Pandemic Cooperative Board Game for Ages 8 and up, from Asmodee

I had my reservations about getting a cooperative play game, but my husband had been interested in them and so when a friend who knows we collect board games gave us a gift certificate, this was at the top of the list. It's a little bit complicated, but once you understand the rules, it makes a lot more sense and you have an "aha!" moment. Time flies as you and your fellow players use your game-given abilities to try and cure all of the infections before the game ends and you lose. There are many ways to lose and only one way to win. The instructions are somewhat vague in places, but a quick trip to the boardgamegeek site helped us immensely. If you're wanting something different to play with your friends- or even playing solo and alternating between two characters as more of a puzzle than a game- Pandemic is a great way to break out of the mold. And once you've mastered the basic game, there are expansions with new roles. The best description I can come up with is that it's like Risk, except instead of fighting other players, you're fighting the board together. We've only had the game a week or so, but we love it already. Even our "I hate games" foster daughter loves it and asks to play. We sneak education in there by pointing out different continents and oceans and things as part of the directions on where someone needs to go.

My husband and I love to play this game. It's pretty easy to learn and each game is different. We both love the fact that it's a co-op game. Every game is different so there is lots of replay ability. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. We have played it in big groups and small groups with kids and adults and have always had fun.