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For Pandemic In The Lab, 860 customer reviews collected from 1 e-commerce sites, and the average score is 4.8.

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8.5.2014

First off, I'm not a fan of board games. The time they take, the lack of what I feel is a story where I am not distracted by having to do mental arithmetic or covet a physical prop such as a card or special item, the irritating tendency of them to pitch people against each other and the inevitable persistence of the hierarchy of skill that follows (sooner or later, it becomes clear if you're playing the same people over and over, who is likely to win the most matches, followed by a clear chain of everyone else)... I'm not a fan! I'm not keen on PvP anything really... So when my husband begged me to play this, I wasn't too sure.But I have to say as this was my first board game in 20+ yrs,I was very impressed. Despite being a multidisciplinary PhD student with what I consider to be pretty awesome problem-solving capabilities, I'm really abysmal at learning how to play games. They always seem too complicated! I can't cope! I get confused and bored very quickly... not to mention that nobody likes feeling like they're the dumbest person in the room whilst everyone else is losing patience with their ineptitudes... LoL... But that's how I felt about board games before I met this one.First off, what's this? I'm not playing against the people I'm playing with? I am supposed to co-operate? Alright maybe I like to make it sound like I'm a loner, but truth is I'm happiest when everyone is my equal and I am allowed to help and ask for help as part of a team. Second of all, the rules weren't that complicated, so even *I* was able to follow them and learn them without losing my patience or getting bored (although it helps to have an experienced board gamer to help you take those first baby steps).Even better, once I started playing, I was able to use the kinds of problem-solving I *am* actually good at (the kind that made me good at doing research), which meant that much to my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed playing it too! We'd have beaten the game first time if my husband hadn't managed to put *all* of the 'helpful' cards in cannon at the very bottom of the card deck. We beat it twice more. Granted this was on the easiest setting, and we chose the roles we wanted to learn how to use first, but I was still pretty shocked that my usual ineptitude didn't screw us over.If you have an understanding, background or passing interest in pathology I think you'll find this game interesting. It might annoy you in some ways at first because you may note a couple of differences to real life *but*, it's actually pretty good when you take a step back and think about it. If you have no grasp of those things or interest in them, I think you'll still enjoy the game plenty. It's challenging, it offers everyone a chance to develop problem-solving skills that I consider exceptionally useful and if you're someone like me who really doesn't like beating other people but prefers working along side them, you might just love this game to pieces.Nothing unites like a common enemy after all. ;)
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9.4.2013

Received this recently as a gift to myself from my birthday money.Took the gamble with the whole misprinted board thing, but mine had the Sao Paulo - Lagos link. So I reckon the misprints are very few and far between now.Sadly my copy took a while to get to me, but that was mostly due to the snow disruption I think.I've played the original version before only a couple of times. But friends have assured me that a few of the subtle changes are decent improvements.The most obvious differences to me are the appearance. But my friends have noticed the changes with some of the roles and a few other things.Appearance-wise I think the board looks and feels far better. The quality is a definite improvement.I'm not quite sold on the new smaller plastic blocks which represent the 4 viruses. But I can see why some people like them. I think I prefer the wooden blocks. But I can see that the size of the old wooden blocks did cause issues with blocking the names of the Cities on the board. This seems to happen less now when we play with the new plastic blocks.For me I would prefer to have the Research Stations painted. But then, what colour would they painted them so as not to be the same colour as player pawns or viruses. I'm seriously tempted to pain them myself, just because I don't like the clash of painted wooden pieces with plastic virus blocks and then unpainted wooden Research Stations. I would've preferred a more universal "painted wood for everything" look.But all the pieces are certainly functional and doesn't in any way affect the way the game plays, which in reality is of course the main concern. But if you're fussed on aesthetics, then these sorts of things could have you constantly scratching your arm until it bleeds, rocking backwards and forwards, mumbling to yourself.As for the game itself, I've always enjoyed Pandemic. I love the gameplay, and the cooperative aspect of the game. I do think there should be more cooperative games out there. I do think this game needs to be played 2-3 times before you finally start to remember all the different ways your pawns can move around the board, and are able to devise game strategies according to your role. The first couple of times you play is hindered slightly by having to learn the mechanics as you go whilst trying to devise a strategy that enables you all to win.Overall, I'm pleased I've finally got myself a copy of Pandemic. I love this game, and how it brings people together to argue (discuss) strategies to collectively win.Buy it, and save the world.
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9.1.2019

I love board games. I've been playing Pandemic and its expansions for a couple of years and it's my favourite, so I was intrigued by the idea of Legacy but put off by the fact that it can only be played once and that you have to "deface" the board, some cards and so on. And it's relatively expensive. However, justifying the purchase as a gift for another couple with whom we regularly meet to play Pandemic, my girlfriend and I bought Legacy Season 1, and I'm so very glad that we did.Over four separate days and around 18 hours of game play we had a huge amount of fun. Any reservations we had about having to mark the board permanently or make changes to cards were alleviated almost immediately by how exciting it was to see the game evolve as we played it.Objectives and goals changed as we played out an interesting story with shocking twists and turns. There was one shock in particular which genuinely affected me as much as the biggest movie twists I've ever seen - the kind that you don't see coming at all and leave you reeling for days afterwards.When it was all over we all felt sad and perhaps my only criticism of this game is that, at the end, all you can really do is throw away the beautiful board and game components (some you could keep as spares for the original game). I haven't been able to bring myself to do that yet and maybe I'll think of some interesting way to preserve it.On a practical level, the rules are quite involved - some would say complicated - and, of course, they change as the game goes on (stickers are revealed with new rules which must be stuck into the rule book in designated spaces), but for the most part they're well explained and the rewards make it worth the effort. It's a lot easier to get to grips with if you've played the original Pandemic game before, and some of the early game play will be familiar to you if you've played some of the original game's expansions. Not only in terms of the hours of game play and huge fun that this game delivers but also in terms of the quality and quantity of things that the box contains which are added to the game as it progresses, Legacy Season 1 is unquestionably full value for money even at £55. We've now got Season 2 and will be starting that next week!
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10.7.2014

Pandemic is a co-operative game that sees players work together to seek to cure and then eradicate a number of diseases that are outbreaking across the globe. Each player plays a different role and each character has different skills depending upon which card they draw at the onset of the game. The aim of the game is to travel the world by moving your character from city to city by various means in order to manage the spread of disease before things get out of hand.Mechanically speaking, the game is quite straight forward with initial infections being determined by drawing cards at the onset of the game and then further infections taking place at the end of each player's turn when random city cards are drawn.Players must work together to remove disease cubes whilst collecting cards relating to each of the four specific diseases in order to find a cure. The difficulty can be set by adding greater numbers of 'epidemic' cards into the deck, which means that there are more outbreaks and things are a bit faster-paced and more challenging.This is a great introduction to co-operative gaming. My wife has warmed to board games since we played this and it stops us having to try and outdo each other in competitive play (she is too nice as she sees how frustrated I get when she is unaturally lucky and wins everything we play). Seriously though, whilst competitive gaming is good fun with friends, sometimes it is far better to have co-operative gaming within the family unit.In terms of quality, the board and box are sturdy and the components are genuinely nice to handle and play with. The cards do get a bit worn given time and a decision will need to be taken as to whether protective sheaths are worthwhile. I would say yes but the game does get some serious playing time at our house. When things get stale and the strategies for each character type have been mastered, make sure you progress onto
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5.7.2018

Pandemic was the first game to introduce me to cooperative boardgaming. It became an instant favourite and still holds up very well. This should be a staple in every boardgame collection! In Pandemic, you must save the world by working together as a team to control viral outbreaks and cure diseases.How is it played?Pandemic is a turn based cooperative game where you can take up to 4 actions per turn. These actions involve moving around the world to different cities, removing virus cubes from infected cities, building research centres and curing diseases. After each turn, you draw cards to help you cure diseases (some of which may actually cause an epidemic which will spread a disease).And then you draw further cards to advance the viral outbreak. This finely tuned balance is what keeps the virus spreading so you have to work together to stop the spread as well as cure the disease.How do you win?You win if:- you cure all diseases (you don't have to eradicate them by wiping them off the map, but kudos if you do)You lose if:- You can't draw any more player cards- You run out of virus cubes and can't spread a disease further (it's out of control at this point)- You have too many outbreaksThe key is to work together as a team and use each of your unique abilities at the most opportune times. It's a fantastic game that combines strategy, teamwork and luck! It's quite daunting the first time you play it, but after a few playthroughs, the mechanics become clearer and it can be enjoyed by players of all ages. If you have more than 4 players, it works quite well with one person acting as a host for the game and offering their insight to things you may have missed.It also has a lot of expansions which increase the replayability of the game, but in my opinion the core game is enough to start with for a while. This really is a great game!
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2.4.2020

I can't rate this game highly enough, well thought through in all aspects.Luck - adding dice to a game speeds it up, but brings too much luck into it, this game has no dice, it does have cards which add randomness, but because of the way revealed cards are periodically returned to the top of the deck, this actually reduces the luck plus adds to the tactics by knowing such-and-such danger card is now back in the top 6? cards, and plan accordingly.Co-operative - I love the co-operative element in that you either all win, or all lose, so you need to work together, no sulking from the first loser of a game. Either way, it gets you all talking and interacting and suggesting and contradicting,which has to be a good thing as you feel like you've really participated.Pacing - the pacing (especially if you are just learning the game) is excellent, the first couple of rounds you are moping up the virus and accumulating cards thinking 'this is easy' we'll have won in no time, but the game steadily gets harder and harder with the pace set just right in that the final victory/defeat is probably decided by just one last turn either way. It even has a means of adjusting the difficulty according to the players.Replayability - this is very good, there are several characters with different skills to use, some good some useless for some of the game then essential at certain times. This gives variations in how you play it. Plus the initial distribution of the four infections varies (maybe only three of them are on the board to start?)There are many expansions to this game but you hardly need them as this has all the fun and skill you need for a roughly 45min game.
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29.3.2016

First of all, I'm familiar with the original Pandemic board game but don't own a copy. I always found the theme somewhat unpleasant and off-putting with its clinical looking board and cards.Lately I've been doing a fair bit for research on board games that can be played with 2-3 players, aren't too simplistic or oozing a theme that might divide its players. What piqued my interest was the subtle theme and dice chucking gameplay of Pandemic The Cure.Dice represent viruses that are blind-drawn from a bag then thrown at each player's turn. These then end up in different regions based on their face value. Players then travel around these continents, trying to contain the virus and treat as many instances as possible.There are outbreaks, special events and the luck of the draw of course (who doesn't love throwing dice?) to keep things interesting.Players are able to choose from 7 distinct characters that have one or two special abilities and custom dice which is a very neat touch. Each person therefore excels in particular areas, but is able to make due on their own.Although the official rules state that the game is made for 2-5 players, lots and lots of people play solo (nothing stopping you from picking two or more characters!), and I'd argue that even though not ideal, you can squeeze in more than 5 players since you have 7 characters. Just need to balance the difficulty using the board and dice - maybe some house rules - to offset this.Production values are great and the coloured dice are a lot of fun to use. The game's theme isn't as strong and oppressive, making it both a great family game and brilliant choice for more serious gamers alike.
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16.7.2014

Pandemic is a co-operative game so everyone takes on a different role and works together against the game. There is still the competitive element of working against the game, however it's nice to all win or all lose together.There are three levels of difficulty based on how many 'epidemic' cards you use. We're finding the second level (using 5 cards) a good level for us as we need to work hard to win, but still feel we have a chance. It's pitched right so we usually only JUST win or JUST lose and this makes us want to play it again straight away!I've played with two and three players, but the game allows for up to four people. It's a great game played with just two players.It's usually just my boyfriend and I playing and we often find board games don't work as well with two players as they do with more, but Pandemic works very well and doesn't require adapting the rules.It didn't take too long to understand the rules and because you're working cooperatively it isn't too daunting to introduce new people to the game. I've introduced this game to someone who plays a LOT of board games as well as someone who hasn't played a board game since they were a child and both people really enjoyed it.My only negative comment is that a couple of the player roles are better to play with than others. When I say 'better' I don't necessarily mean it's easier to win with them, but that they just aren't as fun to play with. That said if you work together and play to your strengths you can still have a very enjoyable game.I'd happily suggest this to anyone looking for a new game to play.
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26.6.2016

An exciting expansion to Pandemic that brings several new elements to the game. Petri dishes are now included, which is far more convenient that the plastic bags used with the original game. It is extremely satisfying to be able to close the petri dish of a colour when you have cured and eradicated it!The game has two new main elements, the first is a set of cards which replace the original epidemic cards, which have more brutal effects on the game, as well as the inclusion of the virulent strain rule. The new, purple, epidemic cards now have more information on them, as they have effects on the virulent strain, as well as the traditional epidemic procedure.The second main element of the game is a new competitive set of rules,where one player plays as a bio terrorist. This player doesn't take part in the conventional sense, instead keeping tracking of his or her movements on a move sheet (a pad of which is included). The remaining players need to defeat the bio terrorist, or be defeated! The game advises that this game is for three or more players, but we have managed to play it as a two, with one player as the bio terrorist, and the second player as two separate players.The only downside to this expansion, as we see it, is that it makes the cooperative game incredibly difficult at times. It can some times be frustrating how incredibly difficult it is to win, especially playing as a two, or on anything higher than the lower few levels. That said, a fantastic game and expansion, which adds some great rules to the game!
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1.5.2017

This is a more streamlined version of Pandemic, yet more thematic.I love board games, especially thematic ones, yet very few of my friends have the patience to learn the rules.This game hits the sweet spot for me, as I can enjoy its theme and still introduce it to my non-gamer friends.Like the original Pandemic, each player chooses a character with special powers, and try to stop the spread of cultists (viruses in the original) and seal the gates to the other world (finding a cure in the original).Lots of rules are streamlined in this version. For example, you can now trade cards more easily with other players, and the outbreaks no longer trigger chain reactions.They also added a few simple mechanics to make the game more challenging,like having Shoggoths that you have to stop besides the cultists, and the awakening of other old gods. Certain actions require the player to roll a sanity dice, which may take away the player character's sanity and add cultists to the board.The game comes with detailed miniatures, which look much better than the original Pandemic and many other games on a similar price point. The artwork on the cards are also very good in my opinion.One complaint would be that the game follows very loosely on the Lovecraft mythos. The "powers" of the old gods have nothing to do with the old gods themselves. (In fact, Cthulhu wasn't the most powerful old god, yet it is the one that triggers the end of the world.) It felt like a missed opportunity to make the game even more thematic.
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3.7.2015

Now THAT is a neat mechanic. Makes things 10x more interesting now. And they were interesting as it is. I still cant decide if it makes it harder or not. But either way it seems to add to the game in a brilliant way. Its essentially the rule for the old Virologist (i think) role in the old pandemic where you collect cubes and then can use them alongside cards to find a cure. Except in this the cubes go through a simulated scientific process where the cubes you collect can be altered in one way or another (depending on what you do with them on the lab board). This adds a whole new layer.Some will think it complicates the game too much. And yeah, i can see that.Some people will find the lab board is more a nuisance than a nice addition. But...Get this anyway, it adds a ton of new cards including a few new roles and revised roles. It adds a few more cubes to the mutation (purple) disease. And the box is made to accomodate all the petri dishes perfectly making for a very neat box when it has all been put away. Plus more that i am sure i must be forgetting. So even if you never use the lab mechanic you will have all the other things to add to your game. And at least you will get a chance to try the lab mechanic assuming you have not done so yet.For solo players like myself the lab mechanic works very well in that too. In fact... Correct me if i am wrong but i think it is this expansion which provides some new solo rules.
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3.7.2015

A classic game reviewed and re-released. And they (Matt Leacock & Z-Man Games) have done a great job. The game pieces, especially the disease cubes, feel and look better. And the cure vials Coloured molded glass they look great!. I have heard complaints about them. But players of this game before this remake made their own cure vials a little like the ones provided here. People prefered a real vial to cardboard. The artwork feels more... I want to say clean or neat. Not sure exactly. But it looks better.And the rules: I cant complain. As far as i can tell they have mostly clarified a few rules that were always a little vague in their description leading to much confusion and google searches.Any changes are so small so as to not really notice them. In other words they have not dumbed down the game or broken it in any way.I was a little hesitant to replace my old Pandemic at first. But i am glad i took that leap.For newcomers: This game is a cooperative game that requires a lot of thinking. Its a game that will make you lose so many times but you will be happy. Losing is half the fun. You are so close to winning and BANG something happens that completely throws your plans out the window. And you will smile at that and think "challenge accepted!" And it will challenge you. Get some friends together get this out and have a few laughs as things start to go horribly wrong. Or, if you are good, things go right.
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29.1.2015

Easy to understand rules, perfectly made co-op style board game, thrilling action gameplay with one common goal to find cures for all 4 types of diseasesteaches quick and efficient strategy, teamwork, basic geographyPerfect as for couples so for whole family as you are not playing against each-other nobody walks away angry from table.Limited amount of turns depending on how many player play as the player deck runs out of cards before the cures are found the game is lost and that is one of 3 ways to lose the game so you need to develop effective quick tactics on every turn and full cooperation with other players.There are no dice in the game, you can do up to 4 actions per turn,so the game is very balanced and not purely based on luck.If you fail to treat an infection in time you risk an outbreak, you can only have 7 outbreaks then its game over when the 8th comes or you risk running out of infection cubes that is the 3rd way to lose the game.The game board and all pieces are very good quality and very detailed, lovely graphics, only cards and board are from card everything else is in plastic, there are many pieces but you get 2 compartments in the box and all pieces come in separate resealable plastic bags.Took us 2 people 90minutes to play the 1st time so for experienced players it can be 30-45 minutes if played without expansion sets that are available separately.
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21.1.2016

The first time I ever played Pandemic, was with two other people that had also never played it and the one guy that owned the game and assured us all that, despite our scepticism, we'd enjoy it. To cut a long story short, immediately after having lost that first game, we reset the board and started playing again. We were hooked, and I knew then that I'd have to get a copy for myself.As for all boardgames, I'd suggest you try it as well before you invest (try searching for board game clubs/meetups in your area, you might be surprised by how many there are, and someone's bound to have a copy of Pandemic, or alternately there's an app version on iOS and Android, which, although not free,is still cheaper then the actual board game).If, however, you're not able to try the game out, but are still thinking about buying it, then all I can say is that it's great and I've yet to play with anyone (whether a regular board game enthusiast or not) who hasn't enjoyed it. The co-operative gameplay is a nice contrast to the vast majority of games, and the general difficulty of Pandemic means that there's a real sense of challenge, with an even greater sense of achievement the first time you and a team of friends do actually win.As for technical things, like the quality of the board, box, and pieces, or the clarity of the instructions, it's all brilliant, with nothing at all to fault.
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24.7.2013

Really enjoyable board game. Openly co-operating with other players instead of competing against them is a fresh twist; it will encourage a lot of tactical discussion during the game ("I'll meet you in Riyadh!", etc). However, every player must 'infect' more cities during their turn, so the sense of threat and competition is still there, albeit from the game itself rather than other players.Overall Positives:- good quality game board, cards and pieces (plastic and wooden),- topical and imaginative premise - disease is spreading more and morewith each player's turn and needs to be treated,- encourages team-work and cooperation rather than rivalry and self-regard,- difficulty level can be easilychanged (by number of Epidemic cards used),- has enduring playability (players can be one of seven differentcharacters, each with different abilities),- good balance of strategy (no dice involved) with luck (normally fourunknown cards are drawn each turn),- rules easy to learn.Potential Negatives:- you can miss actually competing against other players,- domineering players can take over gameplay ("right, this is what we'regonna do..."),- can seem short in duration (45 mins usually),- only one path to victory (find four cures); lacks diversity of tactics(such as in points-based games where there are different ways to build upyour score, i.e. Settlers of Catan).
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