Designer: James Vaughan (Plague Inc.: The Board Game)

Artist: Collette Tarbuck (Plague Inc.: The Board Game)

Publisher: Ndemic Creations (Plague Inc.: The Board Game)

Genre/Mechanisms: area control, hand management, route/network building, simulation, take that, tile placement, worker placement

Funding Status: At the time of this posting, Plague Inc.: Armageddon Expansion is already fully-funded.  In fact, pledges currently total more than 10x the initial funding goal.

Player Count: 1-5

Solo Mode: yes

Complexity: medium-light

Risk: medium-low

What It’s About: This first major expansion for Plague Inc.: The Board game includes new disease types, a new genetic modification mechanic, support for an extra player, a new event, a new trait, and new end game scoring bonuses. Plague Inc.: The Board Game itself is a reverse Pandemic of sorts where players try to spread their disease across the globe.

How It Works:  Gameplay proceeds over 5 phases. In the DNA phase, players resolve area control and gain points. In the Country phase, players either place a new country, or trade it in to draw a new hand of Trait cards. In the Evolution phase, players use points to evolve Trait cards. In the Infection phase, players infect cities in a bid to take over countries. In the Death phase, players try to kill Countries they control that are also fully infected. After the last Country card is placed or discarded, the end-game is triggered when any player has no tokens left on the World Board and their Plague is eradicated, or when a player is unable to move. Players then score spent DNA Points, DNA Points from their Evolved Traits, and end game bonuses.

Comparisons: Plague Inc. is sort of a reverse-Pandemic crossed with Evolution. Instead of trying to cure a world-wide plague, you’re trying to spread the most virulent disease you can create and mutate.

What Should I Pledge?:
$25 Armageddon Standard Pledge: includes the new Armageddon Expansion, all stretch goals, and a Repeat Infection pack.
$55 Armageddon Newcomer Pledge: the Standard Pledge plus a copy of the base game.
$60 Armageddon Enthusiast Pledge: the Standard Pledge plus the Collector Edition Upgrade Pack, a Storage Pack, and a Digital Disease Pack (this pledge level does not include a copy of the base game).
$90 Total Armageddon Pledge: the Enthusiast Pledge plus a copy of the base game.

Add-Ons:
None.

KS Exclusives:
The Repeat Infection Pack, Collector Edition Upgrade Pack, and Storage Pack are all Kickstarter exclusive.

All-In Total: In the continental U.S., you’re looking at $90 for the Total Armageddon Pledge and $8 in shipping for a total of $98.

Plague Inc.: Armageddon Expansion completes its Kickstarter on Monday, May 13th and tentatively ships in November 2019.