Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization
MASSIVE CIVILIZATION-BUILDING CARD DRIVEN EURO by VLAADA CHVÁTIL (2015, Czech Games Edition) — revised 2nd edition of the 2006 original Through the Ages. 2-4 players guide a civilization from ANTIQUITY through 3 AGES to MODERN ERA. Card-driven tech tree + military + economy + culture. HELD BGG #1-#3 for years (2015-2019); considered ONE OF THE GREATEST STRATEGY GAMES EVER MADE. Digital version on Steam + mobile widely acclaimed. 2-4 hours (or 60-90 min with digital app).
What is Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization?
THROUGH THE AGES: A NEW STORY OF CIVILIZATION is a MASSIVE CIVILIZATION-BUILDING CARD-DRIVEN EURO designed by VLAADA CHVÁTIL (Czech Republic), published by CZECH GAMES EDITION (CGE, 2015). REVISED 2ND EDITION of the 2006 original THROUGH THE AGES: A STORY OF CIVILIZATION — same core game with refined rules + 2000+ playtested improvements. 2-4 PLAYERS guide a CIVILIZATION from ANTIQUITY (Age A) through 3 AGES (Age I: Medieval; Age II: Renaissance/Industrial; Age III: Modern) using card-driven mechanics. FEATURES: TECH TREE (research technologies to unlock buildings/units), MILITARY (build army + fight wars + territorial aggressions), ECONOMY (food + resources + workers), CULTURE (wonders + leaders + science + culture for endgame VP), COLONIZATION, WORLD EVENTS. HELD BGG #1 SPOT for years (2015-2017); held BGG #1-#3 through 2019; currently top-15. Considered ONE OF THE GREATEST STRATEGY GAMES EVER MADE + Chvátil's masterpiece alongside MAGE KNIGHT + CODENAMES. Digital version by Czech Games Edition on Steam + iOS + Android — WIDELY ACCLAIMED for 60-90 min games (vs 2-4 hour tabletop). 2-4 HOURS TABLETOP PLAY TIME. GAMEPLAY: 3 ages + antiquity setup. Each age has cards row where cards cycle in. Players spend CIVIL ACTIONS to acquire cards + workers/food + upgrade tech + build wonders + hire leaders. MILITARY ACTIONS spent on army + wars + aggressions. TURN: play civil actions → play military actions → resolve events → refresh cards. TECHNOLOGY TREE: upgrade Farms → Irrigation → Agriculture; upgrade Bronze → Iron → Steel → Rifles → Tanks. WONDERS: 20+ (Pyramids, Great Wall, Colossus, Hanging Gardens, Notre Dame, Taj Mahal, Manhattan Project, Space Program, Internet, etc.) — each provides ongoing bonuses. LEADERS: 15+ historical figures (Aristotle, Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, Christopher Columbus, Napoleon, Lincoln, Gandhi, Churchill, Bill Gates) — each provides unique abilities during their era. RECEPTION: BGG #1 for years; Golden Geek Best Strategy Game 2015; International Gamers Award 2015 nominee; Deutscher Spiele Preis 2015 (top-10); considered the DEFINITIVE tabletop civilization game.
Quick facts
Category
Board Games
Type
Individual
Players
2–4
Duration
~180 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
Personal player boards + shared card row
Country of origin
🇨🇿 Czech Republic
Estimated origin
Designed 2004-2006 (1st edition Through the Ages); 2013-2015 New Story of Civilization revision; released 2015 CGE
Olympic
No
Popularity
major
How it works
Objective
Score most CULTURE (VP) end-game via wonders + leaders + culture cards + colonies + military strength + territories.
Rules
Basic rules
3 ages + antiquity setup
Progressive tech tree unlocks each age.
Civil actions (buy cards, workers, build) + Military actions (army, wars)
Balance economy vs military.
Tech tree: research + upgrade buildings/units
Farms → Agriculture; Bronze → Steel → Rifles.
Wonders + leaders provide era bonuses
20+ wonders, 15+ leaders.
Military + wars + aggressions attack opponents
Weak military = lose cards + territory.
End Age III: score culture
Highest VP wins.
Scoring
End-game VP from culture cards + wonders + leaders + colonies + military + technology + resources.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Culture card played | 3-15 VP each |
| Wonder built | 3-8 VP + ongoing bonuses |
| Colony conquered | 3-5 VP each |
| Technology advanced | Culture from Age III techs |
| War won | VP + steal opponent's |
Win condition · Highest culture VP end of Age III.
Playing area
Called
Personal player boards + shared card row
Dimensions
~120×90cm at 4 players
Each player has personal civilization board (leader/wonders/tech/workers). Shared card row + military track + event deck + world events.
Equipment
Through the Ages: A New Story of Civilization base box
$65 USD; refined 2015 edition
Through the Ages digital (Steam/iOS/Android)
$10-20; official CGE app; 60-90 min games
Personal player boards
Track civilization state
300+ cards: tech, military, leaders, wonders, events
Core content
Worker/food/resource/military tokens
Included
Culture + science tokens
VP + advancement
Strategies
Balance culture vs military
Culture-only = weak military = crushed. Military-heavy = missed culture bonuses.
Wonders + leaders synergy
Match wonder + leader for era-defining bonuses.
Tech upgrade priority
Farms → Agriculture is essential; military tech follows era.
Card evaluation
Every card action costs; opportunity cost matters.
Try digital app first
60-90 min AI games teach strategy fast.
Terminology
- Age (A/I/II/III)
- Progressive tech eras; Age A antiquity, Age III modern.
- Civil action
- Card economy actions (buy, build, upgrade).
- Military action
- Army-building + wars + aggressions.
- Wonder
- Built construction with ongoing bonuses.
- Leader
- Historical figure providing era-specific abilities.
- Culture
- VP currency; endgame scoring.
Major competitions
BGG #1 for years (2015-2017)
ongoing · worldwide · since 2015
Golden Geek Best Strategy Game 2015 WINNER
annual · worldwide · since 2015
International Gamers Award 2015 nominee
annual · worldwide · since 2015
Deutscher Spiele Preis 2015 (top-10)
annual · Germany · since 2015
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Czech Games Edition (publisher)
Founded 2007 · Czech Republic
Vlaada Chvátil (designer)
Founded 1970 · Czech Republic
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Vlaada Chvátil (Czech Republic) — Designer; also Mage Knight, Codenames, Galaxy Trucker, Dungeon Lords
- Milan Vavroň (Czech) — Illustrator
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
PLAY DIGITAL APP FIRST
Steam/mobile version; 60-90 min AI teaches game.
- 2
Buy tabletop after 5+ digital games
Tabletop is 2-4 hours; understand system first.
intermediate
- 1
2p tabletop games
Learn card interactions.
advanced
- 1
3-4p full games
Full civilization competitive experience.
Frequently asked
What is Through the Ages?+
MASSIVE CIVILIZATION-BUILDING CARD-DRIVEN EURO by Vlaada Chvátil (2015, CGE) — 2nd edition of 2006 original. 2-4 players guide civilizations from ANTIQUITY through 3 AGES to MODERN ERA. Card-driven tech tree + military + economy + culture. HELD BGG #1 for years. Considered one of the greatest strategy games ever. Digital version widely acclaimed for 60-90 min games.
Should I buy tabletop or digital Through the Ages?+
DIGITAL FIRST. The CGE app on Steam/iOS/Android is $10-20 + plays 60-90 min vs tabletop's 2-4 HOURS. Digital handles all bookkeeping + provides excellent AI + tutorial. Buy tabletop AFTER 10+ digital games IF you love the game + want physical experience. Many players stick with digital exclusively.
Sources & provenance
- Czech Games Edition — Through the Ages— CGE
- BoardGameGeek — Through the Ages— BGG
- Wikipedia — Through the Ages— Wikipedia