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Plague Inc: Evolved

Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Mac, PlayStation 4 • 2016

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Quick resume

Plague Inc: Evolved is a unique mix of high strategy and terrifyingly realistic simulation. Your pathogen has just infected 'Patient Zero' - now you must bring about the end of human history by evolving a deadly, global Plague whilst adapting against everything humanity can do to defend itself.

Global score

94/100

Genres

Casual, Indie, Simulator, Strategy, Tactical, Real Time Strategy (RTS)

Pros

  • High replayability with many scenarios and disease types
  • Strategic and challenging gameplay
  • Community content and scenario editor
  • Multiplayer cooperative and competitive modes
  • Educational and thought-provoking

Cons

  • Some repetitiveness in gameplay
  • Price considered high by some
  • Randomness can frustrate players
  • Limited emotional social interaction
  • Some language and translation issues

Motivations

  • Autonomy
    4

    "Players have freedom to choose disease type, mutation paths, and strategies to infect and kill humanity."

  • Competence
    3

    "Requires strategic thinking and planning to balance infectivity, lethality, and cure development; some randomness involved."

  • Competition
    2

    "Includes multiplayer modes with player vs player and cooperative play, encouraging comparison and competition."

  • Continuation
    4

    "High replayability with many scenarios, disease types, and community content encourages habitual play."

  • Cooperation
    3

    "Cooperative multiplayer mode allows players to work together to infect and destroy humanity."

  • Creativity
    4

    "Players can create custom diseases and scenarios via Steam Workshop and in-game editors."

  • Domination
    1

    "Some competitive multiplayer elements involve dominance, but generally interactions are balanced."

  • Escapism
    3

    "Players use the game as a cathartic escape and distraction from real-world pandemic stress."

  • Expectation
    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and curiosity, not obligation or pressure."

  • Experimenting
    4

    "Encourages trying new strategies, mutations, and scenarios to find effective ways to win."

  • Exploration
    2

    "Exploring different countries and scenarios, but within a fixed world map environment."

  • Expression
    3

    "Allows naming diseases and customizing scenarios, enabling player self-expression."

  • Fantasy
    2

    "Includes fictional diseases like zombies and vampires, blending realistic and fantasy elements."

  • Fellowship
    2

    "Community sharing via workshop and multiplayer fosters a sense of belonging."

  • Growth
    3

    "Players learn disease mechanics, geography, and strategy through gameplay and experimentation."

  • Health
    -5

    "Game is sedentary with no physical activity involved."

  • Idle
    -3

    "Requires focused attention and strategic decision-making during gameplay."

  • Intimacy
    -4

    "Social interactions are limited to multiplayer modes with minimal emotional sharing."

  • Leadership
    1

    "Some leadership in multiplayer cooperative modes, but mostly shared decision-making."

  • Progression
    4

    "Players accumulate DNA points to upgrade and evolve their disease, unlocking new abilities."

  • Relaxation
    1

    "Game can be tense especially at higher difficulties, but also offers moments of flow."

  • Sensation
    1

    "Visuals and sounds are good but not highly stimulating; focus is on strategy."

  • Status
    1

    "Leaderboards and achievements provide some recognition but not a major focus."

  • Story
    1

    "Contains some narrative elements and scenarios but gameplay is mostly context-free."

  • Strategy
    5

    "Core gameplay revolves around strategic planning, resource management, and problem solving."

  • Thrill
    3

    "Higher difficulties and multiplayer modes provide suspense and tension."

  • Value
    3

    "Players perceive good value due to replayability, frequent updates, and community content."

  • Violence
    5

    "Central theme is destruction of humanity through disease, involving death and chaos."

  • Survival
    4

    "Players must avoid failure by managing disease spread and countering cure development."

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    Last update: 06/03/2026