9.0

Review: Anno 117: Pax Romana

Anno 117: Pax Romana is an impressive addition to the Anno series and is seen by many players as one of the best citybuilders in recent years. The game combines classic Anno mechanics with new elements that bring the Roman setting to life.

Anno 117 places you in the middle of the Roman Empire during the relatively quiet period of the Pax Romana. This gives the player the opportunity to focus fully on building and managing cities, optimising production lines and building trade networks. The core of the gameplay remains true to the Anno formula: Explore islands, gather resources and build a society that is becoming more complex as your inhabitants reach higher levels of civilization.

What makes this title special is the Roman setting. You play in Lazio and Albion, which creates an interesting variety of landscapes and culture. The addition of Celts and other peoples gives an extra layer to diplomacy and trade. The campaign offers two playable characters, Marcus and Marcia, each giving a different perspective and experience.

An important innovation is the introduction of land forces. While previous Anno games often dealt superficially with warfare, Pax Romana now offers a more satisfying way to use military power. However, it remains optional: players who prefer to build and manage purely can largely ignore the military component. This makes the game accessible to both strategists and pure citybuilder fans.

The balance between challenge and relaxation is well struck. You can lose hours of perfecting production lines or planning roads, but the game also offers plenty of rest moments where you can just enjoy the growth of your city. Sandbox mode gives complete freedom, while story mode provides a structured experience that essentially helps newcomers to get to know the complexity of the game.

Visually, Anno 117 is a highlight. The cities look lively and historically convincing, with markets, forums and ports that are vibrant with activity. The atmosphere of the Roman Empire is strong and gives a sense of grandeur that earlier Anno-parts sometimes missed.

Not everything is perfect. Some players notice that certain information is missing in the interface, which sometimes makes managing complex production chains difficult. Also the military gameplay is still seen by some as less interesting than building itself. However, these are minor disadvantages in an otherwise very solid experience.

In summary, Anno 117: Pax Romana one excellent combination of strategy and citybuilding, who convinces both fans of the series and newcomers. The game builds on the strong base of Anno 1800, but adds enough innovation to stay fresh and exciting. For fans of the genre this is a title that guarantees many hours of fun and that finally does justice to Roman times.