The Golden Ages (2014) Board Game

The Golden Ages is a civilization and territory building board game designed by Luigi Ferrini and published by Quined Games in in 2014. The game takes players through various eras of history, allowing them to build and expand their civilizations, develop technologies, and compete for resources and territory.

Game Components of The Golden Ages

Game board

Civilization cards

Future Technology cards

History’s Judgment cards

Colonist meeples

City wooden columns

Gold pieces

Building and Wonder tiles

Expansion pack: Cults & Culture (optional)

How To Setup The Golden Ages

To set up the game, players start by exploring the world at the beginning of each of the four ages, placing L-shaped or 2-spot tiles to gradually reveal the game board. Each player selects a civilization, which may provide one-time bonuses or lasting abilities. The game includes a set of randomly drawn History’s Judgment cards that will provide victory points at the end of each era.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Game Duration: 90-180 minutes

Number of Players: 2-4 (2-5 with the Cults & Culture expansion)

Age Range: 12+

Eras: The game spans four ages, each comprising 4 or more turns.

Actions: Players can choose from 8 available actions per turn, including colonist actions and other actions like declaring a Golden Age.

Golden Age Mechanic: Players can declare a Golden Age after using all their colonist meeples, earning gold and influencing the end of the era based on chosen History’s Judgment cards.

Civilization Management: Players manage multiple civilizations over the course of the game, each with unique abilities and bonuses.

Objective: The goal is to accumulate the most victory points by the end of the fourth era through a combination of technological advancements, building construction, and strategic use of Golden Ages.

Player Experience

Playing The Golden Ages involves careful management and strategic planning. The game is known for its pacing, which gradually reveals the world through tile placement at the start of each age. Players must balance expanding their civilization, using their colonists effectively, and declaring Golden Ages to maximize their points. The randomness of the History’s Judgment cards and civilization abilities ensures high variability between games, forcing players to adapt their strategies each time.

Pros

Thematic Exploration: The game’s exploration mechanic feels more thematic and paced compared to other civilization games.

High Replayability: The randomness of cards and the variety of civilizations ensure different experiences each game.

Strategic Depth: The game offers a mix of short-term and long-term strategies, particularly with the Golden Age mechanic.

Multiple Paths to Victory: Players can achieve victory through different strategies, such as focusing on buildings or declaring Golden Ages.

Cons

Complex Setup: The initial setup can be complex, especially for new players.

Learning Curve: Understanding the various mechanics and strategies can take several plays.

Lengthy Gameplay: Games can last up to 3 hours, which may deter some players.

Personal Thoughts on The Golden Ages

The Golden Ages is ideal for fans of civilization-building games who appreciate strategic depth and high replayability. It is particularly suited for players who enjoy games with a mix of short-term and long-term planning. While the game may not be the best fit for casual gamers due to its complexity and lengthy gameplay, it offers a rich and engaging experience for those willing to invest the time to learn and master its mechanics.

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