Pandemic

Matt Leacock designed the definitive cooperative board game in 2008, where 2-4 players work together as CDC specialists to stop four diseases from wiping out humanity. After 2020, playing Pandemic hits differently — the mechanics of outbreak chains, quarantine decisions, and resource allocation feel uncomfortably realistic. The game sold over 5 million copies pre-COVID and another 2 million during lockdowns. It's genuinely stressful, frequently unwinnable, and the only game where you lose together or win together. Legacy versions add permanent consequences across multiple plays.