Designing a Culture of Teamwork

Instilling a strong sense of teamwork in online games is not a bonus — it’s a necessity. The following strategies will help you cultivate a collaborative environment where players support each other, celebrate the many contributions of players, and ultimately build toward a thriving community.

These techniques pull from the author’s experience working with large, team-based games as a developer and advisor, as well as their research in player dynamics.

big idea Introduction to Team Cohesion

A highly cohesive group will have individual goals that align to group goals, complementary personality types, and group pride.

Lifting up teamwork by design

By strategically designing for teamwork, you can empower players to find their niche within the team. This will help teams run more smoothly, even among strangers playing together for the first time.

Make teamwork a core value — If your game mechanics and reward systems primarily emphasize individual skill, it sends a clear message to players about what’s important. Instead, treat “teamwork” as a core design pillar, alongside “combat” or “exploration.” This ensures it is fundamental to gameplay, progression, and how you celebrate player accomplishments. Highlight teamwork in end-of-game screens, in-game accolades, player progression, and the broader community context.
Invest in team communication — A well-designed communication system is the foundation of an effective team. It should offer diverse options for information sharing beyond simply voice chat and reflect the core needs of teams in the various situations they will face. Take into account the differences between premades among friends and teams made up of strangers and design with those different audiences in mind.
Team-based success is more than kills and wins — Move beyond traditional metrics of success. In a shooter, consider combining assists and kills, or highlight contributions beyond basic combat like healing or strategic plays. This might initially challenge player expectations, but when done thoughtfully it reinforces the value of teamwork and leads to a greater sense of accomplishment and belonging among players.
Context matters: Celebrate smartly — “Play of the game” moments can be a fun way to celebrate individual skill, especially if they’re inclusive of a wider range of contributions beyond just “kills” (e.g., clutch heals, strategic plays, or last-ditch objective defenses). Because there can be only one, this naturally lessens the sting of not being chosen compared to a leaderboard highlighting “failures.”
Maintain individual motivation — While teamwork is crucial, don’t neglect individual accomplishment. Provide players with a sense of agency in their individual growth. Keep personal progress separate from team celebrations, except for occasional highlights. This ensures players remain motivated to improve their own skills without worrying about feeling embarrassed.
Avoid “unsung heroes” — All roles, not just “damage dealers,” should be engaging, valuable, and celebrated. Neglected roles create an implicit class system that discourages players who may naturally gravitate towards them. By elevating the importance and enjoyment of all roles, you attract a wider audience and create a more diverse and rewarding experience for everyone.

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Celebrate a spectrum of achievements

Don’t limit recognition to the top damage dealer. Spend time to identify what goes into a successful team in your game and celebrate a variety of contributions. This will encourage players to find their niche within the team, helping them feel a sense of value and belonging.

Diverse categories — Create award categories that showcase different aspects of successful gameplay, beyond raw kills or damage dealt. Consider support actions like healing, objective completion, strategic plays, or clutch revives.
Mixed awards — Utilize mixed awards that acknowledge both individual and team accomplishments. This allows you to recognize individual excellence while also highlighting the team’s collaborative effort.
Focus on progress, not just wins — Consider incorporating metrics that track individual improvement over time. This can be especially motivating for players who are still developing their skills. Make this information optional (e.g., behind a button) to respect player preference.

Method Fueling Teamwork by Design

Cooperative games hold the potential for deeply satisfying social and collaborative experiences.

Additional considerations

Avoid “participation trophies” — The goal isn’t to give everyone a meaningless award, but rather to showcase a range of impactful contributions. Not every player needs to be celebrated every round (though having some fun-themed awards can keep the game light-hearted).
Team vs. individual focus — When celebrating at the team level, prioritize categories that reflect diverse paths to success. This broadens the definition of “winning” for the whole team.
Player agency — For individual celebrations (visible only to the player), offer opt-in progress reports with actionable feedback behind a button or menu. This fosters improvement agency, allowing players to track their growth and areas to improve if they desire such details.

Ultimately, your game’s values and desired behaviors should guide design decisions, not trends in other games. Ask yourself what kind of teamplay you want to see and what kind of community you want to cultivate. Then, design features and systems that promote those values.