Pandemic Cooperative Board Game for Ages 8 and up, from Asmodee

This board game is more advanced than your standard party games (i.e. The Game of Life, Guesstures, etc.). The rules are a bit more involved and its format is different than a standard competitive game. Players play with each other against the board instead of competing against one another. Do not be fooled, however: the board is merciless and it will take multiple playthroughs before you successfully beat it. So it's a perfect game if you like working together with friends towards a goal and like a challenge. This is one of my all-time favorite games. I also highly recommend the expansion "On The Brink" for players interested in extending the rules further.

I had my reservations about getting a cooperative play game, but my husband had been interested in them and so when a friend who knows we collect board games gave us a gift certificate, this was at the top of the list. It's a little bit complicated, but once you understand the rules, it makes a lot more sense and you have an "aha!" moment. Time flies as you and your fellow players use your game-given abilities to try and cure all of the infections before the game ends and you lose. There are many ways to lose and only one way to win. The instructions are somewhat vague in places, but a quick trip to the boardgamegeek site helped us immensely. If you're wanting something different to play with your friends- or even playing solo and alternating between two characters as more of a puzzle than a game- Pandemic is a great way to break out of the mold. And once you've mastered the basic game, there are expansions with new roles. The best description I can come up with is that it's like Risk, except instead of fighting other players, you're fighting the board together. We've only had the game a week or so, but we love it already. Even our "I hate games" foster daughter loves it and asks to play. We sneak education in there by pointing out different continents and oceans and things as part of the directions on where someone needs to go.

My husband and I love to play this game. It's pretty easy to learn and each game is different. We both love the fact that it's a co-op game. Every game is different so there is lots of replay ability. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. We have played it in big groups and small groups with kids and adults and have always had fun.

First, for those that don't know, this is a new edition of the game. There is an older version that is not so streamlined in artistic design or component quality, but you should know it exists so you can compare the two and see which you like better. This updated version will be preferable to most people. This game's greatest characteristic is that it manages to land squarely on all the points that make a game great. Quality components of a manageable size and quantity that function intuitively. The game is easy to learn but still presents a fair challenge to the players; it does not scare newcomers away by being confusing or by pummeling them into the ground the first time out. Long-time gamers will also find the game engaging and challenging, as there are a decent number of decisions to be made and good replayability due to randomness and multiple playable characters with varying special abilities. The theme of the game rides the line between fantasy and realism, appealing to a wide range of players because it's plausible, yet dramatic, extreme, and improbable. The idea of a worldwide pandemic is extremely distasteful and prevented me from buying the game for a long time, but ultimately this consideration falls by the wayside because the game doesn't drive home the uncomfortable nature of the theme by drumming up fearful scenarios and images; the viruses don't even have names, just colors. I also don't typically enjoy games with realistic themes (realistic = mundane, to my mind), but the theme is not so deeply immersive that you're forced to face it continuously, and the gameplay is engaging and rewarding enough to far outbalance any negative thematic considerations. This is a game for everyone, plain and simple. Reasonable rule set, play length and component quantity; fun and engaging, broadly appealing, quality production, highly portable - leaves nothing to be desired.

This game hand my friends and I on the edge of our seat for a hour. We spent it debating the best possible moves and outcome and still were puzzled on what to do. We never like a board game so much in such a short amount of time.

Very fun game, satisfyingly challenging! the cards wear out easily in our experience (chipped corners, peeling graphics), but are still usable. Game mechanics are brilliant, very realistic to an actual disease. Tons of fun for us young adults!

Love this game would order more like it

After watching video on the game it helped to understand the game better!

Pandemic is a fun but challenging game.

I absolutely have become addicted to this game! I love the fact that it is a cooperative game where it is you (and your friends) against the board. Also the multiple role cards and nature of play means that no two games are alike! I found a few YouTube videos that made it easy to understand the set up and play right from the beginning. Just make sure it is a video for the basic game and not for one of the many expansion packs ( and yes, I already bought all the expansions too!). This game can also be played solo and proves to be just as fun! Enjoy!