Pandemic thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at Young V&A
Play Gallery, the Arcade, Case 1

Pandemic

Board Game
2012 (published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Pandemic is one of the best known modern games known as Euro or Designer Games and has been responsible for an increase in the number of co-operative games being produced. Pandemic was invented by Matt Leacock and first published in 2007. The basic idea came from a game that Leacock had invented when he was a teenager. His aim was to make a game that was fun, where players each had specific roles and powers and who would have to work together to win.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 26 parts.

  • Box Lid
  • Box Base
  • Box Insert
  • Game Board
  • Player Cards
  • Player Cards
  • Player Cards
  • Player Cards
  • Player Cards
  • Player Cards
  • Player Cards
  • Player Cards
  • Player Cards
  • Player Cards
  • Player Cards
  • Player Cards
  • Playing Pieces
  • Playing Pieces
  • Playing Pieces
  • Playing Pieces
  • Playing Pieces
  • Playing Pieces
  • Playing Pieces
  • Playing Piece
  • Playing Piece
  • Rule Booklet
TitlePandemic (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Moulded coloured plastic, printed coloured paper and card
Brief description
Boxed board game, Pandemic, made in China by Z-Man Games in 2012
Physical description
Pandemic boxed board game consisting of box lid, base and a folded card insert housing the game components. The box lid is covered in paper, colour printed with text and the image of a medic, scientist, contingency planner and operations expert (roles within the game.) The characters stand in poses that suggest they are ready for action; a plane and helicopter fly above them and behind them is a city skyline. The base is printed with the text 'PANDEMIC' and images and text referring to the game play and contents.

Game components:
Playing board showing major cities
Rule booklet
7 Role cards
48 City cards
6 Epidemic cards
5 Event cards
4 Reference cards
48 Infection cards
7 Pawns
95 Disease cubes
6 Research stations
6 Markers
Dimensions
  • Box lid length: 30.5cm
  • Box lid width: 22cm
  • Box lid depth: 4.2cm
  • Box base length: 30cm
  • Box base width: 21.6cm
  • Box base depth: 4.4cm
  • Box insert length: 29.5cm
  • Box insert width: 20.9cm
  • Box insert depth: 2.6cm
  • Board length: 57.6cm (Note: unfolded)
  • Board width: 41cm (Note: unfolded)
  • Board depth: 2mm (Note: unfolded)
  • Board length: 28.8cm (Note: folded)
  • Board width: 20.5cm (Note: folded)
  • Board depth: 0.9cm (Note: folded)
  • Player cards length: 8.8cm (Note: All player cards: Role, City, Epidemic, Event, Reference and Infection)
  • Width: 6.2cm (Note: All player cards: Role, City, Epidemic, Event, Reference and Infection)
  • Pawns height: 2.5cm
  • Pawns diameter: 1.2cm
  • Disease cubes length: 0.8cm (Note: the length, width and depth is the same for all disease cubes)
  • Research stations height: 2.2cm
  • Research stations length: 1.4cm
  • Research stations width: 1cm
  • Rule booklet height: 29.5cm
  • Rule booklet width: 21cm (Note: closed)
  • Rule booklet width: 41.8cm (Note: open)
Style
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
A GAME BY / MATT LEACOCK / PANDEMIC / INTERNATIONAL / AWARD-WINNING GAME! / USA USA FRANCE AUSTRALIA / CAN YOU SAVE HUMANITY? / Z-MAN / games (Printed onto paper covering the box lid)
Gallery label
  • Pandemic Invented by Matt Leacock and first published in 2007, Pandemic is regarded as a classic co-operative game. Following its release there was a significant increase in the number of new co-operative games produced. The basic idea came from a game that Leacock had invented when he was a teenager. His aim was to make a game that was fun, where players each had specific roles and powers and who would have to work together to win. The mixture of strategy and luck makes the game different every time it is played. Together with Rob Daviau, Leacock designed Pandemic Legacy, published in 2015. This version has a limited number of plays – between 12 and 24 – as parts of the game gradually get destroyed. The play evolves each time and the choices made affect the subsequent games. (14/06/2016)
  • Pandemic Pandemic is a game for two to four players who join forces to defeat the game itself. Each player takes on a different role with specific powers. The aim is to prevent four deadly diseases from destroying the human race. It can be as much fun to lose as to win. Designer: Matt Leacock Maker: Z-Man Games Made: China, 2012 (14/06/2016)
  • Prototype design for Pandemic Matt Leacock tests his game designs rigorously and the process is one of constant change and development. This drawing shows one of the stages of the world map for Pandemic when a couple of the original routes of infection were removed. Designer: Matt Leacock Maker: Matt Leacock Made: USA, (14/06/2016)
Object history
The following text about game play is taken from the rule booklet and box base:

"Do you have what it takes to save humanity? As skilled members of a disease-fighting team, you must keep four deadly diseases at bay while discovering their cures.

You and your teammates will travel across the globe, treating infections while finding resources for cures. You must work as a team, using your individual strengths, to succeed. Pandemic is a cooperative game, all players win or lose together. The clock is ticking as outbreaks and epidemics fuel the spreading plagues.

Can you find all four cures in time? The fate of humanity is in your hands!"
Subjects depicted
Summary
Pandemic is one of the best known modern games known as Euro or Designer Games and has been responsible for an increase in the number of co-operative games being produced. Pandemic was invented by Matt Leacock and first published in 2007. The basic idea came from a game that Leacock had invented when he was a teenager. His aim was to make a game that was fun, where players each had specific roles and powers and who would have to work together to win.
Collection
Accession number
B.968:1 to 26-2015

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Record createdSeptember 16, 2016
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