Anno 117: Pax Romana Reviews
For a series that has experienced highs and lows, Anno 117: Pax Romana is an astounding high that proves just how good the city simulation genre can be, with a near-flawless approach to gameplay, UI and visual design – the only thing holding the game back is a story lacking in weight, with the female protagonist having an interesting subplot, but the majority of the main story boiling down to a slight inconvenience in the overall experience.
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.
Anno 117 Pax Romana is the best game in the franchise so far; its addictive gameplay, depth of systems, and visuals make it a must-have for both fans of the genre and those who want to get started in city building.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Anno 117: Pax Romana is not just another entry in the franchise; it is one of the strongest. The Roman setting harmonises perfectly with Anno’s economic, social, and architectural systems. The citizen hierarchy is engaging, the economy is rich, the military layer is meaningful, and the cities are simply breathtaking to watch. It has occasional difficulty spikes and some busy interface moments, but these minor flaws are easily overshadowed by its brilliance. Whether you are a long-time Anno fan or simply someone who wants to build marble cities, raise legions, and shout “For Rome!” at your monitor, Pax Romana is a triumph worthy of an emperor’s laurel crown. I award Anno 117: Pax Romana the prestigious Platinum Thumb Culture Award!
Ubisoft have done it again with the Anno series. It’s pleasing to see that the functionality with an Xbox controller is still fantastic. Ultimately, the game probably plays best on a PC with a mouse and keyboard, as this genre always does. But the experience isn’t hampered in the slightest, with great work on the UI and controller-friendly interfaces. If you, like me, enjoyed Anno 1800 and are looking for a similar experience in an alternative era, with different scenarios and pacing, you’ll adore your time with it.
"City Management with a Roman Spirit" Anno 117: Pax Romana offers one of the most profound city-building experiences in recent years. The game strikes an excellent balance between economic management, logistical challenges, and island-wide expansion, all supported by stunning graphics and immersive sound. Despite the initial difficulty and dense menus, the strategic system provides a constant sense of progress and control. A perfect experience for fans of the series and management games in general.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
A demanding but rewarding empire builder that makes Rome worth rebuilding again and again.
Anno 117: Pax Romana proves to be an excellent simulator, worthy of the rich historical period that inspires it and also of the legacy of Ubisoft's long-running franchise. The fact that not even its technical flaws are enough to prevent a wider recommendation is a testament to the quality of its systems and all the fun involved in planning, building, and managing ancient cities.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Anno 117: Pax Romana is a fantastic strategy game that can swallow you up for hours on end. The simplicity and ease of the construction system allows you to create beautiful cities and hides a complex system of production and trade. Even for a newcomer to the franchise, it is quite welcoming, with a campaign that, while not brilliant, teaches you everything you need to know to start building your empire.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Anno 117 is not the most complex Anno ever made, but it is one of the most enjoyable. The Roman setting is rich, the building system is the best the series has seen, and the cultural mechanics give the game a unique identity. As a veteran player, I appreciate how confidently it knows what it wants to be.
Anno 117: Pax Romana is another step forward in the evolution of the series, mainly thanks to the introduction of new features to the mechanics foundations. At the same time, these improvements feel more like an evolution than a revolution, ensuring that fans of earlier installments will have no trouble feeling just like at home, even if it’s their first time playing a console version.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Anno 117: Pax Romana is recommended because it is a new installment in the series that veterans will feel comfortable playing and is very accessible to new players. It has enough content to keep you busy for weeks. It's not the giant leap forward that some might expect, but it is a remarkably strong, well-crafted installment with a very promising future.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Anno 117: Pax Romana delivers a deep, rewarding city-building experience that effortlessly pulls you in and keeps you hooked for hours.
Anno 117: Pax Romana takes the series to the Roman era for the first time, delivering a fresh yet familiar experience. The campaign tells a surprisingly personal story with political tensions and cultural contrasts. The new province structure, expanded land battles, and greater role for religion and culture add depth to the gameplay. Visually, the game is clearly stronger than its predecessor, and wandering through your city is a joy. The sandbox mode remains the heart of Anno, once again providing endless building fun. Despite some technical flaws, it's a strong and atmospheric addition to the series.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
If you love building sims or want something with more strategy than the usual management games, Anno 117 is worth your time. For me, it was a great introduction to the series and a smooth step into a more complex style of city building. It challenged me, taught me and kept me coming back. I am glad I gave it a chance.
Anno 117: Pax Romana offers an almost perfect balance between accessibility and customization, delivering a strategy game that is easy to play, with fantastic visuals and content for hundreds of hours, with the potential to become even better through future updates and expansions.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
“Anno 117” takes the best aspects about “Anno 1800” and polishes it to an unprecedented degree. Alongside a more in-depth second region and the addition of a research tree, deities, simple yet satisfying land battles and —of course— new productions chains, it’s a new gold standard for the franchise. I can see myself playing for years to come.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Anno 117: Pax Romana is a fantastic way to build up an empire on consoles. With deep, interesting gameplay and an engrossing layer of Roman lore, it's hard to not find a steady time sink in this RTS treasure.
Anno 117: Pax Romana—at the time of its release—seems more like a missed opportunity than a promising future for the series.
Review in Greek | Read full review
The new entry in Ubisoft’s excellent city building franchise has you getting your sandals dirty and your toga all sweaty in one of the most approachable genre games to date with Anno 117: Pax Romana.