Plague & Pestilence

About this board game

Plague & Pestilence is a light medieval card game for 2–6 players, with play lasting about 45 minutes. Players build up and destroy medieval towns across two distinct phases.

During the Prosperity phase, players work to increase their populations. This can involve stealing from other players or using improvements, creating a period of development before the game takes its darker turn.

Then the Death Ship arrives bearing the plague, beginning the Plague phase. Players attempt to kill their opponents by playing war, pestilence, and other deadly attacks.

• Prosperity: Build populations through stealing or improvements.
• Plague: Use war, pestilence, and other attacks against other players.
• Theme: Medieval towns, plague, and the ominous arrival of the Death Ship.

The changing structure gives Plague & Pestilence a clear dramatic arc: first comes the attempt to prosper, followed by the struggle to survive deadly attacks. Its card-based format keeps the game light while setting development against destruction.

The cards feature illustrations reminiscent of medieval woodcuts, including the unmistakable presence of the Grim Reaper. For players looking for a concise card game with a medieval plague theme, Plague & Pestilence brings population building and deadly conflict together in one 1993 release.