19+ Board Games Like Pandemic

Looking for the best board games like Pandemic?

In an age where board games offer a respite from digital distractions, Pandemic has emerged as a modern classic, blending strategy and cooperation in a riveting race against time.

But for those who’ve cured the world countless times and seek new terrains and trials, where do you turn next?

In this guide, we’ll navigate through my top picks for the best board games that echo the camaraderie, strategy, and tension inherent to Pandemic.

Whether you’re a seasoned strategist or a newbie looking for a fresh challenge, this list promises adventures aplenty. Dive in and discover your next tabletop obsession!

Board Games Like Pandemic

Forbidden Island offers you a quick-to-play cooperative board game like Pandemic, and it’s made by the same team! Your goal is to capture the 4 treasures on the island before it sinks. Each player gets the unique abilities, enhancing the gameplay and adding variety – and the clock makes it a little more fun.

It’s worth pointing out that the game was designed gorgeously, so it makes for a great gift. It’s a TON of fun, but it does take a full run-through to get the hang of it. The premise of the game is a ton of fun if you like island adventures (I sure do!).

Terraforming Mars isn’t about stopping a disease from spreading and saving a world, instead it’s about expanding human territory onto the red plant. But it’s a fun, cooperative game to play – definitely my favorite solo board game choice.

But it doesn’t have to be a solo choice, you can play it with friends too. While you try to get the most victory points the moves of the people around you will affect how you play. There absolutely IS a learning curve, so make sure that at least one person in your group understand the rules.

Ticket to Ride is a great family-oriented board game about building tracks across the United States – if you’re a fan of trains, this is the board game for you.

It’s a fast-paced, strategic building game that’s great for board game night. What I like most is that it’s easy to learn, and it’s great for the whole family. There are multiple versions of the game, so you can mix it up if you want to go the expansions route.

This game is a lighter game to play for both gamers and non-gamers. That said, even those who like a good strategy game will enjoy it.

If mythical monsters are your thing, then Horrified: Universal Monsters is the game for you.

This is a fun, family-friendly (ages 10 and up) board game, where you and your fellow game mates need to defend the town against monsters like Frankenstein and Dracula. You can let your imagination run wild and become the hero you’ve always dreamed of.

The game has great replay value – a single one takes 60 minutes to play, but you can do it over and over again because the game changes. Plus, the instructions are easy to understand, making it enjoyable for even the least experienced game player.

Grab a copy and add it to your family game night roster or gift it to a friend. This also makes for a great solo board game!

If you want something lighter, cuter but still challenging, Azul is for you.

This is a tile placement game where you become an artisan tasked with creating the most beautiful mosaic ever. This game is VERY easy to learn, but there’s a secret depth to it that takes a little bit of strategy.

It’s a high quality game that does take some time to play, so make sure you set it aside. A big bonus is that at the end of the game you have something beautiful to look at.

Flash Point is a thematic game that’s similar to Pandemic. It’s simple but offers high-stakes gameplay that makes it feel like you’re really trying to save people from a fire.

There are 2 different rule sets and 3 difficulty levels, so no two games will be the same. The set up can take a little bit, but overall it’s a ton of fun. The best part is that even if you don’t have friends that wants to play you can still do it.

It’s worth noting that this game does not scale well to larger groups, you might want to take a look at these 8-player games instead.

Move your knights, build buildings and go crusading to win at this medieval strategy board game. Crusaders: Thy Will Be Done uses a a combination of rondel and mancala mechanisms to make an engaging strategy game.

If historic board game play is your thing, this medieval, high-stakes one is for you. The kids need to be a bit older to understand it, but it can make a good knights-of-the-round-table themed game night.

The Lost Expedition is a game of survival in the Amazon. You need to make the most of your food, health and ammunition, with the goal of making it out alive. This game can be played with solo or with friends and family.

This game is beautifully designed and a ton of fun to play. It’s worth it to note that you don’t want to rush through this game – it takes a while to build the story and really enjoy it. It comes with three mode choices: solo (great for travel!), cooperative and competitive. You can play it however you like!

Dead of Winter is a post-apocalyptic survival game. If you LOVE zombie games, this is for you.

This is a stellar 5-player game, especially if you’re looking for something that has good player interaction. It’s a semi-cooperative worker placement game with zombie that is a TON of serious fun.

While this is a replayable game, there is A LOT to remember – it’s not the simplest pick. Not to mention, there’s also some set-up and clean-up that not everyone is into.

Forbidden Desert is the island version of Forbidden Island, and honestly, it’s just as fun. If you have a thirst for survival, this thrilling adventure is for you.

Players are tasked with uncovering a legendary flying machine buried deep in the ruins of an ancient desert city. You’ll need to coordinate with other players and use all your resources to find it before you perish.

If you like both Pandemic and Forbidden Island, chances are you’ll like this game. However, the experience does change depending on how many players you have.

Dive into the deep abyss with the Nemo’s War board game.

If you fancy Pandemic’s tension, you’ll adore charting Captain Nemo’s adventures in a steampunk-infused 20,000 leagues. The game beautifully captures the essence of Jules Verne’s world, merging naval strategy with the unpredictable might of the sea.

It’s akin to navigating the board game seascape of a Jules Verne novel. Though the intricate components might seem daunting, they are crucial in crafting this underwater narrative.

While there aren’t any pirates in these board game waters, Nemo’s War is still an oceanic good time.

Quirky Circuits invites players to a whimsical world of cooperative programming. Navigate quirky robots through unpredictable scenarios using logic and teamwork.

If you enjoy Pandemic’s collaborative gameplay, Quirky Circuits might pique your interest. Unlike Pandemic’s global crisis, Quirky Circuits focuses on quirky chaos. Instead of disease control, you’ll be wrangling robots, offering a different strategic challenge.

While Pandemic accommodates various player counts, Quirky Circuits is versatile too, adapting its challenges to your group size. Embark on a unique journey of programming and cooperation, exploring the distinctive charm of Quirky Circuits.

Castle Panic transports players into a medieval fortress under siege by monsters. Cooperate to defend your castle’s towers from these marauding foes.

Strategy and teamwork are crucial in both Pandemic and Castle Panic, but the latter emphasizes tower defense over global outbreaks. The game’s dynamic revolves around protecting your stronghold’s perimeter, adding a distinct tactical challenge.

If you relish cooperative gameplay and seek a medieval twist, Castle Panic offers an engaging escapade into fantasy strategy.

Brave the wilderness with Robinson Crusoe Adventures on the Cursed Island. For those enticed by Pandemic’s challenge, this game offers a plunge into island survival where peril lurks at every corner.

Players immerse themselves in the gripping tale of castaways, striving to outwit the island’s treacheries with strategy and resourcefulness. It’s the board game embodiment of a harrowing shipwrecked saga.

While the myriad tokens and cards might seem overwhelming, they’re integral in weaving the rich narrative. Though it lacks Pandemic’s disease-fighting, its intricate co-op mechanics and emergent storytelling make it an island adventure worth embarking on.

Delve into the ocean’s mysteries with The Crew – Mission Deep Sea. For those entranced by cooperative mechanics, this card-based game plunges players into a silent communication challenge beneath the waves.

Tasked with completing deep-sea missions, players must rely on strategy, wit, and unspoken cues. It’s essentially the board game version of a deep-sea exploration, uncovering oceanic wonders.

Despite the seemingly intricate card interactions, they seamlessly interplay to guide your aquatic adventure. Its emphasis on cooperative silent strategy creates an underwater tension that’s truly immersive and rewarding.

Navigate the treacherous wilds in the Ravine board game.

A brilliant choice for those who enjoy Pandemic, Ravine tests survival instincts and teamwork. Stranded after a plane crash, players must band together to endure challenges and secure resources, embodying the raw essence of wilderness survival.

The atmospheric game cards and night phase events ramp up the tension and unpredictability. It’s like the board game rendition of a wilderness survival story, pushing the limits of trust and cooperation.

Pandemic Expansions & Variants

Hot Zone: North America is a standalone version of the Pandemic game. It offers a shorter (30 minutes), travel-friendly game that’s great for those of us that want to take it on the go. Players cooperate “traveling” city-to-city trying to cure diseases.

This game is easy to learn and players love the fact that you can pack it and go. It’s VERY similar to the base game, but it’s quick and easy. However, some warn to stay away from the video instructions cause they get a little complex.

On The Brink adds three new challenges to your Pandemic game, raising the stakes. You’ve found the cures to all 4 pandemic diseases but now they’re all getting stronger and they’re being intentionally spread. What do you do?

This box adds 3 new challenges to your game, giving you more variety. Players report that this expansion is an improvement on the original. It also adds a fifth player options, so if you’ve got more people around the table it’s must have.

Honestly, if you only want to get ONE pandemic expansion, On The Brink is for you.

Pandemic: Legacy Season 2 takes the same gameplay style of Pandemic, but morphs it into a storyline that takes place over a year with each month bringing new challenges. It’s your job to provide some of the few surviving cities with supplies.

This is a standalone follow up to Pandemic: Legacy Season 1, which means you DO NOT need the original game to play it. However, it still has the original cooperative gameplay style, so you will need to be willing to work with those around you.

Players describe Legacy Season 2 as a bolder take on tabletop games.

Pandemic: Rapid Response is a race against time. In this expansion players need to create supplies, fly the plane, and make deliveries to keep people alive. The timer is on and it’s your responsibility to save the world.

This is a great game if you’re looking to expand upon the Pandemic universe, but some players don’t love the high-stress, high-stakes roll style. It’s faster-paced and less strategic than the original Pandemic, but it’s still a lot of fun, especially if you’re trying to save some time.

What is Pandemic?

Pandemic is a game that’s designed to be cooperative. Players need to work together to eradicate diseases before they take over the world.

To be clear: this game was published before 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, if you have an interest in disease control it makes for a fun game to play, especially considering recent history.

This game comes HIGHLY recommended by board game enthusiasts. It can be played from 2 to 4 players, takes about 45 minutes and can be played by persons 8 and older.

Final Thoughts: Board Games Like Pandemic

In the vast sea of board games, finding ones that mirror the thrill of Pandemic can be challenging. While Forbidden Island takes the crown with its eerily similar strategy dynamics, Flash Point brilliantly captures the heroism and lifesaving zest inherent to Pandemic. For those with celestial inclinations, Terraforming Mars elevates cooperative gameplay to interstellar heights. Whether you’re navigating treacherous islands or charting cosmic terrains, these games promise a rollercoaster of emotions and strategic depth, ensuring you’re never short of exhilarating tabletop experiences. Dive in and let the games begin!