Comparison

Through the Ages vs Thrive Board Game

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Through the Ages

Lead a civilization from its beginnings to the modern era. Expand your resources, develop technologies, and build armies to defend or attack. Construct wonders and choose governments to achieve victory in this deep strategy game.

Highlights
  • Civilization development
  • Resource management
  • Technology research
  • Military expansion
  • Government selection
  • Wonder construction
  • Card-driven gameplay
  • Solo and online multiplayer
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Through the Ages is based on a highly acclaimed civilization board game by well-known designer Vlaada Chvátil. The original game is recognized as a modern classic board game. ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES Become a chieftain of a small civilization at the dawn of humankind's history. Expand your farms and mines to ensure you have enough resources to grow your civilization. This is our chance to make history! Develop various technologies, improve armies to defend your cities, or attack other civilizations nearby. Choose the best government that fits your goals and build magnificent wonders to achieve memorable victory at the end of the modern era. CARD-DRIVEN GAMEPLAY Through the Ages is a card-driven, turn-based board game that gives you countless options on what to do and how to play. Thanks to the pool of hundreds of cards, every game is unique, allowing you to build a mighty civilization. PLAY SOLO OR ONLINE You can play against AI-driven world leaders with various difficulties, or you can jump into online games against other players. Thanks to the ELO system, the game will find you opponents of the same level as you are. Clash with them and discover whose strategy leads to victory. You can also participate in some of the many championships, including the official World Championship in Through the Ages. PLENTY OF CHALLENGES The game offers more than 30 challenges that change the winning conditions or rules, so you must adapt your strategy to lead your civilization to victory. Prove that you understand how civilization works and become the mighty world leader.

About

Thrive Board Game

A two-player abstract strategy board game that reinvents classic gameplay with unique piece building and over 100 variable setups. Experience strategic depth with AI opponents, pass-and-play, and an innovative augmented reality mode.

Highlights
  • Abstract strategy gameplay
  • Play vs AI
  • Pass and Play mode
  • Over 100 variable setups
  • Augmented Reality Mode
Features
Read full description

A board game for two players where beauty meets strategy. Your purpose is not simply to endure, but to Thrive. Build your own chess piece with classic abstract strategy game-play, reinvented. * Play vs AI * Pass and Play * Over 100 variable setups * Augmented Reality Mode

Screenshots

Through the Ages4 screens
Thrive Board Game4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Thrive Board Game at $1.99 against Through the Ages's $9.99. Thrive Board Game also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (11.4 vs 15.0). Through the Ages's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs every 42 months) and ratings volume (5.1K vs 1). On rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Through the Ages costs $9.99 and Thrive Board Game $1.99 up front. Through the Ages sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Thrive Board Game asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Through the Ages against 5.0 for Thrive Board Game. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Through the Ages has 5.1K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Through the Ages ships an update every 10 days, Thrive Board Game every 42 months. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Through the Ages versus Thrive Board Game: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThrough the AgesThrive Board Game
Price$9.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.9 (5.1K ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews87.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings5.1K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 42 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#104 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.011.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size188 MB141 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperCGE Digital s.r.o.Martin Grider

Customer experience

Through the Ages

All ratings5,140 ratings
Positive97.8%
Neutral0.8%
Negative1.4%
Written reviews816 reviews
Positive87.7%
Neutral3.8%
Negative8.5%

Thrive Board Game

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Through the Ages

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes during challenge mode
  • Connectivity issues with online play
  • Compatibility problems on older devices
  • Freezing during gameplay

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add pass-and-play mode with AI
  • Ability to mix human and AI players
  • More customization options for game settings
  • Expansion content (new leaders, wonders, etc.)
  • Ability to slow down AI turns for better observation

Thrive Board Game

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Through the Ages

One-time1
  • New Leaders and Wonders$4.99
None

Thrive Board Game

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Through the Ages free?
Through the Ages costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Thrive Board Game free?
Thrive Board Game costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Through the Ages or Thrive Board Game?
Thrive Board Game is rated higher. Through the Ages averages 4.9 out of 5 from 5.1K ratings, while Thrive Board Game averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Through the Ages or Thrive Board Game have ads?
Neither Through the Ages nor Thrive Board Game shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Through the Ages or Thrive Board Game?
Through the Ages ships an update every 10 days, and Thrive Board Game every 42 months. Most recently, Through the Ages was updated on November 9, 2026 and Thrive Board Game on November 3, 2026.

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