Anno 117: Pax Romana Reviews
Ultimately, Anno 117: Pax Romana doesn’t try to change the series; instead, it makes it better by putting it in a time period that brings out its best parts. It is a well-thought-out city-building game that knows exactly what it wants to be: calm but challenging, easy to get into but deep, and based on history without being limited by it.
Polished city-building that goes the extra mile to create character and meaning to your block-dropping feats.
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.
Anno 117 doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but the addition of land combat and the ability to further customize your cities with diagonal roads and decorations brings even more satisfaction to the successful formula of a strategy series with a gameplay formula like no other.
I donned my proto-capitalist top hat and tails and got to work.
Anno 117 Pax Romana is a structurally sound colony builder set in a Romanized world filled with flair and gravitas. For those who struggle to find joy in expanding their influence, the busy UI may disrupt the experience and confuse. It’s a game designed for risk-takers who won't hesitate to make tough choices to reap the rewards of a tantalizingly broad array of intuitive city-building mechanics.
There are some pacing issues with the campaign, and I have questions about the longevity of single-player modes, but that does not take away from the fact that this is an excellent city builder that tells a Roman tale with the grandeur it deserves.
Anno 117: Pax Romana is an incredibly rich historical strategy game that adapts to whatever the player needs it to be. Whether that's a cosy city-builder offering boundless customisation, a deep economy management sim, or a competitive RTS, Ubisoft Mainz ticks all the boxes with flair.
Like the Roman Empire itself, the game is a perfect platform for inevitable expansion. Meanwhile, there’s plenty of quality content for fans of the genre.
Anno 117: Pax Romana is the city builder comfort food: you love it the way it is and you don't want surprises in it. The user interface should be thought at design masterclass as a case study, while the campaign should be brought as an example of what not to do with a story.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Anno 117: Pax Roma delivers the same satisfying city-building loop as Anno 1800 but offers little innovation beyond a Roman skin. While still fun and deep for newcomers, veterans may find it more like a reskin. The PS5 version suffers from mediocre graphics, hard to navigate UI, and awkward controller support - but keyboard and mouse are supported. Good game, flawed console port.
The gameplay is easy to learn but challenging to master, and in terms of bringing new audiences to Anno, I think this can do it, without overwhelming them with the systems. Still, that depth and challenge are there for those seeking it, especially for those among us with hundreds of hours in one save.
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Review in French | Read full review
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Review in Italian | Read full review
Anno 117: Pax Romana is a fantastic new entry in a relatively niche genre that offers more accessible gameplay without sacrificing the depth that the city-building genre is known (and loved) for.
Though not exactly gentle on new players, Anno 117: Pax Romana is not only one of the most stunning city-builders I have ever played, but it is also extremely rewarding.
Anno 117 is, as a whole, a fine game that will allow fans of the series to enter a new era and enjoy mechanics that are more complex than those of its predecessor. The soundtrack is great, and the graphics are very pleasing to the eye. However, I feel that Ubisoft has played it a little too safe and lazy. Although I personally love Anno 1800, I didn't necessarily want the new instalment to be so similar to it.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Anno 117: Pax Romana continues the series' steady forward stride, refining an already well-established design while introducing new systems that genuinely refresh the experience. It delivers a layer of novelty that sets it apart from previous entries, without losing the strategic depth that defines the franchise.
Review in Chinese | Read full review
Masterful Roman-themed city-builder with deep gameplay systems for enthusiasts and an accessible story campaign for casuals.
Anno 117: Pax Romana is a more measured, relaxed city builder than its predecessor, operating on a smaller scale while reshuffling key elements of the series' well-established formula to varying amounts of success. Both familiar and refreshing, it makes you think differently about how you build your cities.