Ubisoft Mainz’s upcoming title, Anno 117: Pax Romana, is shaping up to be a visually stunning and mechanically complex addition to the long-running Anno franchise. First revealed at a recent press preview, the game builds on the success of Anno 1800, a 2019 fan-favorite that marked a return to form for the series after less-loved futuristic installments. With Anno 117: Pax Romana, the franchise moves into one of its most requested historical eras: the height of the Roman Empire.
The game offers players a chance to build and manage sprawling Roman settlements across island chains, blending intricate city-building with detailed supply chain management. True to its roots, Anno 117 retains the series’ trademark mechanics of resource harvesting, production chains, trade routes, and strategic placement of infrastructure. Aesthetically, it leans into romanticized imagery of the Pax Romana period, complete with golden wheat fields, colorful Roman garments, and soothing ancient-themed music that immerses players in an idealized version of imperial life.
New Features and Expansive Customization
Among the notable additions in Anno 117: Pax Romana are several gameplay enhancements, including a religion system, a sprawling research tree, and the return of ground-based military forces alongside traditional naval elements. During the hands-on demo, players could build temples to Roman deities—such as Ceres or Poseidon—which grant bonuses tailored to specific playstyles. While the religion system appears light compared to deeper implementations in other strategy games, it contributes to the thematic cohesion of the game.
The research tree provides incremental upgrades to production efficiency and ship speed, offering strategic pathways without drastically altering gameplay mechanics. Another welcome update is the ability to construct diagonal roads and buildings, an aesthetic perk for players who prioritize visual creativity over pure efficiency.
In addition, players can choose between two major regions when beginning a campaign: the familiar Mediterranean core of the Roman Empire or a frontier-style British Isles setting. Only the former was available in the demo, but this geographic flexibility promises to diversify playthroughs and regional specializations.
Complex Systems, but a Challenging Learning Curve
While Anno 117: Pax Romana excels in visuals and mechanical depth, it stumbles in onboarding new players. Despite previous efforts in Anno 1800 to ease beginners into the series, the tutorial in this build of Anno 117 was criticized for being confusing and incomplete. Missing steps in instructions, lack of guidance for core systems, and overall reliance on prior franchise knowledge may deter first-time players. Even seasoned fans may find parts of the experience unclear without developer assistance.
That said, the game’s user interface is thoughtfully designed, offering intuitive overlays and helpful visual cues that partially offset the weak tutorial. These elements help players understand the impact of their decisions, a contrast to other recent strategy titles that fumbled UI clarity.
With its planned release later this year on Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, Anno 117: Pax Romana has the potential to attract a broader audience than ever before. However, for Ubisoft’s ambition of making Anno a mainstream crossover hit to succeed, refining the early-game learning experience will be critical.
