Co-op is part simulation, part send-up, of the unique experience that is living in a housing cooperative ("co-op" for short). For the unacquainted, living in a co-op is similar to sharing a house with roommates, but with a lot more structure... Members of a co-op typically share responsibilities such as cooking and cleaning, while house rules are established during meetings through direct democracy. Resources, such as food (esp. granola) and utilities, are usually purchased by and shared amongst the members. CO-OP was developed by two seasoned (with sriracha) members of a real housing cooperative, as an attempt to game-ify the fun and complexity of collective living.

In the game, each player represents a housemate in the same co-op. Players must take 1 "action" on each of their turns, the most basic of which are Cleaning and Slacking Off. When a player Slacks Off, they convert some of the house's Cleanliness into their own Free Time (duh!)---this Free Time can be spent to gain points that help win the game. When a player Cleans, they gain access to Karma (by their good deeds), or may influence the very mechanics of the game by trying to pass a House Rule. Karma and Rules are represented by their own decks of cards: the Karma Cards confer secret advantages that may be played at a later opportune moment, while Rules are drafted from a row of 5 cards that are publicly displayed to all players.

It's worth noting that CO-OP is NOT a "cooperative game" (there are individual winners), and there can be a lot to keep track of if you want to best the other players (grrr). However, the play experience is usually quite casual---this is largely due to the Karma Cards, which each have their own co-op-y theme, and require the player to perform a mini-activity in order to gain the card's benefits. Some activities simply encourage players to share their life experience, while others might ask them to sing a song or tell a joke... something different every time! CO-OP is a blast with friends and family, and also a great way to break the ice with perfect strangers.

—description from the publisher

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