Pandemic

Pandemic is a great cooperative game in which the players take on the roles of a team of specialists (scientist, researcher, dispatcher, medic and operations expert), who are attempting to save the world from a series of virulent diseases that threaten to destroy mankind. The characters (each of which has a special ability) travel from city to city treating diseases, dealing with outbreaks and searching for cures before the time runs out.

This is a wonderful family game for all ages (from around 8+):
- the theme is well integrated – you might not feel like you’re actually fighting viruses, but there is a certain tension and drama and plenty of “oohs” and “aahs” as the viruses begin to spread
- the rules are simple to understand and easy to teach (it’s not overwhelming for new players), but you will have to carefully consider your moves if you want to win
- there are three levels of play – beginner, normal and heroic (nigh impossible)

All in all this game is and incredibly fun and rewarding experience. It plays quickly and whether you win or lose (and you will lose plenty!), everyone will want “just one more game”!

Why do I think that Pandemic is the best ever co-operative game?

I've played several Co Op games (Lord of the Rings, Red November, Shadows over Camelot and Battlestar Galactica) but Pandemic is definitely my favourite. It's the only one that I could play over and over again. Space Alert is also co-op but is so different from the others I won't even include it in this discussion!

I think that my love of Pandemic is that, along with Battlestar Gallactica, the actual playing is essentially a "positive" experience. Although you face difficult choices along the way, you often choose the best of several good options ("I can use this card, or the medic could do that"); whereas the others often have "negative" choices of which you have to choose the least worse of several painful options.

Another strong point about Pandemic is the tension, which is palpable when drawing cards to see where the next outbreak is.

Finally, it is a lot of fun to play and direct and tactile; moving you round the world, removing those pesky outbreak cubes, collecting the last card you need to find the cure.

It is particularly satisfying to cooperate actions making good use of the different characters' abilities ("Okay, if you move to Bagdad and wipe out the cubes there, then in the Dispacher's turn he can them move me there too. Then in my turn I can take that cure card I need from you, move to that research station in Essen and find the cure"). All this intricate planning comes from a simple and easy to learn set of rules that plays quickly.

Battlestar Galactica doesn't make my top co op spot, despite the excellent game mechanics and cool back-stabbing Cylon traitor business, because it is a lot more complicated, takes longer to play and is difficult to learn (particularly as you can't play with open cards for beginners because of the Cylon traitor). But of course that added complexity and traitorous element are exactly why some people love it.