Save Patient Zero

About this board game

Save Patient Zero is a deduction game for 1–7 players that takes about 45 minutes to play. Two competing labs race to identify the three molecules that form an antidote for a newly appearing pathology.

Each lab works from a 5×5 grid containing 25 molecules, while the lab computer, Savvy, secretly knows the three molecules needed. The labs typically share no information, so every tool choice matters as you gather clues and narrow the possibilities.

On each round, both labs submit a tool card to Savvy. The lab that submits first acts first, creating a race as players decide which investigation will provide the most useful information. Available tools include:

• Samply and Mikroskopo, which let Savvy examine selected sample cards and identify whether they contain molecules from the antidote.
• Dedukto, which reveals five molecules that are not part of the antidote to your lab.
• Centrofugo and Scanpad, which test groups of molecules on your worksheet.
• Spionado, which provides information from the opposing lab’s cards.
• Antidote, which lets you make a three-molecule guess.

Each lab has a limited supply of actions, including only two Antidote cards. A failed identification reveals how many selected molecules are correct, but a second failed Antidote attempt causes that lab to lose automatically. Timing, deduction, and efficient use of your tools are essential.

In the two-player version, each lab draws three molecules for the opposing lab to identify, and both players take the role of Savvy for the other lab. Whether coordinating as scientists or competing across hidden information, Save Patient Zero turns laboratory investigation into a tense race to save the patient and humanity.