Scenarios
Compare
Mirror Earth
Step through the mirror into the land of opposites where hot becomes cold and cold becomes hot, rich becomes poor and… You get the idea! Which disease will be the fairest of them all?
Nano-Virus
Out of control, microscopic machine with a built in kill switch
Nipah Virus
Rapid urbanisation in India accelerates human encroachment into animal habitats whilst a new strain of the Nipah Virus spreads fast through fruit bat colonies. Genetic crossover with other species of the Henipavirus genus could enable enhanced cross-species transmission - resulting in a Contagion worthy of Hollywood. Could this be the most deadly Nipah outbreak ever?
Parasite
A complex parasitic organism hiding in plain sight
Pirate Plague
Maritime piracy increases worldwide and poses a major threat to international shipping. Global sea transport and trade is significantly reduced, changing the way that people travel. How will anyone get to Greenland now?
Plague Legacy
Years pass and the world changes. But not here! The year is 2012 and Plague Inc. has just launched. Step back in time and see what things were like in the olden days...
Prion
Slow, subtle and extremely complex pathogen hidden inside the brain
Santa's Little Helper
The world is dark and gloomy. Boring governments worldwide have banned holidays, laughter and celebrations. Humanity has forgotten how to have fun - people dress in grey and spend all their time working. Luckily, the Neurax Worm has teamed up with Santa and is determined to infect the whole world with joy and happiness. Can Santa's little helper make a miracle happen?
Scenarios
Scenarios are a game mode in Plague Inc.
Science Denial
People no longer believe in science. Popular opinion has shifted against objective truth and towards 'alternative facts'. But when a terrifying new plague is unleashed, ginkgo tree extract, healing crystals and snake oil can only do so much. Can the exiled experts save the world?
Shut Down Everything
Recent health scares from SARS, H5N1 and H1N1 raised awareness of how quickly disease can spread. Governments are extremely concerned about the international spread of disease and people around the world are demanding that countries take pre-emptive action. Can the world be infected before countries shut down everything?
Smallpox
Patient Zero is infected with a strain of Variola major that escaped from a lab. Humanity eradicated Smallpox over 30 years ago and has a detailed knowledge of the virus as well as powerful vaccination programmes. Will this be enough to stop one of the deadliest diseases that mankind has ever known...?
Sovereign Default
A failure to extend the debt ceiling in the US triggers a major financial rebalancing. A few countries benefit but most suffer catastrophic damage to their economies with knock on impacts on healthcare and research capability. Can things get any worse?
Swine Flu
Patient Zero is infected with a new mutated strain of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus. A reassortment of the 2009 strain with limited lethality - existing anti-virals are moderately effective against it. However, analysis of its genetic makeup has identified potential sequence similarities to the 1918 'Spanish Flu' strain that killed 5% of the world's population. Will history repeat itself?
Teleportation
Highly advanced technology has created the opportunity to travel through a portal and teleport to other countries. Meanwhile, after playing realistic plague simulator video games, humans have worked out which countries are likely to be the safest in the event of a global pandemic. Will they put this knowledge to good use?
Ultimate Board Games
Make a best-selling board game in this radically different scenario that has nothing to do with disease! Investors have given you two years to design, produce and distribute your very own game - but can you make it a best selling hit? *Insert witty subliminal marketing about Plague Inc: The Board Game here* :P
Unknown Origin
Everyone has a favourite country, unfortunately you don't get to choose it here… Are you feeling lucky?
Virus
Underestimated, infectious, and difficult to trace
Volcanic Ash
Massive volumes of volcanic ash are ejected into the atmosphere from major volcanic eruptions. The majority of flights worldwide are grounded, changing the way that people travel. Does this cloud have a silver lining?
Where Is Everyone?
Almost everyone in the world has mysteriously vanished and nobody knows why. The Rapture? Mass abductions? Spontaneous combustion? Who knows?! Luckily though, the few thousand people left behind are carrying on as normal. How will your outbreak spread when there are so few people left to infect?
Who Cares
Increased popularity of reality TV in rich countries distracts people and stops them caring about disease outbreaks in poorer countries. Reduced funding significantly impacts the surveillance capacity of poor countries and limits their ability to identify and respond to national disease outbreaks. Who cares what happens to poor people?
Xenophobia
Anger over immigration, globalisation and exploitations trigger a rapid increase in hostility towards foreigners worldwide. Countries heavily fortify their borders - significantly reducing the amount of cross border traffic worldwide. On a positive note, border guards get to shout 'You Shall Not Pass'...
Zombies vs. Earth
A melting glacier unleashes a forgotten nightmare. Greenland falls to the zombie hordes overnight! There is no virus, no cure, only the relentless march of the undead. Can they consume the world?