Anno 117: Pax Romana
OpenCritic
Strong
IGDB
OpenCritic Score
Score Distribution
"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."
Finding live streams...
About Anno 117: Pax Romana
Anno 117: Pax Romana is a strategy simulator from Ubisoft Blue Byte, dropping you into the Roman Empire of 117 AD. You play as a governor tasked with managing cities, balancing resources, and deciding whether to build through diplomacy or conquer through force. Released in November 2025, it’s the latest in the Anno series, offering both single-player campaigns and co-op multiplayer. The game blends city-building with real-time military strategy, letting you trade goods, train legions, and manage unrest. It’s a deep, systems-heavy title aimed at players who enjoy long-term planning and economic simulation. The core hook? Shaping the empire’s fate through every decision, from infrastructure to war.
Gameplay
You start with a small settlement, quickly expanding by sourcing timber, stone, and food. Managing production chains is key, mine resources, build roads, and assign workers to avoid bottlenecks. Military units can be drafted for defense or conquest, but overextending your legions risks supply lines. Each session mixes real-time management with strategic planning: upgrading buildings, negotiating trade routes, and responding to rebellions. Multiplayer allows up to four players to collaborate or compete, though it requires careful coordination. Controls are responsive, with hotkeys for quick resource switching. The game leans into micromanagement, rewarding patience but punishing mistakes like overtaxing citizens or neglecting public services.
What Players Think
Pre-launch, 72% of PlayPile users marked it as "interested," with 23% calling it "essential." Critics gave it an 84/100 score for depth, though 35% of early reviews noted a steep learning curve. Average playtime is projected at 45+ hours, with 12% of players achieving full completion. Community moods split between "ambitious" (41%) and "daunted" (28%). One review called it "a masterclass in empire-building," while another griped, "Too many overlapping systems for first-time strategists." The game’s 115 achievements include milestones like founding 10 cities or winning a war without casualties.
PlayPile's Take
This is for strategy veterans who thrive in complexity. At $59.99, it’s a mid-tier investment for a game that demands time. If you’ve mastered titles like Cities: Skylines or Age of Empires and crave more depth, it’s worth the price. But casual players may struggle with the grind. The co-op mode adds replayability, though solo play offers more freedom. Stick with it through the first 20 hours, and the payoff is a rewarding, if overwhelming, historical strategy experience.
Game Modes
Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
IGDB Rating
85.0
Deals
Finding deals...
Achievements
Loading achievements...
Similar Games
Finding similar games...
Buzzing on Bluesky
But Why Tho?
@butwhytho.net
This week, we had the chance to play ANNO 117: PAX ROMANA and talk with Game Director Manu Reinher about the next game in the 25 year old franchise. Look for all the coverage this May!
Koneteo
@koneteo.bsky.social
🔥First screenshots from Anno 117: Pax Romana. Developed by Ubisoft Mainz, the game will also be released on Steam on day 1. #Anno117 #ubisoft #gaming #steam #gamedev #videogames
Matt Donahue
@dattm18.bsky.social
I reviewed Anno 117: Pax Romana. This one of my favorite games of the year. Excited to see where this game ends up butwhytho.net/2025/11/anno...
Dr Holly Nielsen
@hollynielsen.bsky.social
Tomorrow at 4pm CEST/3pm BST @mattlewishistory.bsky.social & I are going to be interviewing Matt Cook, Senior Writer of the game Anno 117: Pax Romana, live at the Ubisoft booth at Gamescom ⚔️ You can apparently watch live on twitch or YouTube www.twitch.tv/gamescom www.youtube.com/@gamescom.gl...
Aila
@aila.bsky.social
Is it the 13th yet? Work work work and then I'm taking the day off to play Anno 117: Pax Romana I shall be Cesar. All will bow before me and my mighty Roman islands. Don't ask me how much of my life I spent on the last Anno game. I loved it way too much.
Maurice Verschuur
@mauriceverschuur.bsky.social
Ubisoft highlights strong game performance - Assassin’s Creed: session days +7% QoQ, +28% YoY - Anno 117: Pax Romana outpaced Anno 1800 at launch - Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora boosted engagement with new expansion - Rainbow Six Siege and The Division 2 showed improving momentum
VidaoPantalla
@vidaopantalla.bsky.social
¡ #Anno117PaxRomana se lleva 2 premios y #Ubisoft uno propio en la #Gamescom #Gamescom2025! Best PC Game Best Booth (Jury Award): Anno 117: Pax Romana Hands-On Booth + Ubisoft’s Community Lounge Best Business Booth (Jury Award): Ubisoft’s Business Lounge
Troed Sångberg
@troed.swecyb.com.ap.brid.gy
Those of you waiting for Anno 117: Pax Romana might be interested in knowing that it seems to work on Bazzite. At least I managed to play the demo yesterday, by forcing Proton Experimental. The game did seem to "hang" on every single launch screen, but just closing it and restarting made it […]