variable player powers and role-playing, are examined for their impact on player engagement and collaboration. The study also addresses the design challenges of complexity and duration of gameplay, proposing solutions such as the gradual rule introduction, tutorial scenarios, and the provision of scalable game modes. The review includes 65 screened articles and a detailed analysis of 24, along with insights from non-academic sources, such as BoardGameGeek database and professional reviewers. The findings highlight the potential of such games to enhance serious game design and educational outcomes, offering strategies for adapting these games to educational environments.