"Plague Inc: The Board Game" box on a white surface, featuring a biohazard symbol, the tagline "Can you infect the World?" and a note indicating "85 million players infected with Plague Inc." by Ndemic Creations, branding it as "The strategic game of Infection, Evolution and Extinction."
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Plague Inc.: The Board Game (2017)

ByMichail

Plague Inc.: The Board Game

Plague Inc. is a strategy-simulation game in which the player indirectly controls a plague that has infected patient zero. The game was released in 2012 on iOS, Android, Windows, and Windows Phone. In 2017, the developer released a physical board game based on Plague Inc. titled Plague Inc.: The Board Game. The board game is a strategic game of infection, evolution, and extinction based on the smash-hit video game with over 85 million players. The game has seen large surges of new users in several countries after significant virus outbreaks, such as the 2014–16 Ebola outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why is Plague Inc.: The Board Game Popular?

Plague Inc. is popular because it is a unique mix of high strategy and terrifying simulation. The game is challenging and requires players to think critically about how to evolve their pathogen to infect cities across the globe and be the first to wipe out humanity. The game’s popularity has led to the development of a major expansion called Plague Inc.: The Cure, which was released in 2020. The expansion sees players balance social, economic, and global health factors to keep the disease under control while maintaining public trust.

Game Components of Plague Inc.: The Board Game

  • Game Board: Representing the world with continent areas.
  • Country Cards: Each card has slots for player pips and indicates the country’s climate.
  • Trait Cards: Used for evolving deadly traits and symptoms.
  • DNA Track: For scoring points based on controlled countries.
  • Pips: Colored tokens for infection and control.
  • Death Dice: For determining country eliminations.
  • Event Cards: Powerful cards that can significantly impact gameplay.
  • Player Boards: For managing trait cards and tracking progress.

    How To Setup Plague Inc.: The Board Game

    To set up the game, players first select their type of bug (virus or bacteria) and choose a color. Each player draws a starting country card, places it on the appropriate continent area on the board, and puts one of their colored pips in that country. Players also draw an opening hand of five trait cards and place their DNA marker on the DNA track. The game is ready to start once all players have completed these steps.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

    Gameplay Phases:

  • DNA Phase: Score points based on controlled countries.
  • Country Phase: Select or draw a country card to expand infection.
  • Evolution Phase: Purchase trait cards to evolve the disease.
  • Infection Phase: Spread the disease by placing pips on country cards.
  • Death Phase: Attempt to kill countries with filled slots using death dice.

    Game Objective:

    The objective is to be the deadliest super bug by evolving traits, spreading across the world, and killing off the population of entire countries to score the most DNA/Victory points.

    Player Experience

    Playing Plague Inc.: The Board Game is a quick and engaging experience, lasting about 60-90 minutes. The game scales well for 1-5 players, with minimal downtime if players stay focused. The gameplay is thematic yet feels more like solving a puzzle than directly playing as a disease, which adds to its strategic depth. New players can learn the game quickly, while experienced players will appreciate the strategic complexity and replayability.

    Pros

  • Replayability: High replay value due to randomized setup.
  • Streamlined Mechanics: Easy to learn and fast-paced gameplay.
  • Strategic Depth: Allows for multiple strategies and adaptations.
  • Scalability: Works well with 1-5 players.
  • Unique Theme: Engaging theme of infection and world domination.

    Cons

  • Components Quality: Functional but not exceptional; thicker boards and better card art would enhance the experience.
  • Lack of Cure Mechanic: Some players miss a cure mechanic, but event cards suffice as an alternative.

    Personal Thoughts on Plague Inc.: The Board Game

    Plague Inc.: The Board Game is perfect for fans of strategic games and those who enjoy a unique, thematic experience. It is well-suited for game nights with friends or family, offering a fun and competitive environment. While it may not perfectly capture the essence of the video game, it stands on its own as a compelling and engaging tabletop experience. It is particularly recommended for those who enjoy quick, strategic games with high replayability.

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    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl