Both myself and my eldest thoroughly enjoyed playing Century Spice Road.  He managed to beat me by 17 points too which pleased him no end!  I will have to try harder next time.

The game is quite easy to play because the instructions are very clear.  The picture of the game set-up is also a handy guide.  It sped up the process of getting started as we knew how to lay everything out.

On your turn you have one of four choices to make.  You can play a card (you automatically start with two), acquire a card, rest (which gives you back all the cards you have previously played so far, but means you technically miss a turn in the process) or claim a point card.  My son had a cinnamon spice card, so he kept having a rest just so he could keep using that!!!  That tactic slowly and steadily led him to victory!

It’s a great game to explain to children how valuable the spice market was back then.

Strategy wise we are still getting to grips with how best to play.  However, we did learn that when you claim a point card its worth trying to aim for the ones which have a gold or silver coin above them.  A gold coin adds another three points to you score total (you only get one extra point for a silver coin).

Although if you are finding it hard collecting the required spice cubes to do that sometimes just claiming any card helps!  You see the first to six cards wins, so you do need to acquire them quickly!  I started Century Spice Road so when my son got to six cards before me the game ended.  I didn’t get another turn as I was the first to play.  You get a point each for any spice cubes you have at the end that aren’t yellow (turmeric).  I did better here as I had a few points.

When you choose to acquire a card you only get to take the leftmost one for free.  If you have your eyes on a different one, then you can take it providing you leave a spice cube on each of the cards prior to the one you want.  When you claim a card which already has a spice cube(s) on it you get to keep it.  It’s a nice little bonus to help fill up your spice caravan.

There are spice cards which give you a spice cube or two to add to your caravan.

Upgrade cards where you can upgrade a spice cube.  They go up in a certain order, Turmeric, Saffron, Cardamom and Cinnamon.  You can choose to upgrade one spice two levels or two spices a level each.

Then you have trade cards which mean you can swap a certain number of spice cubes for different ones.

Keep an eye on the point cards to see which cubes you need the most!  Also check the other players caravans if it looks like they are after the same card it might be worth going for another one if you think they might beat you to it.

Just remember your caravan can only hold ten spice cubes, anymore you will have to return some to the spice bowls.

Win Century Spice Road

I have a copy of Century Spice Road to giveaway if you would like to enter please fill in the form by the 20^th of August.

Win Century Spice Road

Please also check out my existing competitions.