Game Review: Pandemic

For starters, this game is ironic because we are in a pandemic. The game has a board with a map of the world. Each player is given a role: Medic, Researcher, Scientist, Dispatcher, and Operational Expert. Each role had different skills and abilities. The goal of the game is to work with the other players to cure the pandemic. We were playing against the game itself. We lost. Different outbreaks of the disease would occur and once you get to 8 outbreaks, you lose the game.

I enjoyed this game because I do not remember the last time I played a game where you had to be collaborative with other players rather than competing against them. Another thing that helped me understand and play the game is, one player in our group knew how to play so he was able to explain the game in a more tangible way. Someone started reading the directions in our group. As different steps were read, other players began setting up the board. Also, the narrative/theme of the game was something that I could grasp. When games begin to become too abstract and something I cannot relate to, I begin to lose focus and understanding. I would play this game again.