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.

Pandemic is an amazing accomplishment. Not only does it feel challenging to play without any real risk of analysis paralysis, every game has a point near the beginning where you are you sure you have it beaten this time, and then it comes down to the wire, with a race to collect a cure as you as the diseases begin to spiral out of control.

But even better – it’s a game non-gamers love. You can take it to family gatherings, play it with your spouse and kids, bring it out when friends come round… I’ve yet to find anyone who didn’t love it. The mechanics are incredibly simple, the theme is engaging and there’s tons of tension. Plus it’s co-operative so there’s no hard feelings when someone loses.

In short Pandemic is a great investment – a brilliant game that will hit the table more often than most.

Pandemic has been a mainstay of games night ever since it replaced Carcassonne after what is now referred to as "the incident". Why has such a classic game been sidelined in lieu of Pandemic? Because the latter is a cooperative game, and for two highly competitive players (read as bad losers) this makes Pandemic a far safer choice. Instead of players competing against each other they must work together, coordinating their efforts to eradicate the viruses that are spreading like wildfire through the world's population? Some ingenious game mechanics make sure that the virus outbreaks stay focussed, the pressure stays on, and the clock relentlessly ticks down.
The spread of the virus is controlled by cards, as are the resources available to the players, however there is little text and the rules are summarised on a few sides of A4 (which includes some excellent gameplay examples). This simplicity belies a complex game that will take many plays before you discover the knack of defeating the viruses easily. Even then the multiple player roles and random nature of the viruses means no two games are quite the same.
While this game is excellent, it is not totally without flaws. Luck is a major factor and in one game we were left floundering and defeated after three turns with no hope of controlling the rampant diseases. However the majority of games go right down to the wire, with the fate of the world remaining undecided until the last turns.
This is an elegantly designed, thoroughly satisfying game that I would recommend to anyone wanting a slightly different strategic challenge (and also looking to avoid tantrums).