- BGG rank
- BGG #9,099
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Pathogenesis
- 1–4 players
- 30–60 min
- Complexity 2.9/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #14,393
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Pathogenesis (Second Edition)
2019
Rules assistance for Pathogenesis (Second Edition)
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 30–60 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.5/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Pathogenesis (Second Edition)
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Pathogenesis (Second Edition) is a board game released in 2019 for 1–4 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Loren Cunningham and Jamie Cunningham and its main mechanics are Cooperative Game, Team-Based Game, and Open Drafting.
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About the game
Pathogenesis is a deck building game in which players take the role of bacterial pathogens attacking the human body. The game was developed in partnership with scientific illustrator somersault1824. The game is based on 100% real science and the mechanics were created to mimic how real biology works. Avid deck builder players will feel at home playing the game as the mechanic foundation was based on several popular deck builders. The mechanics have evolved and mutated during the creation into a game that is quite its own. The game offers several modes of play including solo play, cooperative, competitive, and team play. No knowledge of science is required to play but it was developed to enhance the learning of the immune system at the college level. Second Edition: The immune system for the 2nd edition of Pathogenesis has been updated. These updates include 4 immune system cards (4 copies of each) that are more consistently damaging than before as well as updated antibody tokens that have an attack value of their own. The adaptive immune system response is now less volatile and even more dangerous than before!
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- WIBAI Games
Questions and answers
Pathogenesis (Second Edition) supports 1–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Pathogenesis (Second Edition) is 30–60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Pathogenesis (Second Edition) for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Pathogenesis (Second Edition) has a complexity rating of 2.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Pathogenesis (Second Edition) belongs to these categories: Card Game, Educational, and Medical. Its main mechanics are Cooperative Game, Team-Based Game, and Open Drafting. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Pathogenesis (Second Edition) are: Loren Cunningham and Jamie Cunningham. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Pathogenesis (Second Edition) as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.