Designing puzzles for a cooperative game can be a daunting task, as it requires not only creating engaging challenges for players to solve, but also ensuring that each player's unique abilities and strengths are utilized to their fullest potential. Our game "Five Cats in a Trench Coat" is a five-player online puzzle-stealth game where players assume the role of cats with distinct abilities and work together to complete missions. In this article, we'll share our approach to designing puzzles for this game and some use case examples of other games that foster teamwork and creative problem-solving.
Inspirations for Great Puzzle Designs
"Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes" is a cooperative puzzle game that places one player in the role of a bomb-defusal expert and the other players in the role of experts giving them instructions. The game requires players to communicate effectively and work together under pressure to defuse bombs before they explode. Each puzzle is designed to test the players' communication skills and ability to work together, making it a great example of a game that fosters teamwork.
"Portal 2" is another cooperative puzzle game that challenges players to solve complex puzzles using a variety of gadgets and tools. Each player has a portal gun that they can use to create portals that allow them to travel between different parts of the level. The game requires players to use their problem-solving skills and work together to figure out how to progress through each level.
Designing Puzzles for "Five Cats in a Trench Coat"
When designing puzzles for "Five Cats in a Trench Coat," we started by thinking about the different abilities of each cat and how they could work together to overcome obstacles. For example, we knew that Boss's X-ray vision could be used to spot hidden paths, while Machiato's hacking skills could be used to unlock doors and disable security systems. We then created puzzles that required players to use these abilities in tandem to progress through the level.
Another important aspect of designing puzzles for a cooperative game is ensuring that each player has a role to play. We made sure that each cat's abilities were integral to solving puzzles and that no player felt left out. For example, Coconut's mind control ability could be used to distract guards, while Chance's stealth skills could be used to sneak past them undetected. Mooch's brute strength could be used to move heavy objects and create new paths, while Boss's leadership skills could be used to coordinate the team's efforts.
Lastly, we wanted to create puzzles that encouraged players to think creatively and outside the box. We designed levels with multiple paths and solutions, allowing players to experiment with different strategies and find their own unique solutions to each puzzle. We also made sure that puzzles required more than just brute force, such as using clever tactics to avoid detection or tricking guards into opening doors.
In conclusion, designing puzzles for a cooperative game requires a different approach than designing puzzles for a single-player game. By taking into account each player's unique abilities, ensuring that each player has a role to play, and creating puzzles that encourage creative problem-solving, you can create engaging challenges that foster teamwork and camaraderie.
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