Century: A New World (2019) Board Game

Century: A New World is the third installment in the Century series of board games by designer Emerson Matsuuchi. Released in 2019, this game takes players on a journey to the Age of Exploration during the Renaissance period. With a focus on trading and resource management, Century: A New World offers a fresh take on the series with new gameplay mechanics and strategies.

Game Components of Century: A New World

Game board: Comprised of four main game Locations boards marked A1, B1, C1, and one of three optional boards.

Player boards: Each player has their own board for managing resources and settlers.

Settler meeples: 12 meeples per player, with 6 starting on the player board and 6 in reserve.

Resource cubes: Used for taking actions and purchasing Point cards.

Point cards: Placed along the top of the Location board, each with a point value, special action, and bonus scoring icon.

Bonus tiles: Reward players for collections of symbols or number of Settlers.

Exploration tiles: Added to the bottom of the board, covering areas to be explored during gameplay.

How To Setup Century: A New World

To set up, combine the four main game Locations boards to form a square, adding one of the optional boards. Place Point cards along the top of the Location board, one for each spot. Stack Bonus tiles under each Point card. Add Exploration tiles to the bottom of the board. Each player starts with their own player board, 12 settler meeples, and starting cubes based on turn order.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Worker Placement: Players place settlers on the board to take actions.

Work: Choose a location to place settlers and take the designated action (e.g., collect resources, exchange resources, upgrade resources).

Rest: Retrieve all settlers from the board back to the player board.

Resource Management: Manage resource cubes to purchase Point cards and take actions.

Point Cards: Purchase cards using resource cubes; each card has a point value, special action, and bonus scoring icon.

Bonus Tiles: Collect tiles that reward sets of symbols or number of Settlers.

Exploration: Remove Exploration tiles to activate new areas on the board.

Game End: The game ends when a player acquires their 8th Point card; the player with the most victory points wins.

Player Experience

Century: A New World offers a engaging experience for fans of worker placement games. The game is designed to be quick to learn and set up, with tight and easy-to-follow gameplay. The theme of exploration and resource management is well-executed, making the game visually appealing and immersive. The game caters to 2-4 players and is suitable for players of multiple ages and skill levels.

Pros

Smooth Theme and Gameplay: The game integrates its theme seamlessly with its mechanics.

Challenging Decisions: Players must strategically decide when to work or rest and which actions to take.

Visually Appealing: The period-specific design and artwork enhance the gaming experience.

High Replayability: Variable board setup and diverse Point cards ensure different experiences each game.

Cons

Random Luck: The availability of Point cards and Bonus tiles can be influenced by luck, affecting scoring.

Poor Manufacturing Quality: Some players have reported issues with the printing and manufacture of game pieces, such as meeples being too small.

Personal Thoughts on Century: A New World

This game is ideal for fans of worker placement and resource management games. It offers a balanced blend of strategy and luck, making it appealing to a wide range of players. While it may have some manufacturing issues, the overall design and gameplay mechanics make it a solid addition to any board game collection. Century: A New World is particularly suited for those who enjoyed the previous games in the Century series and are looking for a new challenge with added complexity and depth.

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