Asymmetric Gaming Further Apart: Effects of World and Goal Sharing on Cooperative Play

Asymmetric game design can create rich social experiences and foster inclusion by assigning players distinct, interdependent roles that cater to different needs and preferences. However, as this approach intentionally introduces differences between individual gameplay experiences, it raises questions about how far asymmetry can go before undermining sociality. Prior work has emphasized shared spaces and goals as central to cooperative play, yet their impact in asymmetric contexts remains underexplored. We present a mixed-methods study with 88 participants who took part in pairs, investigating how world and goal sharing influence social behavior and perceived sociality in asymmetric cooperative games. Drawing on questionnaire data, gameplay metrics, and interviews, our findings show that, while distinct worlds and goals introduce friction, they also enable new ‘flavors’ of cooperation. We discuss how these asymmetries can be used to design engaging grounding challenges and moments of autonomy without sacrificing a sense of shared play. Finally, we contribute key design considerations (e.g., visible effort, tangible and playful intrusions) to support social connection in highly asymmetric experiences.