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It was the year 1991 and Sid Meier, a character destined to become iconic, creates one of the videogames which was going to enter in the history of the videogame landscape for the decades to come. We are talking, of course, about Civilization.
We can safely speak of this title as the precursor of the “4x” genre: explore, extend, exploit, exterminate. By leading a prehistoric civilization and starting with a few sheepskins and a handful of primitive explorers and colonizers, the mission is to arrive on Alpha Centauri, create the United Nations, crush all opponents with majestic armies or exert cultural dominance with “Big Brother” tech. In any case, from the stables, to the stars.
Anyone who has played this video game at least once has appreciated the maniacal care with which the good Sid has designed his concept of “civilization”: without the need to mention the finesse of the game engine, practically absolute (and in fact re-proposed up to the present day, up to sixth chapter ), details are considered to the maximum: from the leaders and their characteristics, to the initial feeling of playing in an endless world which over time becomes more narrow, to the triumph of technology as we progress in the tech tree … or even just waiting to read/hear the iconic quote with each discovery is a triumph.
This videogame looks like it has been taken from a board game. The turn-based dynamics, the majority on the territory, the technology tree, the “variable setup” given by the leaders … All this could be part of a board game. And in fact, from this PC masterpiece, a tabletop masterpiece was born.
Let’s talk about Through The Ages, by Vlaada Chvatil. Two to Four players race in a competition to see who creates the best civilization (and with the word “best” the author means … with more culture, strange but perfectly fitting victory condition). Between leaders, wonders, armies and cities, in a whirlwind of cubes placed and removed from boards, platforms and cards, this pharaonic game, lasting approximately 3 hours, is, based on writer’s opinions, one of the most similar gameplay to Sid Meier’s 4x “Civilization”. By “similar” I certainly do not mean a copy, but a reinterpretation that, with substantially different mechanics, leads the player to enter that journey of progess through the time that it excites so much all fans of Civilization.
The exceptionality of Through The Ages is not found in the engine, or in the flow (which itself deserve a place in the hall of fame of the board game), but, despite the fact that we are talking about a “eurogame” that almost by definition it has a gameplay focused on calculation and abstraction, is in the feeling of carrying on your civilization towards infinity, and beyond.
At the end of the game, you can discuss how your people have evolved compared to others, praising some leaders and despising others, which is a unique trait of this board game for this genre. In short, I would rate 10/10 experience which that genius of Vlaada Chvatil has been able to bring to our tables.
Clearly, the setup of this game is quite challenging, and there is always the risk of seeing your cubes fly after an accidental movement.
Our love for this game has led us to a few sleepless nights to overcome all those little setup and gameplay issues that this title has; and we have created the definitive setupper for Through The Ages: 4 double-layered boards with an opening key. they allow, with a single gesture, to “lay out” all the cubes of the initial setup of each player. The card holders are designed to house each “age” deck in separate slots, with or without enveloped cards. The cubes will all be safe and easy to take in dedicated trays.
Everything will be in order to start with great fanfare, and end with a bang this journey through human history (not nuclear, we hope … but it depends on you leaders!). Let the adventure begin!
Discover also the other games in our catalog and contact us for any request or question!
