Have you ever tried flying a plane in complete silence? Well, that’s exactly what my daughter and I did recently, thanks to Sky Team, a unique cooperative board game. It’s just the two of you, pilot and co-pilot, trying to land a plane safely without a single word during the actual flight. If you’re thinking that sounds stressful, you’d be right! But, in the best way possible. After our first session, we were buzzing with excitement and a little disbelief—did we really land that thing? Or did we just get really lucky?
Cooperative Gameplay – Trust in Silence
One of the best parts of Sky Team is the silence rule. When the flight begins, you can’t talk, gesture, or give any sort of hint to your partner. You can only communicate between rounds when you’re planning your next move. During the action phase, it’s like you’re in a real cockpit, where every decision matters, and you have to trust that your partner is on the same page.
At first, my daughter and I found it a little funny. We were sitting there, staring at each other, trying to figure out what the other was thinking. I’d roll the dice and give her a look that I hoped said, “I’m going for altitude here,” but who knows what she really thought! It created this tension that made each turn feel like a mini-drama unfolding between us. Were we on the same wavelength? Only time (and the game) would tell.
The Deliberation Phase – Where the Real Conversations Happen
Between rounds, when we could finally talk, it was like someone hit fast-forward on our conversation. We’d spend those few precious moments trying to cram in as much strategy talk as possible. “Should we go all-in on adjusting speed, or do we need to focus more on steering, or what the heck do we do next?” We were constantly weighing our options, knowing that once the next round started, we were back to silence.
This part of the game was honestly one of my favorites. It’s when the real teamwork happens. You have to hash out a plan, but you also have to compromise, because you’ll never have enough dice to do everything you want. We went back and forth, trying to cover every possible scenario. But let’s be honest—we were also still figuring out the mechanics as we went. I could tell that my daughter was more cautious, wanting to take it slow, while I kept trying bolder moves. It was this back-and-forth that made the game so much fun. Even though we were planning together, there was still some room for individual decisions—and mistakes.
Did We Win by Luck? Well… Maybe…
We did manage to land the plane, which was a huge relief! Afterwards, we couldn’t help but feel like we had gotten lucky in some key moments. Our dice rolls seemed to line up just right in a few crucial spots, and it made us wonder—was that skill? Or did we just stumble our way into a win? The coffee breaks and re-roll tokens definitely helped.
At the end of the day, we weren’t too bothered by it. For our first time playing, it was clear we still had a lot to learn. Sure, we made some good calls and worked well together, but it felt like luck had a bigger role than we wanted to admit. That said, there’s something thrilling about knowing that you can improve. I’m looking forward to the day when we land the plane and we both know it was all skill—and maybe just a little bit of luck for good measure.
Looking Forward to Round Two
Despite our lucky win, Sky Team made a great first impression on both of us. The way it forces you to cooperate without speaking, and the tension of not knowing exactly what your partner is thinking, is such a refreshing change from most other games we’ve played. And as challenging as it was, we had an absolute blast. I’m already excited to play again. Now that we’ve got a better handle on the mechanics, I feel like our next game will be better.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a game that challenges how well you and your partner can work together under pressure, I’d absolutely recommend Sky Team. It’s not about shouting instructions or making fast moves—it’s about staying calm, trusting each other, and learning to think two steps ahead. And honestly, the silence adds such an interesting twist. You’re forced to rely on intuition, and it makes each successful turn feel like a mini-victory. Our first experience with Sky Team was a little chaotic, a lot of fun, and maybe just a tad lucky. But that just means there’s room to grow.
