In the heart of Rome, just a stone’s throw from the remnants of the empire it seeks to virtually revive, Ubisoft unveiled its most ambitious historical city builder yet: Anno 117: Pax Romana. With the Colosseum as both backdrop and symbol, the publisher offered an exclusive hands-on preview of a game that dares to transform city-building strategy with grandeur, depth, and unapologetic complexity.
Fresh from the success of Anno 1800, which saw the series reclaim its identity as a powerhouse in the genre, Pax Romana strides deeper into history than any previous installment, taking players to the zenith of Roman peace and prosperity. But if you're expecting a laid-back empire management sim, think again. This is a demanding, nuanced, and meticulously layered experience that rewards patience and punishes oversight.
The Setting: Rome at Its Peak
Set in 117 AD, the game spans the vast territories of the Roman Empire at its territorial height under Emperor Trajan. From Britannia’s misty cliffs to the sunbaked cities of Syria, players will assume the role of a Roman governor tasked with maintaining order, fostering economic growth, and navigating the treacherous waters of Roman politics.
What immediately sets Pax Romana apart is its breathtaking world design. Every cityscape pulses with life—citizens bustle through forums, artisans hammer out marble statues, and olive groves shimmer under the Mediterranean sun. The attention to historical detail is obsessive; aqueducts arch gracefully through settlements, legionnaires march in formation, and public baths steam with activity.
This isn’t just window dressing. Every detail is a cog in the massive simulation Ubisoft has engineered—one where every trade route, tax decree, or temple offering can tip the balance of your province’s stability.
Gameplay: A Strategy Game for the Patient Mind
In true Anno fashion, Pax Romana is a game of cause and effect. But while previous entries leaned more toward economic expansion and trade, 117 adds a heavy dose of political intrigue and cultural management.
New gameplay systems include:
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Roman Senate Dynamics – Players must curry favor with different factions within the Senate, each pushing conflicting agendas. Ignore them at your peril; one missed vote could result in a funding cut or political sabotage.
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Cultural Assimilation – Occupied territories now demand more than infrastructure. You’ll need to introduce Roman customs, build amphitheaters, and balance assimilation with local unrest.
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Military Integration – While combat remains abstract, maintaining a military presence to quell revolts or enforce decrees is now part of your strategic toolbox.
Even the bread-and-butter mechanics like resource chains and trade routes have been overhauled. Building a supply line from North Africa’s grain fields to feed a growing Gallic outpost? That’s not just one road—it's six contracts, three merchant factions, and one political bribe away from working efficiently.
Ubisoft calls it “historical immersion.” We call it a beautiful challenge.
A Tough Learning Curve That Might Deter Casual Fans
Make no mistake: Pax Romana is not for the faint of heart. Even seasoned players of Anno 1800 may find themselves overwhelmed in the early hours. Tutorials exist, but much like the Roman legal system, they’re dense and procedural.
At one point during our demo, mismanaging a sanitation project in Antioch triggered a chain reaction—plague outbreaks, loss of trade productivity, a Senate reprimand, and eventual citizen exodus. A harsh lesson in Roman urban planning, but an undeniably gripping one.
That said, there’s a slow-burn satisfaction to mastering these systems. Watching a failing frontier post blossom into a loyal Roman city through careful diplomacy and economic foresight is one of the most rewarding experiences in strategy gaming today.
Visuals, Sound, and Atmosphere: A Living History Book
Graphically, Pax Romana sets a new high watermark for the series. The game’s real-time day-night cycle, dynamic weather effects, and photorealistic textures bring the ancient world vividly to life. Smoke rises from blacksmiths’ forges at dawn, birds flock across villa rooftops, and torchlight flickers down cobblestone streets by night.
The sound design matches this fidelity. The music, composed with authentic Roman instruments and motifs, shifts with city size and tension. Voice acting—especially during Senate interactions—adds layers of gravitas, humor, and tension.
Every province you govern feels unique, from the arid heat of Judea to the lush valleys of Gaul. It’s less a game world, more a living diorama of empire.
Multiplayer and Mod Support
Ubisoft has confirmed that Anno 117 will support cooperative multiplayer campaigns, allowing friends to co-manage provinces or compete for Senate influence. There’s also early talk of mod support, a welcome addition for a community known for deep scenario-building and aesthetic enhancements.
Release Window and Platforms
Anno 117: Pax Romana is slated for release in Q4 2025, and will launch on PC with optimized settings for high-end rigs and a tailored interface for ultrawide monitors. A cloud version for Ubisoft+ and possible console adaptation remain under internal discussion.
Conclusion: A Strategy Epic in the Making
In a gaming landscape flooded with safe sequels and recycled mechanics, Anno 117: Pax Romana stands as a bold and uncompromising vision. It’s a game that refuses to hold your hand—but rewards you tenfold if you persist.
This is not just another city builder. It’s an ode to complexity, a celebration of systems thinking, and a love letter to Roman history. Whether it becomes the next great Anno or remains a niche gem for strategy purists, one thing is clear: Ubisoft is not afraid to build empires the hard way.