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Play Overview
Plague Inc. (2012) is an apocalyptic strategy simulation where you create and evolve a plague to wipe out humanity. Play involves choosing the type of disease and the location of the first infection, then strategically upgrading its symptoms and lethality to kill all humans before doctors can develop a cure. It's unusual for the morbid goal, and the obvious (though exaggerated) parallels to real-world pandemics.
You start by choosing your pathogen, such as bacteria, virus, fungus, or even a zombie apocalypse, and select the country of patient zero. These decisions are crucial, as they steer how best to upgrade its veracity (new symptoms, transmission methods and so on). For example, if you choose to spread via rats, you should consider the population density and pest control of your starting country. From there, you watch as the infection spreads globally. Warmer and more connected countries are infected the quickest, with remote islands more resistant.
As you progress, doctors begin to take notice, depending on how contagious or lethal your plague is and start developing a cure. Upgrading your disease becomes more important than ever, as mutations and symptom changes can slow their progress. With practice, you develop effective strategies like keeping your disease non-lethal until the entire population is infected, then suddenly making it deadly with multiple upgrades at once.
The result is a macabre simulation where strategic decision-making is key to success. Watching your plague sweep across the globe and bring humanity to the brink offers a strangely compelling experience that’s hard to forget.
Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Plague Inc. 2 weeks ago. It was re-examined by Jake Kendall and updated 13 days ago.
You start by choosing your pathogen, such as bacteria, virus, fungus, or even a zombie apocalypse, and select the country of patient zero. These decisions are crucial, as they steer how best to upgrade its veracity (new symptoms, transmission methods and so on). For example, if you choose to spread via rats, you should consider the population density and pest control of your starting country. From there, you watch as the infection spreads globally. Warmer and more connected countries are infected the quickest, with remote islands more resistant.
As you progress, doctors begin to take notice, depending on how contagious or lethal your plague is and start developing a cure. Upgrading your disease becomes more important than ever, as mutations and symptom changes can slow their progress. With practice, you develop effective strategies like keeping your disease non-lethal until the entire population is infected, then suddenly making it deadly with multiple upgrades at once.
The result is a macabre simulation where strategic decision-making is key to success. Watching your plague sweep across the globe and bring humanity to the brink offers a strangely compelling experience that’s hard to forget.
Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Plague Inc. 2 weeks ago. It was re-examined by Jake Kendall and updated 13 days ago.
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Play Style
This is a Simulation and Strategy game with Narrative elements. You can play this by yourself or as a 2-player online game. You can play cooperatively, where each player controls a different plague, and the humans have better protective measures. Alternatively, you can play against each other, with each plague competing for domination. Multiplayer is not available for mobile versions of this game.
You can play this game in the following styles:
Duration
Play Time: It takes between 10 minutes and half an hour to play a round of this game. To beat the game with every type of pathogen, it could take between five and ten hours. If you want to see everything, it could take over 80 hours.
Benefits
Age Ratings
Content Rating
Users Interact: The game enables players to interact and communicate with each other, so may expose players to language usually associated with older rated games.
Despite the dark themes, there are no disturbing visuals, although you do unlock symptoms such as nausea, diarrhoea, skin lesions, worms, open wounds and more that have unpleasant descriptions.
Skill Level
11+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Still, it’s important for parents and guardians to ensure they understand in-game purchases and have spending limits set-up. Reading is required to understand symptoms and upgrades, and make the best strategic decisions. Resilience is important too, as its easy to fail if you don't have enough practice.
Account Rating
- You need be 18-years-old to to subscribe to Xbox Live Gold for online play, but can then configure family accounts for younger players to play online with Xbox One.
- You need be 18-years-old to subscribe to Nintendo Online, but can then create accounts for children of any age to play online with Nintendo Switch.
- You need be 18-years-old to subscribe to PlayStation Plus for online play, but can create sub-accounts for younger players of 7-years or older to play online with PlayStation 4.
Costs
Plague Inc. usually costs £0 to £12.79.
This game is free to play, but there are other costs associated with this game:
The mobile version of the game does not feature the multiplayer mode. You can obtain new types of plagues through in-app purchases.
It's important to set up your accounts and devices appropriately. More information is on our Financial Resources page.
Plague Inc.
 | Xbox One | £11.99 | – | – |
 | Switch | £11.99 | – | – |
 | PC | £12.79 | – | – |
| Mac | £12.79 | – | – |
 | PS4 | £11.99 | – | – |
 | Android | Free | – | – |
 | iOS | £0.99 | – | – |
- In-Game Purchases: Additional in-game purchases are offered for items that enhance the experience.
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You need a subscription to play online:
- You need to purchase a Nintendo Online subscription to play online with Nintendo Switch.
- You need to purchase a PlayStation Plus subscription to play online with PlayStation 4.
- You need to purchase a Xbox Live Gold subscription to play online with Xbox One.
The mobile version of the game does not feature the multiplayer mode. You can obtain new types of plagues through in-app purchases.
It's important to set up your accounts and devices appropriately. More information is on our Financial Resources page.
Game Details
Release Date: 26/05/2012, updated in 2016
Out Now: Android, Mac, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One and iOS
Skill Rating: 11+ year-olds
Players: 1 (2 online)
Genres: Simulation, Strategy and Narrative
Accessibility: 0 features documented (Tweet Developer )
Components: 2D Overhead
Developer: Ndemic Creations (@NdemicCreations)
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Written by parents for parents, the database complements the in-depth discussion about video game addiction, violence, spending and online safety in the Taming Gaming book. We are an editorially independent, free resource without adverts that is supported by partnerships. |
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