If there's one thing we love about board games, it's their ability to tell stories and make us live unique experiences. e-Mission , the new cooperative game by Matt Leacock (yes, the author of Pandemic ) and Matteo Menapace, puts us in front of one of the most current and crucial challenges of our time: climate change. But don't be fooled: despite dealing with a challenging topic, the game manages to be engaging and strategic without being heavy or moralistic.

What is e-Mission?

In e-Mission , 1 to 4 players take on the roles of four macro-regions of the planet (United States, Europe, China and the Global South) with the common goal of reaching the Abatement : the point at which they manage to remove more carbon from the atmosphere than they produce. To do this, they must convert energy production to renewable sources, reduce emissions and reforest the planet.

The main mechanic is based on cards , which are played in one of the five available piles to activate the corresponding actions. But be careful: to make the most of them, certain prerequisites must be met, which makes resource management and team strategy a fundamental element.

An unforgiving cooperative game

As in any good cooperative game, communication and coordination are essential. The game flow is well structured and divided into several phases:

• Local Phase : Players play their cards simultaneously, trying to optimize their moves to produce clean energy and reduce their environmental impact.

• Energy Demand Check : Each player must check whether he can meet the energy needs of his region. If he fails, the population suffers crises.

• Carbon Emissions and Temperature Rise : The carbon produced accumulates in the global thermometer. If the earth's temperature reaches the maximum limit, the game is lost.

• Crisis Resolution : Each round, players face negative events that test their strategy.

The game ends after six rounds , with two possible outcomes: collective victory, if the Culling is achieved , or defeat, if the global thermometer explodes or if one of the regions accumulates too many crises.

Difficulty and replayability

One of the things we appreciated most about e-Mission is the ability to adjust the difficulty based on your experience level. The game includes a table that allows you to customize the challenge by adding more challenging Crisis cards.

For more experienced groups, the game can become a real race against time and against the bad luck that the Crisis deck will bring out at the most inopportune moment. On the other hand, even those less accustomed to cooperatives will find an accessible and clear gameplay, thanks to a well-calibrated learning curve.

Materials and components

From an aesthetic point of view e-Mission defends itself very well. The illustrations of the cards are neat and all different, which helps to make the game visually appealing. The board takes up the right amount of space on the table without being cumbersome, while the tokens are ergonomic and functional.

A detail that we particularly appreciated is the attention to sustainability: the box is plastic-free , made with biodegradable materials, in perfect harmony with the theme of the game.

How does it perform in different gaming configurations?

One of the strengths of e-Mission is its scalability. We tried it in all modes , from solitaire to maximum number of players, and in each case the game proved to be solid.

💡 Alone : ​​The challenge is more managerial, with greater control over the available actions.

💡 In two : the weight of the decisions of both players is felt more.

💡 In three or four : the experience becomes more interactive and dynamic, with a greater need for coordination and dialogue to optimize moves.

Ultimately, the game is best enjoyed in company , but is still enjoyable alone.

Conclusions: Is e-Mission worth it?

Absolutely! If you like cooperative games where every decision counts, e-Mission is a title to have in your collection.

✅ A current and engaging theme , well integrated into the gameplay without being heavy. ✅ Fluid and intuitive mechanics , which make the game smooth after the first round. ✅ High replayability , thanks to the possibility of customizing the difficulty. ✅ Eco-friendly materials , without sacrificing quality.

If you're a fan of games like Pandemic , Spirit Island or The Crew , you'll probably love e-Mission . If you've never tried co-op, this might be a great place to start!

🎯 e-Mission is now available on BoardHouse! 👉 Get it with 10% off your first order !

If you like strategic challenges and games that stimulate teamwork, it's time to put yourself to the test: the planet needs you! 🌎♻️