Pandemic

Taking a Gaming Break from the Outbreak

- Dann Albright

Much of the world has been shut down by a recently discovered virus. Governments are scrambling to catch up. Companies are shutting down. Millions of people are getting sick — and the death toll is rising.

Sound like an interesting premise for a board game?

It’s not — it’s life as I write this article. The novel coronavirus pandemic has hit the world at full speed, and no one knows when it’s going to let up.

Most of the world has been encouraged to stay home and to exercise caution as our society gradually reopens. That’s the best thing we can do right now to minimize the spread of the virus while we wait for it to burn itself out or someone to come up with some sort of vaccine.

As board gamers, though, we have another option: tackle the virus head-on. By racing around the world to hotspots. Researching and deploying cures. Delivering supplies and help where they’re needed. On the table, of course.

You have already guessed that I’m talking about Pandemic. Even though it’s only 12 years old, it has quickly become a modern classic and developed a huge following. It has spawned a range of follow-ups, both standalone editions and expansions.

Do you want to do something more than following a stay-at-home order? Pandemic is your chance. It’s a perfect time to play a co-op game about saving the world.

Pandemic

2008 | 2—4 players | 45 minutes

Even with all of the expansions and sequels, it’s tough to beat the original