Iberia (2016) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Iberia is a standalone game in the Pandemic series, designed by Jesús Torres Castro and Matt Leacock. It was released in 2016 by Z-Man Games. The game is set in the Iberian Peninsula during the mid-19th century, where players must work together to combat diseases and build railways to connect cities.

Game Components of Iberia

Rulebook

1 Game Board featuring the Iberian Peninsula

7 Role Cards

7 Pawns

69 Player Cards

5 Reference Cards

48 Infection Cards

96 Disease Cubes (24 in 4 colors)

14 Purification Tokens

20 Railroad Tokens

1 Prevention Token

4 Research Markers

1 Infection Rate Marker

1 Outbreaks Marker

4 Hospitals

5 Challenge Cards

1 Art Book.

How To Setup Iberia

To set up the game, players start by placing the board in the middle of the playing area. The Player card deck is prepared by separating it into four to six face-down piles, depending on the desired difficulty level, and shuffling one epidemic card into each pile. Each player selects a role and receives the corresponding role card and pawn. The infection cards are then drawn to seed the board with disease cubes, with six cities initially infected. Event cards are worked into the player deck based on the number of players, and each player is dealt a starting hand.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Players must research how to prevent the four diseases from spreading. The game is won if all four diseases are researched before any of the loss conditions are met (e.g., 8 outbreaks, not enough disease cubes, or not enough player cards).

Movement: Players can travel by carriage, boat, or train. Building a railroad network allows for more efficient travel between cities connected by the rail lines.

Purify Water: Players can use the “Purify Water” action to place purification tokens in regions, preventing the addition of disease cubes in adjacent cities.

Regions: The game introduces a new “region” concept, where areas on the board are enclosed by brown lines, and certain actions and character abilities are based on these regions.

Epidemics: Players must manage outbreaks and epidemics, which can rapidly spread disease cubes across the board.

Player Experience

**Pandemic: Iberia** offers a more intense and strategic experience compared to the original **Pandemic**. The game requires significant planning and cooperation among players to build railroad networks, purify water, and research diseases. The historical setting and new mechanics, such as railroads and purification tokens, add a fresh layer of strategy and complexity. While some players may find it more manic and challenging, others appreciate the added depth and thematic charm.

Pros

New Mechanics: The introduction of railroads and purification tokens adds a fresh and engaging strategic twist.

Historical Setting: The game’s 19th Century setting and historical tie-ins enhance the theme and immersion.

High Replayability: With various difficulty levels and two variants (Patient Rush and historic viruses), the game offers a high level of replayability.

Cons

Increased Complexity: The game is slightly more complex than the original **Pandemic**, which may make it harder to teach to new players.

Difficulty: The game can be very challenging, especially with the harder variants, which may not be suitable for all player groups.

Personal Thoughts on Iberia

**Pandemic: Iberia** is ideal for fans of the original **Pandemic** who are looking for a new challenge and additional strategic layers. It is particularly suited for experienced players who enjoy cooperative games with deep strategy and historical themes. However, it is also approachable for newer players who are willing to learn the new mechanics and are drawn to the cooperative gameplay and thematic setting.

We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no extra cost for you. Learn more.