Should I Play Pandemic?
Players: 2 – 4 players | Game Duration 35 – 55 mins |
Min. Age 8+ | Game complexity: EASY Genre: Cooperative
Solo game mode: Yes | Co-op: Yes |
Online Version: Yes
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Hate Rulebooks? Check out our condensed How to Play Pandemic Rules Guide
What is Pandemic about?
Pandemic encourages teamwork but also challenges players to think critically and act swiftly under the pressure of escalating global crises. Here’s a deep dive into its gameplay, mechanics and allure.
Gameplay
“Pandemic” is played on a world map board representing major cities across all continents. Players take on the roles of disease-fighting specialists, each with unique abilities that help the team. The objective is to prevent four deadly diseases from spreading and killing the global population. You win as a team by discovering cures for all four diseases before any of several losing conditions are met, such as running out of disease cubes (indicating widespread outbreak), or running out of cards (signaling time has run out).
Game Mechanics: Strategic Depth and Cooperative Play
Pandemic fosters cooperative play and strategic planning. The roles, like the Medic (who excels at treating diseases) or the Researcher (who can easily share knowledge), are designed to complement each other. This interdependence requires teamwork and to make strategic decisions collectively.
The game simulates the spread of infection effectively and creates a tense experience of having to constantly adapt strategies to respond to new outbreaks and chain reaction of disease spread.
What Makes It Fun: Tension and Teamwork
“Pandemic” is exceptionally fun due to the intense, shared pressure to save the world. The cooperative format creates a shared sense of purpose and urgency. The escalating tension, combined with the satisfaction of successfully curing a disease or managing an outbreak, provides a thrilling emotional rollercoaster.
The game also offers a scalable difficulty level, from easy to heroic, allowing players to adjust the challenge according to their team’s experience and strategic ability.
Rules
Condensed How to Play Pandemic Rules Guide for rulebook haters
Where to play Pandemic online?
Pandemic Videos
Awards Won by Pandemic
2015 Hungarian Board Game Award Nominee
2015 Guldbrikken Special Jury Prize Winner
2015 Guldbrikken Best Adult Game Nominee
2014 Juego del Año Recommended
2011 MinD-Spielepreis Winner
2011 MinD-Spielepreis Nominee
2011 Ludoteca Ideale Official Selection Winner
2010 MinD-Spielepreis Nominee
2010 Gra Roku Game of the Year Nominee
2010 Australian Games Association Game of the Year
2009 Vuoden Peli Adult Game of the Year Nominee
2009 Spiel des Jahres Nominee
2009 Spiel der Spiele Hit für Experten Recommended
2009 Nederlandse Spellenprijs Nominee
2009 Lys Passioné Finalist
2009 JoTa Best Family Board Game Nominee
2009 Japan Boardgame Prize Voters’ Selection Nominee
2009 Hra roku Nominee
2009 Gouden Ludo Winner
2009 Gouden Ludo Nominee
2009 Golden Geek Most Innovative Board Game Nominee
2009 Golden Geek Best Gamers’ Board Game Nominee
2009 Golden Geek Best Family Board Game Winner
2009 Golden Geek Best Family Board Game Nominee
2009 Golden Geek Best 2-Player Board Game Nominee
2009 Games Magazine Best New Family Game Winner
2009 Deutscher Spiele Preis Best Family/Adult Game 3rd Place
2009 Boardgames Australia Awards Best International Game Winner
2009 Boardgames Australia Awards Best International Game Nominee
2009 As d’Or – Jeu de l’Année Nominee
2008 Tric Trac Nominee
2008 Tric Trac d’Argent
2008 Meeples’ Choice Award
2008 JoTa Best Cooperative Board Game Winner
2008 JoTa Best Cooperative Board Game Nominee
2008 International Gamers Awards – General Strategy; Multi-player Nominee
2008 Golden Geek Best Party Board Game Nominee
2008 Golden Geek Best Gamer’s Board Game Nominee
2008 Golden Geek Best Family Board Game Nominee
2008 Golden Geek Best Board Game Artwork/Presentation Nominee
2008 Golden Geek Best 2-Player Board Game Nominee
