Pandemic
$39.99
Pandemic at a Glance
| Game Type Cooperative, Medical Theme, Action Points, Point to Point Movement, Variable Player Powers | Play Time 45 mins | Skill/Complexity (2.5 - 5) Light - Medium |
| Age 8+ | Publisher(s) Z-Man Games | Published 2008 |
| Categories Strategy Family | Players 2 - 4 | Rules Manual Official Rules PDF |
| Our Rating 9.3/10 | Cost $39.99 |
About – Description
Released in 2008, Pandemic was created by Matt Leacock and is based on diseases that have broken out around the world. This role-playing game is suitable for players aged 8 and over and is made for up to 4 players.
This thrilling and exciting strategy based family game has a 45 minute playing time on average.
The game is thought to be one of the most successful cooperative games released to the mainstream market.
Who’s it best suited for?
Pandemic is a strategy game that is ideal for families with younger children who want to explore the world of strategy games.
It’s a game that will bring players together to co-operate and manage the game. Therefore, younger players will learn how to work with others while experiencing the fun and excitement.
Skill – Complexity
Despite this being a game that is suited for younger players, it does have an element of complexity to it. It’s rated as being just below average and so, players would need some kind of experience to understand the game quickly, however, that does not dismiss younger players.
As it requires co-operation, players will need to work together and that is a skill in itself. Cooperative play, trading and point to point movement are mechanisms within the game and so, these could prove difficult for young players.
Set Up – Playing Rules & Instructions
Pandemic can take up to ten minutes to set up and included in the box is:
Game board
7 Role Cards
7 Pawns
6 Research Stations
6 Wooden Markers
96 Disease Cubes
48 Infection Cards
To set up the game, the infection and player cards are placed in the required spaces on the board. The infection rate is set at two with the outbreak indicator set at zero. Each player has to choose a random role card and then place their pawn on the city of Atlanta.
The aim of the game is for all players to work together to stop the spread of diseases as well as cure them before a pandemic occurs.
Each player is given a turn and at each turn they can carry out one of four movements which includes using a ferry or driving between interconnected cities, taking a direct flight to a city that the player is in possession of or they can take a charter flight to any city if the player is already in one of the cities that they are in possession of, although they will have to discard their city card.
Finally, they can also take a shuttle flight from and to cities that have a research lab……
Players also have options that they can use such as sharing knowledge, treating a disease, building a research station or discovering a cure.
Once a player takes their turn, two player cards are drawn and that reduces their hand to seven cards through discarding the cards or playing Special Event cards. If players draw an epidemic card then they have to take a card from the infection deck and place three cubes on the city…….
Once the two player cards are drawn, whether it is epidemic or otherwise, the number of infection cards are revealed and a cube of the color is placed on every city that is drawn. If a city already has three cubes and an additional cube is added then an outbreak happens, leading to all interconnected cities being given a cube of the same color.
The game ends when over seven outbreaks occur, there are no more cubes available, there are no more player cards or a cure is discovered for the diseases.
To help the game along, players are given roles that make it possible for them to alter the winning rules.
This how to play video is very useful…….
Other Versions, Editions or Expansions Available?
Due to the success of the game, it has been released in many countries, multiple times. A 10th Anniversary edition, and Legacy, Fall of Rome and others which are part of Pandemic series have been released while expansions have also been released.
Some of which include:
State of Emergency
In the Lab
On the Brink
Likes & Dislikes
- Players enjoy the way that Pandemic is simple to learn and the way that it offers different levels of difficulty for different players.
- The teamwork aspect of the game is considered to be refreshing while the way in which the game can change in an instant makes it different every single time.
- An interesting combination of strategy and luck that works so well.
- This could be considered a gateway game for those new to board gaming although the experienced player would need to let them run the show and not take over play.
- Can be played out many times as each playthrough is very different.
- Some players feel that the rules can be complex but on the whole, this is a much-loved game.
- You don’t want an experienced player that dominates the game over casual players. It could ruin it!
Final Thoughts
This is a popular game for many reasons but whether players are new to strategy/coop games, it is a great game to explore and enjoy. The game keeps players interested and the way in which the game is playing can change in no time at all.
If you like strategy based games but also games where you can work together, then this is the perfect option for you.
