There’s no gaming series quite like Anno. While there are plenty of real-time strategy titles and city builders out there, none dive as deep into the economic simulator aspect as the Anno franchise. Being able to strategically build and manage ancient cities in historical settings has been the franchise’s bread and butter, even though its nature makes it intimidating for new players.Anno 117: Pax Romanahopes to change that with a friendlier starting experience for new players all while maintaining the complexity longtime fans have come to expect. We were able to go hands-on withAnno 117: Pax Romanato see if Ubisoft Mainz has managed to achieve either objective in the ‘most ambitious installment’ to date.
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Governor reporting for duty
Anno 117: Pax Romanatakes players back to the Pax Romana era of the Roman Empire. A relatively peaceful time in Roman history, the era represented the perfect setting for a game focused on building cities, trade routes and economic prosperity. You play as a newly appointed governor sent by the Roman Emperor to build and lead provinces in his honor. At launch, the game will feature two locations, the beautiful island paradise of Latium and the Celtic wetlands of Albion. Our time with the game, however, allowed us a look at the Latium region.
Fans of the franchise will be happy to know thatAnno 117does live up to its roots. Every facet of your cities is yours to control. At the start, all you’ll have is a measly ship, a trading post and a governor’s mansion. From there, how you build, populate and govern your city is in your hands. You’ll collect resources, build warehouses, construct roads and create livable conditions that incite growth and prosperity. Later, you’ll be able to send out your ship and discover other governors to forge alliances, establish trade routes or start wars with, or even find new locations to erect additional cities.
Leading isn’t as easy as it sounds
True to its storied complexity,Anno 117kept me on my toes. Between juggling resources, diplomacy and the needs of the citizens, there’s a lot to keep track of to make a successful city. Early game, it’s all about setting up the right buildings to get early resources, roads to transport them, storehouses to house them and deliver to the populace and houses to build the population. Mid-game is about exploring the high seas and upgrading the population to build more intricate structures, gather additional resources, create a religion and further construct the burgeoning city.
It’s here that the complexity starts showing. Advanced resources like olives (for olive oil) couldn’t grow on my island, necessitating trade with other governors. Meanwhile, the introduction of kilns and clay facilities and disease-causing pig farms necessitate the thoughtful placement of fire stations and hospitals to ensure calm among the civilians. Finally, an attempt to improve trade with an ally results in a loan meant to help secure goods like olives.
While olives did flow in and other resources were harvested, the early layout of the city created problems down the line. The tight infrastructure meant some buildings weren’t in the vicinity of a fire station. When a fire broke out, nearly the entire neighborhood burned down. The loan did secure the necessary resources, but it also led to serious debt for a fifteen-minute period.
Anyone worried about Ubisoft Mainz potentially watering down complexity to draw in new players need not worry.Anno 117: Pax Romanais not a game one can just put on autopilot and watch their city blossom. It requires careful stewardship, planning and patience, regardless of whether you aim to achieve success through economics or warfare. It’s actually fun and fulfilling to see your city thrive, especially after weathering some form of a crisis. The three hours we got to play flew by fast.
Not the kindest experience for new players
What is concerning is the starting experience for new players. It’s entirely possible that the final version will feature a grand tutorial that makes jumping in less daunting, but it wasn’t available during the preview. The UI is clean but also tucked a lot of features into corners that could be easily missed, including hints from advisors, resource availability and the time-of-day shifter. Different mechanics like upgrading, setting up trade and building diplomacy weren’t fully explained in-game. Veterans likely won’t have any issues jumping right in, but for a game that’s intended to also attract new players, what was shown was a bit concerning.
Anno 117: Pax Romanais not a game one can just put on autopilot and watch their city blossom.
Also concerning is how the game will play on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S via controller. With all the snap decisions and quick decision-making required across the city, how the controls translate to controllers is an open mystery. The game plays wonderfully on keyboard and mouse, so hopefully controllers can deliver a similarly wonderful experience.
Even in its early state,Anno 117: Pax Romanais stunning with its beautifully detailed vistas, picturesque water and highly realistic structures. The human simulations are wonderful to behold, accurately conveying the sense of a living, breathing world. While we were only able to spend three hours building a Roman city, what we got to play was encouraging. Anno fans can rest assured that the complexity that made the franchise fun to play is there.
Anno 117: Pax Romanalaunches winter 2025 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
