Anno 117: Pax Romana

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a gorgeous antique city-builder that sucked me in for dozens of hours as I planned out my next district or simply watched the bustle along my aqueduct-accented boulevards. I think this series and I were always destined to hit it off, but we kept missing each other or meeting up at the wrong times. I really get Anno now, and I could hardly be more enthused. The fantastic, deep trade system with a side of exciting naval combat really seals the deal. I could take or leave the campaign, but I still don't think I've run out of things to do in the highly customizable endless mode. It may not quite be fit for a triumph, but is certainly worthy of a standing ovation.

Polished city-building that goes the extra mile to create character and meaning to your block-dropping feats.

I donned my proto-capitalist top hat and tails and got to work.

Prophecies of Ash is a good first step in the right direction for Anno 117: Pax Romana. The volcanic eruption cycle adds a much-needed challenge to the game, especially for the late-stage builds, where there are no military and economic challenges left for the players, and prevents the playthrough from becoming monotonous, while it can be switched off by those who would rather not worry about natural disasters burning half of their cities to the ground. While the dual nature of Obsidian as a currency as well as a finite resource hinders gameplay progression and stretches the story campaign thin, it not only fits the thematic cohesion of the game world but also encourages the players to take the risk of volcanic eruptions, hoping to mine it incrementally. After all, victory belongs to those who dare, and there is no better proof of that than the Roman Empire!

Anno 117: Pax Romana is one of the best strategy titles of the year and certainly among the best games in the Anno series, offering a rich and marvelously detailed gameplay experience that can easily entertain you for hundreds of hours.

Anno 117: Pax Romana delivers a city-building experience that rewards patience and planning over quick wins. Its focus on supply chains, trade, and smart layouts makes every decision feel connected, especially once your province starts to sprawl. The Roman setting frames the pressure without getting in the way, letting the systems stay front and centre. If you enjoy city builders that feel better the more you understand them, this one sticks.

For those governors who do learn how to play with productivity, Anno 117: Pax Romana rewards them with one of the most satisfying civilization growth simulators out there right now.

This is a game for lovers of deep systemic play, for those who want to feel the weight of an empire in their hands. If you crave relentless complexity and historical immersion, Pax Romana will embrace you like a mother. It’s worth every marble brick and every frustrated scream at a crashed fleet. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is this masterpiece.

Ubisoft have built upon the foundations of its immensely satisfying city-building blueprint with a winning retheme, but a few too many technical and interface issues mean Anno 117: Pax Romana falls just shy of a recommendation.

Anno 117: Pax Romana brings the player to a time period not much explored in videogames, and certainly not in the Anno series, that of the Roman Empire. Though the gameplay falls in line with what we've come to expect of the series, this entry manages to set itself apart thanks to its cultural elements, allowing the player to chose different paths, both in events and the research tree, and actually feel the weight of the choices for the rest of the game.