Bad Medicine

About this board game

Bad Medicine is a pharmaceutical-themed party game for 3–8 players, with games lasting about 30 minutes. Each round, rival companies create a new drug to cure a featured malady, then compete to make the most convincing pitch.

Every card combines part of a drug name, part of a description, and a side effect. One card is placed in the middle of the table, and its side effect becomes the malady to cure. Players must assemble a product and advertisement while making any unexpected effects sound less serious than they may be.

• 3–4 players: Each player receives seven cards, choosing three for the drug name and two for the description.
• 5–8 players: Players form teams. One teammate selects three name cards, two description cards, and one side-effect card, then passes them face-down to the teammate making the pitch.
• Pitching: In the smaller game, other players pass a card to the current pitcher, who chooses one side effect to incorporate and explain away.
• Voting: Everyone votes for a favorite drug after all pitches are complete.

In a 3–4 player game, the player whose offered side effect is selected scores a point. Players also score for receiving votes, while teams rotate each round in the larger game.

With its deliberately disconnected formulation and marketing roles, Bad Medicine creates surprising pitches as players discover what their own company’s drug actually does. After four rounds, the player with the most points wins.