Pandemic*
Pandemic is a highly acclaimed cooperative board game where players take on the roles of disease-fighting specialists. Their mission is to contain and cure four deadly diseases that have broken out across the globe. The game is set on a board depicting major world population centers and requires players to strategize and work together to manage the outbreaks and develop cures before the diseases spiral out of control.
Gameplay Overview
- Role-Specific Abilities: Each player has a unique role with special abilities, such as the Operations Expert and Scientist.
- Actions: Players use actions to travel, treat infections, discover cures, and build research stations.
- Card Decks: Two decks control the game - one for player abilities and actions, and the other for disease spread.
- Epidemic Cards: These cards intensify the diseases' spread, adding to the challenge.
Special Features
- Cooperative Play: Players must work together, planning their strategies to utilize each specialist's strengths.
- Dynamic Game Mechanics: The game includes elements of randomness and unpredictability through card draws.
- New Characters in 2013 Edition: The Contingency Planner and Quarantine Specialist add new strategies.
Winning and Losing
- Win Condition: Players win by curing all four diseases.
- Lose Condition: The game is lost if diseases spread beyond control or if time runs out.
Conclusion
Pandemic is perfect for players who enjoy cooperative games that require strategic thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. The game's theme is both relevant and engaging, offering an immersive experience where players feel the urgency and importance of their roles. Whether you're new to board games or an experienced player, Pandemic provides a challenging and satisfying cooperative adventure.
Nominated for 29 awards and won 8.
⭐️ Nominated for Spiel des Jahres 2009
- 2 - 4 Players
- 45 Minutes
- 8+ years old
- Easy to learn
Video reviews, ratings, Let's Plays and tests for Pandemic
We like Pandemic so much that we recommend it in the following board game recommendation lists 2024
- Position 4 in All "As d'Or - Jeu de l'Année"🇫🇷 2009 winners & nominees compared.
- Position 3 in All "Deutscher Spielepreis🇩🇪 2009" game award winners & nominees in comparison
- Position 4 in All "Spiel des Jahres🇩🇪 2009" game award winners & nominees in comparison
- Position 19 in The 59 favorite games of Matt from SU&SD
- Position 22 in The best "As d'Or - Jeu de l'Année"🇫🇷 nominations.
- Position 34 in The best "As d'Or - Jeu de l'Année Tout Public"🇫🇷 winners & nominees (Main Prize)
- Position 5 in The best board, card & dice games 🥇
- Position 17 in The Best "Boardgames Australia Awards🇦🇺" Winners and Nominees
- Position 13 in The best "Deutscher Spielepreis"🇩🇪 award winners and nominees
- Position 4 in The best games from Matt Leacock 🇺🇸👨
- Position 9 in The Best Games from Z-Man Games Inc. 🇺🇸🏢
- Position 2 in The best games presented at the Spiel 2007 game fair in Essen, Germany
- Position 5 in The best games presented at the Spiel 2008 game fair in Essen, Germany
- Position 5 in The best games released in 2008📆
- Position 2 in The best games set on the whole world 🌍
- Position 13 in The best games where you move from point to point
- Position 18 in The best games with action points
- Position 22 in The Best "Gouden Ludo🇧🇪" winners and nominees
- Position 27 in The best "Hungarian Board Game Award🇭🇺" winners and nominees
- Position 22 in The best "MinD Games Award🇩🇪" winners and nominees
- Position 4 in The best Pandemic games and variants⎇
- Position 26 in The best "Spiel der Spiele🇦🇹" board games
- Position 30 in The Best "Vuoden Peli🇫🇮" winners and nominees
- Position 6 in The favorite games of Andi
- Position 5 in The favorite games of Cami