- Anno 117: Pax Romana offers classic city-building gameplay set in ancient Rome.
- Players manage resources, trade, and expansion as a Roman governor.
- The new character system and storyline add depth and emotion to the series.
- Its slow start gives way to addictive, strategic gameplay that keeps players engaged.
Ubisoft’s latest city builder, Anno 117: Pax Romana, might not reinvent the genre, but it captures that addictive spark fans crave. The formula is familiar, yet it feels fresh enough to keep you glued to your screen for hours.
A Return to Roman Ambition
Set during the height of Rome’s power, Anno 117 puts you in the role of a governor tasked with building, managing, and expanding your own province. The premise sounds familiar for anyone who has played a city-building game before: gather materials, construct vital buildings, and grow your economy. Still, there’s something satisfying about watching a settlement transform into a bustling Roman enclave under your command.
From the opening cutscene, you are dropped into a world filled with politics, trade, and ambition. You start small, harvesting fish and timber before moving on to grander projects that define your empire. The rhythm of managing supply chains and planning city layouts feels as engaging as ever.
Building Rome, One Grid at a Time
At its heart, Anno 117: Pax Romana thrives on city planning. The grid-based building system is intuitive and clean. Players can rotate and place structures easily while connecting them to trade routes and resources. Tooltips provide guidance about building bonuses, helping players make smart placement decisions.
Unlike older city builders, this game allows you to move buildings without penalties. This quality-of-life feature encourages experimentation and makes adjusting your city layout simple. Even when menus feel crowded at first, they quickly become second nature.
The balance between creative freedom and structured objectives is one of the game’s best features. You are free to design your city while still following a central storyline. It gives a sense of purpose without limiting your creativity.
Characters, Story, and a Touch of Drama
For the first time in the Anno series, players can choose a fully voiced main character. You can play as Marcus Naukratius or Marcia Tertia, each offering their own perspective on the unfolding story. The dialogue may not always be gripping, but it provides personality and a guiding hand as you navigate the challenges of governance.
As your city grows, the story deepens. What starts as peaceful expansion soon becomes political turmoil. The emperor’s shocking death at his daughter’s birthday party sets off a chain of events that reshapes the Roman world.
You lose your ship, attend a somber funeral ceremony in the ruins of an amphitheater, and are ultimately exiled to Albion. It’s a dramatic shift that raises the stakes and promises even greater challenges ahead.
Exploration and Empire Expansion
Anno 117 encourages exploration beyond your city walls. Once you build a ship, the seas open up for trade, discovery, and diplomacy. You can uncover new lands, gather rare materials, and meet allies or rivals. Every voyage feels like an opportunity to expand your influence.
The game also features research trees and religious buffs that allow for deeper strategic growth. These systems reward patient players who enjoy tinkering with complex production chains and long-term planning.
Addictive Gameplay That Grows on You
What makes Anno 117: Pax Romana so captivating is its pacing. It starts slowly, asking you to learn the ropes and build from the ground up. But once you understand its systems, it becomes hard to put down. The gradual sense of progress and the visual payoff of a thriving Roman province create a satisfying loop.
While some may find the early hours a bit slow, fans of strategy and simulation games will appreciate its depth. Every decision matters, every trade counts, and every building adds life to your city.
When my preview time ended, I wanted to keep playing. The promise of more land to conquer and new stories to uncover makes the wait for its full release on November 13 even harder.
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