Which Expansion

Pandemic expansions

Base game: 2–4 players45 minZ-Man Games3 expansions checked
  1. #1 overall

    On the Brink

    Buy this first

    The one to buy first for most groups. Extra roles alone are worth it, and it lets 5 people play.

    Needs: Just the base game

    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.

    Fixes: Base game stops at 4 players, and role variety wears thin. This adds both.

    Expansion2–5 playersAdds more rulesPrice: $40–$60
    DetailsBuy:AmazonAsmodee Store
  2. #2 overall

    In the Lab

    Depends on your group

    For groups who have played Pandemic a lot and want a harder, longer game. Needs On the Brink too.

    Get On the Brink first.

    Needs: On the Brink first

    Adds: A lab board where you collect disease samples and run them through steps to find cures. Also new roles, events, a solo mode and a team mode.

    Fixes: Curing is just handing in five cards in the base game. Here it becomes its own puzzle.

    Expansion1–6 playersAdds more rulesBest for experienced groups
    DetailsBuy:AmazonZ-Man Games
  3. #3 overall

    State of Emergency

    Most groups can skip

    Usually bought last. Only chase it if you love Pandemic and want the Superbug challenge. Z-Man lists it as unavailable.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Five roles and three challenges: animal-borne diseases on extra boards, nasty surprise event cards, and a superbug you can't treat, only vaccinate.

    Fixes: Gives more ways to tune difficulty, including quarantine markers to make it easier.

    Expansion2–4 players
    DetailsBuy:AmazonZ-Man Games

Need the base game?

Buy:AmazonAsmodee StoreMiniature Market

Check before you buy

  • In the Lab needs On the Brink.

Stuck between two?

Pandemic expansions: quick answers

Which Pandemic expansion should I buy first?

On the Brink. The one to buy first for most groups. Extra roles alone are worth it, and it lets 5 people play.

Is On the Brink worth it?

Our verdict: buy this first. 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.

Do I need On the Brink before In the Lab?

Yes. In the Lab needs On the Brink first.

On the Brink or State of Emergency: which first?

We’d buy On the Brink first. See the side-by-side comparison for what each adds and needs.

Other games’ expansion guides

Same publisher

Rankings are our editorial picks, built from the reviews linked on each expansion page. Last checked 2026-09-27.