Century: Eastern Wonders (2018) Board Game

Century: Eastern Wonders is the second installment in the Century series, following Century: Spice Road. Designed by Emerson Matsuuchi and published by Plan B Games in 2018, this game takes players on a nautical adventure in the 15th century, where they will trade goods, build trading posts, and navigate the seas to fulfill contracts and earn points.

Game Components of Century: Eastern Wonders

Game board featuring the Spice Islands

Market tiles for building outposts

Spice cubes (ginger, cardamom, etc.)

Merchant ships

Outpost tokens

Victory point tokens

Player boards

Trade cards

How To Setup Century: Eastern Wonders

To set up the game, players start by placing the game board in the middle of the playing area. Each player selects a merchant ship and places it on the starting port. The market tiles are shuffled and arranged according to the game’s instructions. Players receive a starting hand of trade cards and a set of spice cubes. The outpost tokens and victory point tokens are placed within reach of all players.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Player Movement: Players can move one tile per turn for free, but subsequent tiles cost a cube of spice.

Spice Collection: Players harvest spices when they land on specific tiles.

Outpost Building: Players build outposts on market tiles to perform trade actions.

Trade Actions: Converting combinations of spices into more valuable combinations.

Economic Success: The goal is to collect and trade spices efficiently to achieve economic success.

Game End: The game ends when all victory point tokens are claimed or when a player’s cargo hold is full. The player with the most victory points wins.

Player Experience

In **Century: Eastern Wonders**, players take on the roles of spice traders during the age of exploration. The game requires strategic planning, optimizing movements and spice conversions to build complementary trade routes. The spatial movement mechanism adds a layer of complexity, making each decision finely balanced and consequential. The game’s design ensures that every move has a direct impact on the outcome, creating a satisfying and engaging experience.

Pros

Engaging Strategy: The game combines engine building with spatial movement, making it more complex and interesting.

Fine-Tuned Decisions: Each decision is finely balanced, adding a high level of strategy.

Attractive Components: The game features nice components and improved art design compared to its predecessor, **Century: Spice Road**.

Variety in Play: Players can choose between different paths to success, including quick and efficient or more elaborate strategies.

Cons

Luck Element: Occasionally, luck plays a significant role in determining victory, which can be frustrating.

Complexity: While engaging, the game’s mechanics can be overwhelming for new players.

Resource Management: Managing spices and outposts can be challenging, especially for younger players.

Personal Thoughts on Century: Eastern Wonders

**Century: Eastern Wonders** is ideal for players who enjoy strategic gameplay with a mix of resource management and engine building. It is suitable for ages 8 and above, making it a good option for both children and adults. However, due to its complexity, it may not be the best fit for very casual gamers. For those who appreciate a game with deep strategic layers and a well-designed decision tree, **Century: Eastern Wonders** is a compelling choice that offers a highly satisfying gaming experience.

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