Pandemic (2013 Edition)

A game where everyone is a winner... or loser.

Pandemic is a cooperative board game where 2-4 players struggle to contain and cure four virulent diseases. Players win by curing all four diseases. Players lose if there are too many disease outbreaks, they run out of disease cubes, or they run out of cards in the player deck.

Throughout the game players travel around the game board visiting major cities to treat the infected, build research facilities, trade cards, and research cures. The infections spread after each player's turn and special epidemic events increase the rate of infection significantly.

There are seven playable roles with unique special abilities. These roles help keep the gameplay variable and interesting. For example, the Operations Expert can more easily travel and build research centers, the Medic can automatically treat cured diseases, and the Scientist needs only four matching cards (instead of five) to research a cure. To be successful each player must play their role effectively.

Pandemic has an easily adjusted level of difficulty based on the number of special Epidemic cards that are placed in the deck (four to six). This helps keep the game tense and interesting as players work together to contain the rapidly spreading diseases. However, experienced players may need the expansions to keep the game difficult enough.

This game also includes one of the best rulebooks we have seen. The writing is very clear and covers all the basic actions and special cases. There are also several real game examples with detailed illustrations.

Overall, Pandemic is a very easy game to learn and has an easily understood theme which makes it a great family game and gateway game.

Summary:

• 2-4 players, 45 minutes
• + great family game
• + cooperative
• + multiple ways to lose
• + variety of roles (characters)
• + good balance of strategy and luck
• + consistent artistic style
• + well integrated theme
• + quality components and box
• + clear and thorough instructions
• • replayability
• • reasonable price
• • vulnerable to becoming a 1-player game
• - becomes too easy to win with experience

More information about Pandemic can be found at zmangames.com.