Pandemic Board Game (Base Game) Cooperative ... - Asmodee

TLDR Review: Pandemic Board Game

Published: January 14th, 2025

Pros

  • Engaging for the entire family, with everyone participating without waiting for individual turns.
  • Encourages cooperative gameplay with discussion and strategic planning among players.
  • Roles have unique powers that promote team strategy to win against the game.
  • Offers a wide age range suitability, effective for children as young as six up to teens.
  • Each game experience is different due to varying powers and strategies.
  • Provides educational value by including geographical information and population data.
  • Enhances communication and interaction within the family during gameplay.
  • Expansions introduce new challenges and game formats for added variety.
  • Average playtime is manageable at around 30 minutes once the game is learned.
  • The game difficulty can be scaled, allowing it to grow with players’ abilities.

Cons

  • One player can dominate by strategizing aloud, which might slow down play.
  • The rules can be overwhelming, making it potentially unengaging or confusing for some.
  • Long setup time due to numerous small parts and extensive instructions.
  • Each role has unique abilities that may be challenging to remember, causing confusion.
  • The objective of curing diseases can be confusing as eradicating them does not count towards winning.
  • Not recommended for very young children despite the familriendly label.

Bottom Line

The Pandemic Board Game offers a deep cooperative experience filled with strategic thinking and teamwork. It's a hit for diverse age groups, promoting communication and engagement through its unique roles and varying challenges. While some may struggle with its complex setup and roles, it's a rewarding experience for those willing to invest the time. For families or groups who enjoy strategic, cooperative games, Pandemic is a top-tier choice. If the complexity seems daunting, consider starting with a simpler cooperative game to ease into this genre.

Lowest at Amazon
$31.97 at Amazon
Lowest at any Popular Retailer
$12.55 at Bonanza

Where to Buy

Prices last updated: May 29th 2025 3:09 am
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