I just returned from an afternoon of trading, exploring, and collecting spices in the New World—or at least, that’s what it felt like while playing Century: A New World, the wonderfully immersive worker placement game in the Century trilogy. If you’ve played Spice Road, you’ll recognize the delicious puzzle of converting one type of spice into another in pursuit of valuable contracts. But here, the twist is time. And people. And just the tiniest bit of mischief when someone takes the space you were eyeing.

In this version, instead of playing cards to gain or upgrade spices, you send your tiny wooden workers out into the wilds. Some spaces let you gather turmeric, saffron, cardamom, and cinnamon—the colors and cubes we’ve all come to love. Others help you trade spices in clever combinations. But the real thrill comes from watching your workers dwindle, knowing you’ll need to spend a whole turn pulling them all back, and trying to decide if now is the moment to grab that card you’ve been eyeing before someone else does. These are the cards that everyone starts with.

At one point in our game, I had the perfect plan laid out—gather just enough cinnamon to claim a juicy six-point card. But before I could take my turn, my dear friend gleefully plunked a worker right into my intended spot. I tried to act gracious, but internally I was weeping into my spice bags. And yet, that’s the beauty of this game. You always have another option, even if it’s not the one you hoped for. I rerouted, upgraded, and managed to grab a bonus tile that made up for it.

There’s also something satisfying about the pacing. The early game feels gentle, with humble trades and modest contracts. But before long, players are chaining actions and claiming huge hauls, all while keeping a careful eye on each other’s piles. Do you race to claim another big contract? Or do you quietly build your engine for a dramatic comeback? Either way, by the end, it feels like a story—a dusty tale of clever deals, surprise steals, and quiet victories.

And if you’re like me, you’ll leave the table already dreaming of your next journey into the trade routes, with the smell of spices and a little bit of revenge in the air.

This site uses affiliate links. To purchase, you can use the following link: https://amzn.to/4crPKus

I just returned from an afternoon of trading, exploring, and collecting spices in the New World—or at least, that’s what it felt like while playing Century: A New World, the wonderfully immersive worker placement game in the Century trilogy. If you’ve played Spice Road, you’ll recognize the delicious puzzle of converting one type of spice into another in pursuit of valuable contracts. But here, the twist is time. And people. And just the tiniest bit of mischief when someone takes the space you were eyeing.

In this version, instead of playing cards to gain or upgrade spices, you send your tiny wooden workers out into the wilds. Some spaces let you gather turmeric, saffron, cardamom, and cinnamon—the colors and cubes we’ve all come to love. Others help you trade spices in clever combinations. But the real thrill comes from watching your workers dwindle, knowing you’ll need to spend a whole turn pulling them all back, and trying to decide if now is the moment to grab that card you’ve been eyeing before someone else does. These are the cards that everyone starts with.

At one point in our game, I had the perfect plan laid out—gather just enough cinnamon to claim a juicy six-point card. But before I could take my turn, my dear friend gleefully plunked a worker right into my intended spot. I tried to act gracious, but internally I was weeping into my spice bags. And yet, that’s the beauty of this game. You always have another option, even if it’s not the one you hoped for. I rerouted, upgraded, and managed to grab a bonus tile that made up for it.

There’s also something satisfying about the pacing. The early game feels gentle, with humble trades and modest contracts. But before long, players are chaining actions and claiming huge hauls, all while keeping a careful eye on each other’s piles. Do you race to claim another big contract? Or do you quietly build your engine for a dramatic comeback? Either way, by the end, it feels like a story—a dusty tale of clever deals, surprise steals, and quiet victories.

And if you’re like me, you’ll leave the table already dreaming of your next journey into the trade routes, with the smell of spices and a little bit of revenge in the air.

This site uses affiliate links. To purchase, you can use the following link: https://amzn.to/4crPKus

I just returned from an afternoon of trading, exploring, and collecting spices in the New World—or at least, that’s what it felt like while playing Century: A New World, the wonderfully immersive worker placement game in the Century trilogy. If you’ve played Spice Road, you’ll recognize the delicious puzzle of converting one type of spice into another in pursuit of valuable contracts. But here, the twist is time. And people. And just the tiniest bit of mischief when someone takes the space you were eyeing.

In this version, instead of playing cards to gain or upgrade spices, you send your tiny wooden workers out into the wilds. Some spaces let you gather turmeric, saffron, cardamom, and cinnamon—the colors and cubes we’ve all come to love. Others help you trade spices in clever combinations. But the real thrill comes from watching your workers dwindle, knowing you’ll need to spend a whole turn pulling them all back, and trying to decide if now is the moment to grab that card you’ve been eyeing before someone else does. These are the cards that everyone starts with.

At one point in our game, I had the perfect plan laid out—gather just enough cinnamon to claim a juicy six-point card. But before I could take my turn, my dear friend gleefully plunked a worker right into my intended spot. I tried to act gracious, but internally I was weeping into my spice bags. And yet, that’s the beauty of this game. You always have another option, even if it’s not the one you hoped for. I rerouted, upgraded, and managed to grab a bonus tile that made up for it.

There’s also something satisfying about the pacing. The early game feels gentle, with humble trades and modest contracts. But before long, players are chaining actions and claiming huge hauls, all while keeping a careful eye on each other’s piles. Do you race to claim another big contract? Or do you quietly build your engine for a dramatic comeback? Either way, by the end, it feels like a story—a dusty tale of clever deals, surprise steals, and quiet victories.

And if you’re like me, you’ll leave the table already dreaming of your next journey into the trade routes, with the smell of spices and a little bit of revenge in the air.

This site uses affiliate links. To purchase, you can use the following link: https://amzn.to/4crPKus