Pest (2024) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Pest is a board game that was released in 2024 and designed by Daniel Cunha and Sara Stanoeska. The game is set in a medieval civilization during a time of pestilence and players must navigate through the challenges of dealing with a deadly outbreak. The game features stunning artwork by Archona Games and offers a unique blend of strategy and thematic gameplay.

Game Components of Pest

1 Rulebook

1 Map Board

1 Era Board

1 Influence Board

1 Capital City Board

5 Player Boards

5 Help Boards

5 Plague Doctor Miniatures

20 Assistant Meeples

50 Building Meeples

100 Population Meeples

15 Decree Cards

10 Aid Cards

18 Pest Cards

30 Technology Cards

5 Starting Location Cards

5 Capital City Cards

5 Capital City Buildings

14 Capital City Reward Tokens

5 Containment Camp Tokens

15 Imperatives Markers

5 Influence Markers

5 Turn Order Markers

25 Resource Track Markers

48 Location Tokens

70 Building Resource Tokens

8 Sick People Multiplier Tokens

28 Destroyed Location Tokens

42 Research Tokens

48 Renown & Negative Renown Tokens

1 Score Pad.

How To Setup Pest

To set up **Pest**, players first prepare the main boards, including the Map Board, Era Board, Influence Board, and Capital City Board. Each player receives a Player Board, a Help Board, and a starting set of resources and tokens. The game is divided into 6 rounds, with each round kicking off with the revelation of a plague card that determines the spread of the plague for that round. Players then take turns selecting actions on their player boards using a unique action selection system.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Action Selection System: Players select actions from their player boards.

Plague Management: Manage the spread of the plague through containment and cure actions.

Resource Management: Harvest and manage resources to rebuild and expand.

Technology Implementation: Use technology cards to stay ahead of the plague.

City Rebuilding: Rebuild fallen cities and restore population.

Worker Assignment: Assign workers to various tasks.

Quarantine: Quarantine and cure infected people.

Objective: The ultimate goal is to eradicate the plague and rebuild the empire.

Player Experience

In **Pest**, players embark on a challenging journey to save an empire ravaged by a devastating plague. The game offers a rich strategic experience with a unique action selection system, requiring players to balance multiple tasks such as managing resources, implementing technologies, and containing the plague. The evolving nature of the plague adds a layer of unpredictability, making each game session dynamic and engaging.

Pros

Deep Strategy: Offers a complex and rewarding strategic experience.

High Replayability: The plague’s adaptability ensures no two games are the same.

Engaging Theme: The post-apocalyptic setting and the mission to save an empire are highly immersive.

Quality Components: Includes detailed miniatures, boards, and tokens.

Cons

Long Playtime: Games can be lengthy, ranging from 60 to 150 minutes.

Complex Setup: Setting up the game can be time-consuming due to the numerous components.

Steep Learning Curve: The unique mechanics and deep strategy may be overwhelming for new players.

Personal Thoughts on Pest

**Pest** is ideal for fans of strategic euro games who enjoy complex gameplay and deep thematic immersion. It is particularly suited for players who appreciate games with high replayability and a strong focus on resource management and technology implementation. However, due to its complexity and length, it may not be the best fit for casual or new board game enthusiasts.

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