The Ancient World (Second Edition)
- Players
- 2-4
- Best withThe player count this game plays best at.
- 3 players
- Play timeHow long a full game runs once everyone knows the rules.
- 90 min
- AgeThe minimum age printed by the publisher.
- 13+
- ComplexityHow demanding the rules are, from 1 (very light) to 5 (very heavy).
- 2.9 / 5
- Year
- 2019
About the game
In The Ancient World, players build a growing city-state amid a land terrorized by titans, competing to attract five wandering tribes and defeat the towering monsters. Citizens are sent to take special actions, build Empire cards, or battle titans, all while managing treasury and military strength. This second edition adds new titans, expanded gameplay with an Ambrosia resource, and features titans that now actively attack players. Victory comes from amassing the most tribe-banner sets over six rounds of worker placement and resource management.
Hobbli's Notes
We enjoy how designer Ryan Laukat blends whimsical titan-fighting fantasy with a solid worker-placement and set-collection core. The second edition's more aggressive titans add welcome tension to what was already a well-regarded design. It's a great choice for fans of Laukat's other atmospheric, illustration-rich games.
What we like
- Distinctive titan-battling theme layered onto worker placement.
- Second edition adds meaningful new content and aggressive titans.
- Beautiful, evocative artwork by designer Ryan Laukat.
- Multiple paths to victory through tribe recruitment and combat.
Keep in mind
- 90-minute playtime with moderate downtime between turns.
- Complexity may be a barrier for newer worker-placement players.
- Numbered limited edition components may be hard to find after sellout.
Who it's for
Best for strategy gamers, ages 13+, in groups of 2-4 who enjoy worker placement, set collection, and fantasy civilization themes.
