Info about Plague Inc: Evolved:

Official game description:
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.
Plague Inc. is so realistic that the CDC even asked the developer to come and speak about the infection models in the game!
“The game creates a compelling world that engages the public on serious public health topics.”
\- Ali S. Khan, CDC
Over 190 million players have been infected by Plague Inc. already. Now, Plague Inc: Evolved combines the original critically acclaimed gameplay with significant, all-new features for PC including multiplayer, user-generated content support, improved graphics and lots more.
*   **10 Different Disease Types** – Master every pathogen; from bacteria to bio-weapons and mind control to zombies, end humanity by any means possible – different diseases will need radically different approaches.
*   **23 Unique Scenarios** – Adapt your strategy; scenarios create further challenges for your pandemic – how will you handle a new strain of Swine Flu, or infect a world in Ice Age?
*   **Hyper-Realistic World** – Strategize in the real world; advanced AI and use of real-world data and events make Plague Inc: Evolved a highly authentic simulation of a world-ending pathogen. Even the CDC likes it!
*   **Competitive Multiplayer** - The world is unlucky enough to be infected with two plagues, but how will you win the battle for genetic dominance against your opponent? Players get all new evolutions, abilities and genes to help them fight for global control and destroy their opponent!
*   **Co-Operative Mode** - Two different diseases team up to infect and destroy the world together but Humanity has new tricks up its sleeve to fight back! Work closely with your partner and use brand-new genes, traits and strategies to smash cure labs all over the world before they eradicate you.
*   **Contagious Content Creator** - Hit the lab and develop your own custom scenarios - creating new plague types, worlds and in-game events. Sophisticated tools support user-generated content to let players bring their deadliest ideas to life and share them on Steam Workshop. With over 10,000 custom scenarios already released - there is always something new to infect!
*   **Blinding Graphics** - Full 3D disease models take you closer to your plague than ever before, city-cams show humanity's struggle at street level, and the body scanner highlights the full effect of your mutations, organ by organ.
*   **Deadly Data** - Geek out with stats and graphs; monitor infection and death levels, track government reactions and cure efforts, then review your plague's success (or failure!) with full game replays.
*   **And much more...** - Including speed runs, Mega-Brutal difficulty and genetic modification... Plus loads of new disease types and scenarios in future (free!) updates.

Release date: Feb 18, 2016

Categories: Simulation, Strategy, Real-time Strategy, Multiplayer, Cooperative Multiplayer, Competitive Multiplayer, Customization, Educational Simulation

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 20; verdict: Mostly Fair; summary: The game is generally praised for its monetization restraint, with most content being free and only one paid DLC that is considered good value. However, there are complaints about the pricing of DLCs, with some users feeling that they are overpriced or not worth the cost. Additionally, some users are frustrated that certain achievements and content are locked behind DLC paywalls. Overall, the game is seen as a good value, especially when compared to its mobile version where most features are behind paywalls.
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Improvement; summary: The game heavily relies on external resources such as wikis and guides for players to understand complex mechanics and strategies. This dependency detracts from the in-game experience, as users often need to consult multiple external sources to progress, especially on higher difficulties. Additionally, the game is criticized for feeling like a spreadsheet simulator and lacking sufficient in-game instructions.
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game has a native Linux build with minor issues related to screen resolution. Overall, users report no technical issues with Proton on Linux, indicating good compatibility.
- Steam Deck: score 55; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals several key issues with the Steam Deck experience for this game. Major themes include problems with user interface and navigation, technical compatibility issues, significant gameplay bugs, and battery drain. These issues collectively contribute to a less than optimal user experience, requiring users to engage in additional tinkering to enjoy the game.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The game generally performs well across most hardware configurations, with positive feedback from users on lower-end systems and some latency issues reported on higher-end setups.
  - Sample size: 212 (3% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM / <16GB RAM (positive, 89 reports): Users report great performance and smooth gameplay.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (positive, 17 reports): Game runs well but with some mouse latency issues.
  - Caveats: 212 of 7220 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $4.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows a range of opinions on the game's pricing. Many users suggest that the game is worth buying, especially when it is on sale. Some users mention specific price points, such as $4 USD and $15 USD, indicating that the game is perceived as a good value at these prices. The general sentiment is that while the game is enjoyable and offers good content, it is often seen as more valuable when purchased at a discounted price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 500.0h
  - Story completion: N/A
  - Session length: 1.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides several key insights into the playtime metrics for Plague Inc: Evolved. The first quote suggests that the game can be played casually to kill time, implying shorter session lengths. The second quote indicates a high potential for total playtime, suggesting significant content depth. The third quote provides a specific example of playtime, which can be used to estimate typical playtime hours. The fourth quote hints at the game's replayability and cooperative play aspects, which can influence session length and overall playtime.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game initially offers engaging and strategic gameplay, but it can become repetitive after several runs. Multiplayer modes and various scenarios add replay value, but the steep learning curve and occasional lack of transparency in mechanics can be frustrating.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Understanding core strategies and experimenting with different plague types and scenarios.
  - Time to anchor: 1h 0m
  - Friction: Repetitive gameplay after multiple runs; Steep learning curve; Lack of transparency in mechanics; Occasional reliance on luck
  - Unlock drivers: Experimenting with different plague types; Exploring various scenarios and game modes; Engaging in multiplayer modes
  - Conditions: Playing with friends in multiplayer; Trying out different strategies and plague types; Exploring user-generated content and scenarios; Adjusting to the game's learning curve
- Player Archetypes:
  - Casual Strategist (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of strategy games with a casual approach.
    - Playstyle: Plays for short sessions, enjoys the strategy but finds repetition and some mechanics frustrating.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Strategy gamer; Casual player
    - Reference games: ARK Survival Evolved; Dark Souls
  - Multiplayer Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of multiplayer and varied gameplay modes.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys both solo and multiplayer modes, appreciates the depth and variety of scenarios.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Multiplayer fan; Strategy enthusiast
    - Reference games: Plague Inc: The Cure
  - Content Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Exploration of varied content and scenarios.
    - Playstyle: Enjoys exploring different disease types and scenarios, appreciates the depth and variety of content.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Content enthusiast; Explorer
    - Reference games: Plague Inc: The Cure; ARK Survival Evolved


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Fun and engaging experience (weight 0.44): The game is widely regarded as fun and entertaining. Players find it enjoyable and engaging, with many noting its chaotic and addictive nature.
- Strategic and challenging gameplay (weight 0.38): The game is noted for its strategic depth and challenging gameplay. Players find it complex and engaging, requiring thoughtful strategies to succeed.
- Positive overall reception (weight 0.35): Players generally have a very positive view of the game, describing it as good, great, fun, and enjoyable. Many recommend it and appreciate its design and gameplay.
- Variety in pathogens and gameplay (weight 0.32): The game offers a wide variety of pathogens, diseases, and scenarios. Players appreciate the unique traits and characteristics of different pathogens, as well as the ability to create custom pathogens.
- Detailed and realistic simulation (weight 0.23): The game is praised for its detailed and high-quality simulation. Players find the epidemiological model realistic and educational.
- Unique and original concept (weight 0.18): The game is praised for its unique and original gameplay and style. Players find the concept interesting and captivating.
- Worth the price (weight 0.17): Many players feel the game is worth the money, especially when purchased on sale. They consider it a good value for the price.
- Multiple game modes (weight 0.15): Players appreciate the variety of multiplayer modes, including cooperative and competitive options. The game offers different modes and special features.
- Decent graphics (weight 0.14): The game's graphics are generally well-received, with players describing them as decent, nice, and improved.
- Minor bugs (weight 0.12): The game is noted for having no major bugs, with only minor bugs or glitches reported by players.

Common complaints:
- Gameplay becomes repetitive (weight 0.36): Many players find the gameplay loop monotonous and boring after a certain number of hours, typically ranging from 5 to 60 hours.
- Greenland scenario difficulties (weight 0.24): Players report significant issues with the Greenland scenario, including difficulties in infecting Greenland and problems with ports closing frequently.
- High price concerns (weight 0.14): Several players believe the game is overpriced and not worth the cost, which ranges from $14 to $22.
- Cure development speed (weight 0.12): The speed at which scientists find and deploy a cure is considered unrealistic and too fast by many players.
- Initial difficulty (weight 0.1): The game is noted to be hard at the beginning, presenting a steep learning curve.
- Lack of content and interaction (weight 0.09): The game is criticized for lacking significant content and not being very interactive or visually appealing.
- Cure mode dissatisfaction (weight 0.09): The Cure mode, especially as a DLC, is considered not fun, less interesting, and more tedious.
- Lack of improvements over mobile (weight 0.09): Players feel there are few significant improvements or updates compared to the mobile version of the game.
- DLC pricing issues (weight 0.06): Players express dissatisfaction with the pricing of DLCs, suggesting they should be free.
- Tedious game modes (weight 0.06): Certain game modes like ape, vampire, or zombie modes are found to be tedious due to managing character positions on the map.
- Difficulty with certain plagues (weight 0.06): Some plagues are slow and difficult, but players manage with the help of game guides.
- Gene farming is tedious (weight 0.06): Farming and gathering genes is considered tiring and time-consuming.
- Confusing point system (weight 0.06): The DNA points system is found to be confusing by some players.
- Lack of surprise (weight 0.06): The element of surprise diminishes once players master the game mechanics.
- Luck-based gameplay (weight 0.06): The game involves a fair bit of luck, which can affect the overall experience.
- Frustrating difficulty (weight 0.06): The game's difficulty level is seen as frustrating by some players.
- Mega-brutal mode issues (weight 0.06): The Mega-brutal mode is criticized for feeling half-baked and more reliant on luck than skill.
- Points stop spawning (weight 0.06): Players report issues with points stopping to spawn or accumulate during gameplay.
- Hidden mechanics not explained (weight 0.06): Some game mechanics are not well explained, leading to confusion.
- Fungus weakness (weight 0.05): The Fungus plague is considered weak and players often get stuck on it.
- Similar viruses (weight 0.05): Most viruses in the game are seen as complicated and similar to each other.
- Annoying popups (weight 0.05): The game has annoying and repetitive news popups that disrupt the gameplay experience.
- Grind level (weight 0.05): The game involves a significant amount of grind, which can be tedious.
- UI issues (weight 0.05): Players report trouble with the UI, including specific bugs.

Gameplay feedback:
- Variety of pathogens and strategies (weight 0.56): The game offers a wide range of pathogen types, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and biological weapons, each with unique characteristics and requiring different strategies. Players can create, evolve, and spread these pathogens, adding depth and variety to the gameplay.
- Strategic gameplay elements (weight 0.44): The game emphasizes strategic planning and decision-making. Players must consider location-based strategies, resource allocation, and various other factors to succeed.
- Infection simulation and cure modes (weight 0.31): The core gameplay involves simulating the spread of infections and managing symptoms and mutations. Players can experience both infection and cure modes, adding complexity to the game.
- Multiplayer and cooperative modes (weight 0.23): The game features various multiplayer modes, including cooperative and ranked multiplayer, allowing for both competition and cooperation among players.
- Various difficulty levels (weight 0.23): The game offers different difficulty levels, including Brutal and Mega-Brutal modes, catering to both casual and hardcore players.
- Scenario creation and customization (weight 0.18): The game features a scenario creator, allowing players to make their own scenarios and customize their gameplay experience.
- Virus creation and evolution (weight 0.16): Players can create and evolve viruses, adding a layer of customization and strategic depth to the gameplay.
- Epidemiological modeling and education (weight 0.15): The game includes detailed epidemiological models and educational aspects, allowing players to learn about the spread and management of diseases.
- Global infection mechanics (weight 0.15): Players can infect the world, with countries reacting by shutting borders and seeking cures. Greenland is noted as a particularly challenging area to infect.
- Daily outbreaks and special plagues (weight 0.1): The game features daily new plagues and special plague events, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging.
- Scenario-specific strategies and completion (weight 0.09): The game offers a variety of scenarios, each requiring specific strategies to complete, enhancing replayability.
- World map and global tracking (weight 0.09): Players can track the global spread of diseases using a world map, adding a strategic layer to the gameplay.
- Disease progression and unlocking (weight 0.09): Players can experience disease symptom progression and regression mechanics, as well as unlocking new disease types as they progress.
- Educational insights into diseases (weight 0.08): The game provides educational insights into disease behavior and discovery, making it both entertaining and informative.
- Symptoms and upgrades management (weight 0.08): Players can manage and upgrade symptoms, adding a layer of strategic depth to the gameplay.

Performance notes:
- Optimized for low-end systems (weight 0.33): The game is highly praised for its optimization, running smoothly even on low-end hardware such as Pentium processors, old mobile phones, and other basic devices.
- High performance on advanced systems (weight 0.09): The game performs exceptionally well on high-end systems, including 8K displays and powerful CPUs and GPUs, making it versatile across a wide range of hardware.
- Mouse lag and cursor issues (weight 0.07): There are reports of mouse lag, latency, and issues with cursor speed and visibility, which can affect the gameplay experience on PC.
- Customizable graphics settings (weight 0.04): The game offers a variety of graphics settings, allowing players to toggle resolution, FPS, and effects to suit their preferences and system capabilities.
- Screen resolution issues (weight 0.04): Some players have reported issues with screen resolution, indicating that there might be some compatibility problems with certain displays.
- Steam Deck compatibility issues (weight 0.03): Some players have experienced compatibility issues when trying to run the game on Steam Deck.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended game (weight 0.35): The game comes highly recommended by many players, who praise its enjoyable gameplay and custom scenarios.
- Wait for sale (weight 0.26): Many players suggest waiting for a discount or sale before purchasing the game to get better value for money.
- Strategy game recommendation (weight 0.24): The game is highly recommended for fans of strategy games, including those who enjoy strategic thinking and progressive challenges.
- DLC recommendations (weight 0.09): Players recommend buying all DLCs, including the new alien DLC and the Cure DLC for a different experience.
- Avoid for achievement hunting (weight 0.08): Achievement hunters are advised to avoid the game as it may not be suitable for fully completing achievements.
- PC/console over mobile (weight 0.07): Players recommend the PC or console version of the game over the mobile version for a better experience.
- Suitable for various ages (weight 0.06): The game is recommended for various age groups, including children from 3 years old.
- Relaxation and distraction (weight 0.06): The game is suggested for relaxation and as a distraction, allowing players to become a mad scientist.
- Recommended despite style (weight 0.06): The game is recommended despite its specific style, which might not appeal to everyone.
- Quick and enjoyable (weight 0.04): The game is recommended for those looking for a quick and enjoyable gaming experience.
- Base game content (weight 0.04): The base game is noted to have plenty of content before considering additional DLCs.
- Solo time-killer (weight 0.04): The game is ideal as a solo time-killer, especially for fans of strategy and dark humor.
- Speedrun mode recommendation (weight 0.04): Highly recommended for those interested in the main game and Speedrun modes.
- Imagination and curiosity (weight 0.04): Recommended for players with vivid imagination and an inquisitive nature.
- Multiplayer mode suggestion (weight 0.04): There is a suggestion for adding a multiplayer mode to the game.
- New disease types anticipated (weight 0.04): Players are looking forward to new disease types being added to the game.
- TV screen suggestion (weight 0.03): Suggestion to add a small TV screen in the top-left corner for news scenes.
- Political commentary (weight 0.03): Some players recommend the game based on external political factors, such as it being banned in certain countries.

Other player notes:
- Cross-platform availability (weight 0.04): The game is available on multiple platforms, making it accessible to a wider audience.
- DLC content (weight 0.04): The game offers downloadable content, providing additional gameplay and features.
- Music enhances immersion (weight 0.03): Players recommend using specific music to enhance the immersive experience of the game.

Emotions:
- Enjoyment (weight 0.2): Players enjoy the strategic depth and variety of pathogens, as well as the different game modes and the unique concept of destroying the world. The cooperative and competitive gameplay, along with the fun of infecting the world using different diseases, adds to the enjoyment.
- Frustration (weight 0.13): Players are frustrated by specific scenarios like Greenland and Madagascar, as well as game mechanics that are obscure or tedious. Issues with achievements, bugs, and the difficulty of certain modes also contribute to this frustration.
- Excitement (weight 0.1): The unique game concept and engaging gameplay mechanics generate excitement among players. Anticipation for future updates, new DLCs, and the variety of viruses and diseases add to the excitement.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.08): Players feel satisfied with the strategic depth and overall quality of the game. Completing scenarios, achieving goals, and the balance between accessibility and strategy contribute to this satisfaction.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.08): Many players feel nostalgic due to childhood memories associated with the game. The longevity and continued relevance of the game, as well as personal anecdotes and experiences, evoke a sense of nostalgia.
- Joy (weight 0.06): Players experience joy from the extensive gameplay, different modes, and the ability to name diseases. The game's depth, variety, and the fun of playing with friends contribute to this joy.
- Amusement (weight 0.05): The game's humorous aspects, such as naming diseases with funny names and funny scenarios, amuse players. The entertaining scenarios and creative disease names add to the amusement.
- Disappointment (weight 0.03): Players feel disappointed due to the inability to create specific types of viruses and the lack of updates and variety. Poor game balance and limited customization features also contribute to this disappointment.
- Anger (weight 0.03): Players are angry about the game's issues, treatment of the community, and the DNA points system. The need for new DLC to achieve every achievement and certain game mechanics also contribute to this anger.
- Love (weight 0.02): Players love the game due to its beauty and the special place it holds in their hearts. The game's realism, random events, and mutations are also loved by players.
- Happy (weight 0.02): Players are happy with the game's price, entertainment value, and lack of bugs. The game's mechanics, regions, and unique experience bring happiness to players.
- Praise (weight 0.02): Players praise the game's strategic depth, variety of virus types, and scenarios. The game's longevity, educational value, and customization options are also praised.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Players are enthusiastic about the ability to create custom pathogens and play custom scenarios. The detailed description of game mechanics and personal enjoyment adds to this enthusiasm.
- Addiction (weight 0.01): The game's engaging and strategic gameplay loop makes it addictive for players. The addictive nature of the game keeps players hooked.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Players feel bored due to the game's repetitiveness and lack of variations. The game becomes boring after a certain amount of time, contributing to this boredom.
- Relaxation (weight 0.01): The meditative and strategic gameplay provides a relaxing experience for players. The chill nature of the game adds to this relaxation.
- Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the game's uniqueness, longevity, and low PC requirements. The game's depth and educational value are also appreciated.
- Gratitude (weight 0.01): Players are grateful to the developers for the game's longevity and community. Helpful guides and the ability to play the game before health conditions worsen also evoke gratitude.
- Positive (weight 0.01): Players have an overall positive sentiment due to the variety of game modes and adaptable skills. The game's logical mechanics and high replayability contribute to this positivity.
- Criticism (weight 0.01): Players criticize the limited access to disease types and the lack of significant updates or improvements. Issues with achievements and gameplay bugs are also criticized.}