Ubisoft arranged travel and lodging for a preview event in Rome, allowing participants to try Anno 117: Pax Romana. Ars does not partake in paid editorial content.
The Anno series stands out in the realm of strategy games, and early impressions from a recent press event suggest that the latest installment could attract both history enthusiasts and newcomers to the franchise.
The previous game, Anno 1800, was well-received, marking a high point for series veterans who had felt let down by earlier futuristic iterations. Garnering around 5 million players, it revitalized interest in the franchise, setting a solid foundation for future titles.
Expected to launch later this year, Anno 117: Pax Romana strives to build on this success and broaden its appeal. While it has historically attracted a dedicated audience in Europe, particularly in Germany where the games are developed, the franchise’s engaging gameplay and impressive visuals may resonate with a wider audience—provided the publisher, Ubisoft, makes strategic decisions.
Having explored the Anno series casually over the years, I was eager to see how this new title would follow up on the success of Anno 1800. At the press event, I had the chance to play a preview build for roughly three hours. The preliminary experience reveals a promising structure and commendable presentation, but improvements in onboarding for new players will be essential if the game hopes to attract a broader audience.
Understanding Anno’s Gameplay
At its core, Anno games blend city-building and supply chain mechanics. Players construct roads, essential infrastructure, and expand their population’s size and wealth. This process intertwines with the systems of resource gathering, manufacturing goods, and utilizing those goods to foster economic growth in settlements.
Strategic placement is crucial. Warehouses, which serve as storage for collected or produced items, must be positioned thoughtfully to ensure efficient movement of goods between structures.
Players develop settlements across numerous islands, establishing trade routes and naval units. Each island can have unique resource specializations, contributing to diverse gameplay. Alongside the economic elements, players engage with a narrative and interact with AI-controlled leaders who may either aid or challenge them.
Naval conflict is a component of gameplay, albeit not the central focus.
Forming and managing alliances or rivalries with other leaders enhances the gameplay.
The Anno series provides a unique gaming experience, yet new players may find it challenging despite familiarity with other city-building or economic simulations. However, the gameplay becomes inherently smooth once familiarized.
Innovations in 117
A key feature of Anno 117: Pax Romana is its historical setting, a much-anticipated era among fans that aligns well with the game mechanics.
Visually, I was immersed in the game’s stylistic presentation. The “Pax Romana” subtitle alludes to a glorified depiction of the Roman Empire; vibrant wheat fields shine golden-yellow, citizens sport beautifully crafted clothing, and the music evokes a soothing ancient ambiance.
While the actual Roman Empire had its darker facets, Anno 117 prioritizes an idealized vision akin to previous installments in the series. This title emphasizes crafting visually appealing constructions over navigating complex historical or moral issues—leaning more towards creating a SimCity experience than a cautionary tale akin to Frostpunk.
The game’s artistic and technical details are exceptional, pulling players into its immersive environment. This is further strengthened by the resources gathered, crafted goods, new mechanics, and storytelling elements. The visual experience stands out as a significant highlight.
New mechanics also feature prominently, such as a religion system, an expanded research tree, and the introduction of ground military forces alongside existing naval combat. While my demo didn’t include military elements, I explored both the religion system and the research tree.
As you establish your settlement, you can construct temples dedicated to various deities, each providing unique bonuses. For instance, selecting Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, enhances farm productivity, while choosing Poseidon could boost ship speed.
Your settlement can adopt a Roman deity as its patron.
The research tree offers various upgrades and enhancements.
Land military options will be present in the final release, although not featured in the demo I played.
In comparison to other strategy games where religion plays a pivotal role, the religion system in the demo appeared relatively simplistic. Nevertheless, it effectively reinforces the game’s themes and aesthetics while providing a level of customization for players’ experiences.
The research tree branches into several areas, focusing primarily on numerical bonuses such as yield increases or enhancements to ship performance. It offers additional customization options, though it may not significantly alter gameplay.
Notably, players can construct diagonal roads and position buildings at angles, moving away from the traditional grid system. However, grids often remain the most effective way to lay out structures, making this feature more of an aesthetic choice rather than a practical necessity.
This new feature enables players to design roads and buildings at angles for added creativity, though some may still prefer a grid layout.
Players will have the option to settle in the Mediterranean-themed Latium.
Alternatively, players can choose a Great Britain-themed area known as Albion.
There is another significant aspect that I could not test at the event. Developers have mentioned a choice between a Mediterranean-themed set of islands or a British frontier theme. My demonstration experience only included the first option.
Onboarding Needs Improvement
For the Anno series to capture a broader audience, they must simplify the learning curve. Anno 1800 introduced a narrative-driven tutorial that, while effective, faced criticism for unnecessary complexity and could overwhelm experienced players.
During my experience with Anno 117, I found the introductory tutorial lacking compared to its predecessor. Early on, I encountered a confusing sequence that missed vital steps, resulting in several minutes of uncertainty. Although the narrative pushed me forward with objectives, it left many key gameplay systems ambiguous. Familiarity from having played Anno 1800 helped me navigate some of these challenges, but I still required assistance from a developer on multiple occasions. Another journalist unfamiliar with the series appeared completely lost.
On a positive note, the game features an intuitively designed user interface, allowing players to understand potential impacts of their decisions clearly. For instance, visual overlays indicate how placing a building in one location can be more beneficial than another. This logical interface compensates somewhat for the shortcomings in the tutorial, as many significant mechanics remain relatively clear to players.
This approach starkly contrasts with other recent high-profile strategy titles. For instance, while Civilization VII provided detailed onboarding tutorials, its interface occasionally faltered in clearly conveying player choices.
The underlying mechanics of Anno 117 are fundamentally straightforward with proper guidance, needing an overhaul of the tutorial experience to minimize initial challenges. While Anno 1800 may have been overly detailed, Anno 117 seems to have swung too far in the opposite direction.
With several months left before its release, there is potential for improvements. I remain optimistic.
A Broad Appeal
The Anno series fulfills a niche not covered by other games, and my early impressions indicate that Anno 117 could be a worthy new entry.
Diverse player types can find enjoyment here: those who thrive on meticulous efficiency can delve deeply into optimization to create powerful economies, while players focused on aesthetics can express themselves through creative building choices. These two approaches can even coexist in various combinations.
The game’s visuals elevate the experience, surpassing what is typically seen in the strategy or simulation genres, with the Ancient Roman theme providing ample opportunity for technical artists to create an engaging environment.
While Anno 117 does not significantly alter the formula established by 1800, this may not be a disadvantage considering the previous title’s contentious iterations. The gameplay is genuinely enjoyable, drawing you in as you become absorbed in the visuals and the satisfying progression of numbers as a result of your decisions.
As a newcomer to this franchise, predicting audience reception can be challenging. However, I believe existing fans will appreciate the title, albeit with the acknowledgment that Anno 1800 has received more post-launch content than Anno 117 will likely have at launch. There is potential for new players, but Ubisoft Mainz must refine the tutorial and onboarding process to maximize accessibility.
The game is set to launch on Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S later this year, and I look forward to more opportunities to engage with it in hopes that this installment becomes an enduring favorite.
