Millennia: Tracks of Time

The people from Karma Games requested to write this review in English. For our Dutch speaking audience: you can use the translate button on the blog!

In Millennia: Tracks of Time, players become the architects of humanity’s progress. This ambitious civilization-building game spans thousands of years and eight distinct eras, each representing a step in humanity’s technological, cultural, and political evolution. The theme alone promises grandeur, and the execution is impressive.

Aesthetic and Presentation

Visually, Millennia stands out at first glance. The cover art, dominated by a massive hourglass, immediately captures the central theme of time’s relentless passage. The main board is designed around several interlocking tracks, each representing a key aspect of civilization—prosperity, population, culture, and politics. Although the initial impression might feel a bit busy or even overwhelming, the clarity of icons and functional layout become evident after a few turns. The interface is generally clean, with intuitive iconography that allows players to understand actions without relying heavily on text.

However, the artwork itself is somewhat inconsistent. The result is a visual experience that feels “above average” but not entirely cohesive. Especially on the technology and building cards, the art lacks the gravitas or historical depth that a civilization game often demands. Still, the icons are well-designed, and once players familiarize themselves with their meanings, gameplay flows smoothly.

Gameplay and Mechanics

The game unfolds over eight ages, each divided into a series of structured phases: card drafting, prosperity evaluation, income generation, building, actions, warfare, and cleanup. At first glance, this might sound daunting, but in practice, the game’s rhythm feels logical and manageable. The drafting mechanism forms the backbone of the experience—players take turns acquiring technology cards that fuel their civilization’s progress and provide bonuses across the various tracks.

What sets Millennia apart from its peers is the concept of obsolescence. Technologies and buildings don’t last forever; they remain effective for only a few eras before they must be discarded. This clever twist adds historical realism and strategic tension. Players must constantly adapt, balancing short-term gains with long-term development. It’s a dynamic system that prevents the stagnation often seen in engine-building games, at least in the early stages.

The interaction between the game’s various tracks and the combo potential among cards is another highlight. Prosperity cards may unlock new income sources; military strength can translate into victory points through conquest; cultural progress might enable diplomatic advantages. The early and midgame feel vibrant and engaging, with new synergies emerging each round. Unfortunately, this momentum tends to wane toward the later ages. Once most tracks are maxed out and engines are fully built, the sense of discovery fades, and the game can feel repetitive.

Pacing and Player Experience

The pacing of Millennia is both its greatest strength and its most significant weakness. The first four ages are consistently exciting—players explore, experiment, and compete for key technologies and wonders. Yet by the sixth or seventh age, the tempo begins to drag. Without mechanisms to accelerate the endgame or introduce new dynamics, the final rounds often feel like an obligation rather than a climax. Part of this issue may stem from balancing. Certain buildings and wonders feel underpowered or redundant, while others dominate the strategy space. 

Complexity and Accessibility

Despite its grand theme, Millennia is surprisingly approachable once the rules are internalized. The icon-driven system, modular setup, and clear round structure make it easier to teach than one might expect. The first playthrough will inevitably require frequent reference to the rulebook and icon guide, but experienced players should find the flow intuitive. The game’s depth comes less from mechanical complexity and more from the multitude of strategic choices—when to invest in military, when to push prosperity, when to pivot into diplomacy or culture.

Final Thoughts

Millennia: Tracks of Time is an ambitious and thematically rich civilization game that captures the spirit of progress across the ages. It combines familiar mechanics—drafting, engine building, and track advancement—with clever innovations like the obsolescence system and multi-layered combo potential. The result is a game that feels both cerebral and thematic, especially during its first half.

For players fascinated by humanity’s long arc of development and those who enjoy deep, strategic Euro-style civilization games, Millennia offers a rewarding journey through time.

This games was provided by Karma Games and can be played at Het Geel Pionneke from november.

Number of players : 1 - 4
Age : from 10 years
Time :  30 - 120 minutes
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