What are the different versions of Pandemic board game?

The Pandemic board game universe includes its original core game, several standalone versions that offer unique thematic or gameplay twists, and numerous expansions that enhance the original experience.

Core and Standalone Versions of Pandemic

The original cooperative board game, Pandemic, tasks players with working together as disease-fighting specialists to prevent global outbreaks. Beyond this foundational game, there are distinct standalone versions that adapt the core mechanics to new settings and challenges.

These standalone versions include:

• Pandemic: Reign of Cthulhu
  This unique version transports players to the dark and mysterious world of H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos. Instead of diseases, players battle cultists and investigate sinister events to seal gates before ancient evils awaken, all while maintaining their sanity. It offers a re-themed cooperative experience that stands apart from the original Pandemic.

• Pandemic: Hot Zone Europe
  A more compact and streamlined version of Pandemic, Hot Zone Europe focuses on a smaller geographical area and offers a quicker gameplay experience. It distills the core elements of the game, making it ideal for shorter play sessions or as an introduction to the Pandemic system.

Expansions for the Original Pandemic

While not different "versions" of the game, expansions significantly extend the original Pandemic board game, introducing new roles, events, challenges, and ways to play. They require the base Pandemic game to play.

Key expansions include:

• Pandemic: On the Brink Expansion
  This expansion was the first major addition to Pandemic, introducing a fifth "purple" disease, new roles, special events, and the challenging Bio-Terrorist game variant, which allows one player to act as an antagonist.

• Pandemic: In the Lab Expansion
  Focusing on the scientific aspect of disease control, this expansion introduces laboratory research, new game board elements, and rules for developing cures. It also includes new roles, events, and a team-play option for more competitive cooperation.

• Pandemic: State of Emergency Expansion
  This expansion adds three new challenges to the Pandemic experience: the Superbug game, which introduces an incurable disease; Emergency Events, which create unpredictable obstacles; and the Quarantine game option, allowing players to cordon off affected areas. It also includes new roles and events.

Other Games Utilizing the Pandemic System

Beyond the direct Pandemic brand, the acclaimed cooperative game system has been adapted to other popular franchises, offering a similar cooperative experience with distinct themes and mechanics. While these are not called "versions of Pandemic," they leverage its well-regarded game design.

Examples of these include:

• Star Wars: The Clone Wars Board Game
  This game utilizes the Pandemic system to put players in the roles of Jedi Knights battling Separatist forces across the galaxy. Players work together to complete missions and defeat villains in the Star Wars universe.

• World of Warcraft: Wrath of The Lich King Board Game
  Bringing the cooperative gameplay to the world of Azeroth, this game sees players taking on iconic heroes from World of Warcraft to fight back the Scourge and ultimately confront the Lich King in Northrend.

Here's a summary of the various Pandemic game titles and related products: