This is the 7 Wonders vs Pandemic game comparison showdown. These two games are not even close to each other in any way shape or form. They only thing they have in common is they are both triple A, triple platinum, all-stars. 7 Wonders is a secret draft game where are you are pulling cards from a depleting stack to build up your civilization and a wonder of the world in the ancient times of Greek gods. Pandemic is a cooperative game about working together to eradicate a virus before it pops up too much to destroy everything, like whack-a-mole. We dive deep into both. Learn a little about the games then check out our 7 Wonders vs Pandemic notes and final verdict.
ABOUT THE GAMES
About 7 Wonders (2010): This is one of the best drafting games out there. Over three eras (rounds), players pass around cards and take one from a stack turn after turn to take actions that help either build up your empire and resources or help construct your specialized wonder of the world. Collecting the right sets or making the right investments get you victory points that will help you win by the end.
FOR MORE: 7 Wonders Page | How To Play 7 Wonders | 7 Wonders Review | Games Like 7 Wonders | Buy 7 Wonders on Amazon
About Pandemic (2008): Several virulent diseases have broken out simultaneously all over the world! The players are disease-fighting specialists whose mission is to treat disease hotspots while researching cures for each of four plagues before they get out of hand. On each turn, a player can use up to four actions to travel between cities, treat infected populaces, discover a cure, or build a research station. You need to stop if before it is too late.
FOR MORE: Pandemic Page | How To Play Pandemic | Pandemic Review | Games Like Pandemic | Buy Pandemic on Amazon
7 WONDERS VS PANDEMIC ANALYSIS
Theme: Big differences in theme for 7 Wonders vs Pandemic. 7 Wonders is set in the times of ancient civilization and the time of the great wonders like the Pyramids and Mount Olympus. Pandemic is set in present day in the real world and is all about modern technology and travel to work with a team of specialist to destroy an intelligent virus. Probably the most different two games could possibly be.
Gameplay: Also very different, to start 7 Wonders is a competitive team of 1 game and Pandemic is a cooperative game where it is all or none. 7 Wonders has you thinking three turns ahead and always with many roads of victory in mind. Pandemic has you act fast in the face of crazy, ever changing decisions with the puzzle of efficiency. Two completely different mindsets and impossible to say who is between in 7 Wonders vs Pandemic.
Mechanics: 7 Wonders is a secret draft game, so you need a bigger group of people and you will pass stacks of cards around a circle, taking one at a time, to build up your civ in a way that will generate resources, points and other things. You are driving towards the largest victory point total. In Pandemic, you either win by everyone destroying the virus worldwide or you all lose if it destroys you. Every character has a unique ability and the game is all about you working together to synergistically make the moves that will do the most harm to stop the spread.
Time Commitment: In 7 Wonders vs Pandemic, the quickness crown invariably goes to 7 Wonders. This game is built to be quick and it is done well. Because it is a draft game, player actions happen all at once. Pandemic is pretty much the complete opposite with actions happening one at a time, rounds are long, and you need to accomplish much. You should still be under an hour on both, but Pandemic can get out of control if there are lots of pauses.
Player Count: Pandemic goes 2 – 4 and 7 Wonders is for 3 – 7. The thing that both have in common is that the more players the better.
Cost: Both of these games are iconic classics that have been out there for awhile with many expansions while still being readily in print and available. What this all adds up to is a solid price point. As far as 7 Wonders vs Pandemic goes, you cannot go wrong with either.
VERDICT
Verdict For the Shelf: In the battle of 7 Wonders vs Pandemic, the verdict is 7 Wonders (50% of the time) and Pandemic (50% of the time). We have said games are too different to judge against one another before and that has never been truer about any pairing before. Even cooperative versus not cooperative is a huge change that is so preference driven. And the drastic differences do not stop there. Both of these games are on the A+ list which is why we are here. 7 Wonders is considered to be a pioneer in the drafting world and Pandemic is considered to be a pioneer in the co-op field. You can do no wrong, but know yourself before doing anything drastic.
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