Pandemic expansions
On the Brink vs State of Emergency
| Question | On the Brink | State of Emergency |
|---|---|---|
| Our label | Buy this first | Most groups can skip |
| Buy order | #1 for Pandemic | #3 for Pandemic |
| What it adds | New roles and events, room for a 5th player, and three optional challenges: a nastier disease, a fifth disease, and a secret Bio-Terrorist player. | Five roles and three challenges: animal-borne diseases on extra boards, nasty surprise event cards, and a superbug you can't treat, only vaccinate. |
| What it fixes | Base game stops at 4 players, and role variety wears thin. This adds both. | Gives more ways to tune difficulty, including quarantine markers to make it easier. |
| Type | Expansion | Expansion |
| Players | 2–5 players | 2–4 players |
| Rules load | Adds more rules | — |
| Best for | — | — |
| What you need | Just the base game | Just the base game |
| Price guide | $40–$60 | — |
| More | On the Brink details | State of Emergency details |