Anno 117: Pax Romana - The art of peace

Peace is work. In "Anno 117: Pax Romana", it means wood, stone and patience and the art of mediating between two worlds. Ubisoft Mainz relocates the series to the Roman Empire, at the height of its power, and turns empire-building into a game about responsibility. Two provinces, two perspectives: sun-drenched Latium and misty Albion. Between order and wilderness, an Anno is created that is less about expansion and more about trying to maintain balance.

The introduction leads to Latium. Here, structure reigns: smooth marble streets, olive groves, fountain squares and the tranquillity of an empire that believes in its longevity. We play Marcia Tertia, daughter of a Roman dignitary, who becomes a governor against her will - or alternatively Marcus, her more pragmatic counterpart. Her mission: to manage her husband's estate and found a city that honours the emperor. What follows is classic Anno: familiar production chains, precise cycles, steady growth from fishery to forum. Latium feels like a throwback to the best of the series, clear and well thought-out, elegant and bright at the same time.

Albion, on the other hand, is the opposite. There is no marble here, just rain, swamp and fog. Roman discipline clashes with Celtic independence and the game changes. Instead of bricks, clay and thatch are used, instead of wine there are eels and cockleshells. Wood is scarce, paths have to be built as footbridges through the moor, and even the wind seems to work against progress. What was order in Lazio becomes improvisation here.

The special thing: Both regions are on an equal footing. You can start the game in Latium or Albion and later develop the other province. Trade relations, dependencies and tensions arise between them, creating a system that regulates itself if you let it. Ships secure the routes, while pirates challenge peace on the open sea - those who manage their fleets wisely not only protect trade, but also the idea of empire. Anno 117 builds on the familiar without repeating itself. It takes the structures of Anno 1800 and places them in a world that forces us to rethink them.

One of the cleverest ideas lies in the decisions that the game does not make for you. In Albion, you can decide whether to impose Roman culture or preserve Celtic traditions. Romano-Celts eat more delicately, build more structurally and learn faster. If you stick to the old customs, the people live more modestly, but with greater strength of faith. This choice changes production chains, buildings, cityscapes and atmosphere - and it is not permanent. Those who Romanise in one era can later return to their roots. The empire, says Anno 117, is not a rigid system, but a process of negotiation.

There are also small but noticeable innovations: Production buildings influence the mood of the environment, craftsmen prefer to live next to spinning mills rather than coal piles. Gods can be chosen as patron saints to improve harvests or fishing, while the emperor himself intervenes in the politics of the provinces with demands and favours. Those who fulfil his expectations will gain his respect, those who disregard them will be watched with suspicion - a subtle game of loyalty and independence. And the new building system allows cities to grow organically - less grid, more rhythm. All of this feels familiar, but more up-to-date. The mechanics remain precise, but the game thinks in a more human way.

Technically, the Roman cities gleam in warm colours, the Celtic villages shimmer in the haze. People trade, children play, taverns open at night. The pace remains leisurely, the overview clear. Especially compared to modern building games, Anno 117 feels pleasantly decelerated.

In the end, the power of the empire takes centre stage rather than that of the administration. Pax Romana, the Roman peace, was never a gift, but a system of control, planning and compromise. Anno 117 understands this and applies it to its mechanics: The player is not a conqueror, but a mediator. Between Rome and Britain, progress and patience, culture and nature.

Perhaps this is the greatest strength of this new Anno. It doesn't explain how to rule, it explains how to maintain. It's not about expansion and much more about understanding. Peace is created here because someone is paying attention.</p

"Anno 117: Pax Romana" is a clever development that doesn't change the core of the series, but refines its tone. It remains a game about economy, cycles and growth, but becomes a game about responsibility. Ubisoft Mainz has understood that standing still doesn't have to be a step backwards if you can shape it.

→ If you want to delve even deeper into the world of construction after this excursion into the Roman Empire: You can find more highlights in our "Level Up" section - and of course in the current issue.