How Anno 117 Blends Roman and Celtic Cultures in City-Building

City-building games have long captivated players with their blend of strategy and creativity, but Anno 117: Pax Romana, developed by Ubisoft Mainz, pushes the genre into uncharted territory. Set during the Roman Empire's peak in 117 CE, this latest entry in the Anno series invites players to govern provinces with a twist: you can steer your society toward Roman urban ideals or preserve the distinct traditions of indigenous Celtic cultures. Demonstrated at Gamescom 2025, the game's dual-province approach, spanning Latium and Albion, introduces a level of cultural and economic depth that feels both ambitious and refreshing.

What makes this game stand out is its refusal to settle for familiar mechanics. While previous Anno titles, like the commercially successful Anno 1800 with over 2 million copies sold, focused heavily on economic simulation, Anno 117 weaves in social and cultural layers. Players manage resources, and they also shape the identity of their settlements, from the materials used in construction to the religious practices of their citizens. This shift promises to keep the genre relevant for PC and console audiences alike.

At the heart of Anno 117 lies its dual-culture system, a feature that sets it apart from other city-builders. From the start, players choose between Latium, a fully Roman province with structured urban grids, or Albion, a Celtic region defined by wetland-specific materials like wattle-and-daub housing and eel fisheries. Previewers at Gamescom 2025 noted how these choices visibly transform city layouts. Opting for Celtic traditions results in sprawling, organic settlements that blend with the marshy landscape, while Romanization brings rigid brickwork and aqueducts.

The game's cultural alignment slider impacts aesthetics, production chains, and citizen classes. For example, choosing Celtic religious bonuses might boost local resource yields, while Roman practices could unlock advanced infrastructure. This dynamic system encourages replayability, as each choice creates divergent economic loops and visual identities. Compared to Tropico's colonial-era dilemmas, Anno 117's approach feels more grounded in historical context, offering players a chance to explore the complexities of Roman imperialism.

While the game's depth is a draw, it also raises questions about accessibility. The dual-province system and layered mechanics, including modular ship design and 4X-style exploration, add complexity that might overwhelm casual console players. Ubisoft Mainz has carried over accessibility features from Anno 1800, like color-blind palettes and UI scaling, to broaden its appeal. Still, some previewers expressed concerns about the learning curve, especially for those new to the series' intricate economic systems.

Performance is another consideration. With larger population counts and multi-island economies, the game demands robust optimization across PC and consoles. Developers have touted improved multithreaded rendering, partly supported by a German Federal Ministry grant, to ensure smooth gameplay. However, always-online features could pose challenges in regions with unstable internet, a point raised by community feedback on Anno Union.

Anno 117's approach echoes other games that blend history with strategy, but it carves its own path. Take Frostpunk 2, a competitor in the 2025 city-building space, which focuses on survival and societal tension. Anno 117, by contrast, emphasizes cultural evolution and economic trade-offs, offering a less grim but equally thoughtful experience. Its dual-culture mechanic, for instance, allows players to explore rebellion arcs or embrace imperial rule, a flexibility that adds role-playing depth.

The game treads a fine line with its portrayal of Roman conquest. Academic historians consulted by Ubisoft Mainz ensure material authenticity, like the contrast between Roman brickwork and Celtic timber construction. Still, depicting conquered peoples raises ethical questions about romanticizing imperialism. The option to pursue rebellion paths helps, but ratings boards will likely scrutinize portrayals of slavery and warfare. As the game launches on November 13, 2025, its ability to balance educational value with engaging gameplay will be key to its lasting impact.