Ubisoft’s long-awaited city-builder *Anno 117: Pax Romana* officially launches today—Thursday, November 13, 2025—on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5, bringing players into the heart of ancient Rome’s golden age with a fresh twist on the beloved franchise. Set during the early years of the Roman Empire, the game invites players to construct thriving cities, manage intricate trade networks, and navigate a world rich with cultural and political nuance.
Unlike earlier entries in the series that often leaned into futuristic or fantastical settings, *Anno 117* grounds its gameplay in historical inspiration—though with creative liberties that sidestep darker realities like Roman slavery, instead focusing on *liberti*, or freed citizens, as the foundational population class. This thoughtful decision not only modernizes the setting but also allows the game to explore themes of civic growth, cultural integration, and imperial influence without glorifying oppression.
At the core of *Anno 117* is a dual-region experience. Players begin in the sun-drenched province of Latium, where olive groves, lavender farms, and bustling forums paint a vivid Mediterranean landscape. As their empire expands, they’ll sail north to the misty shores of Albion—ancient Britain—home to Celtic settlements with distinct architecture, resources, and traditions. One of the game’s standout features is the cultural choice players must make in Albion: whether to preserve local Celtic customs or fully Romanize the populace. Each path offers unique bonuses, challenges, and opportunities for hybrid strategies that reward thoughtful planning.
Trade remains the lifeblood of *Anno 117*. The game’s logistics system is both robust and accessible, allowing players to assign individual ships to complex, multi-stop trade routes spanning islands and continents. Want to supply your patricians with exotic cheese from distant shores? You’ll need dedicated vessels, well-placed warehouses, and perhaps even auxiliary colonies to streamline delivery—a layer of strategic depth that fans of supply-chain optimization will relish.
Naval combat has also seen significant upgrades. Ships handle with satisfying realism, their maneuverability dictated by whether they’re wind-powered, oar-driven, or a hybrid of both. Players must protect their trade lanes from increasingly aggressive pirates, turning naval engagements into tactical ballets of positioning and timing. While ground combat is more straightforward, it still offers enough variety to feel meaningful during the occasional land siege.
Diplomacy centers on a dynamic relationship with the Roman Emperor, who issues demands that shape your reputation with the empire. Align yourself with imperial authority to earn the title of Consul—or defy it so thoroughly that you seize Proconsular power in Caesar’s mold. Both paths are viable and dramatically alter late-game progression.
The game includes a story-driven campaign (roughly 10 hours long) featuring two playable protagonists—Marcus and Marcia—each offering unique narrative flavors. However, much of the game’s replayability lies in its endless mode, which supports customizable difficulty levels, rival governors with distinct AI personalities, and open-ended empire-building across both regions.
Despite some classic *Anno* pitfalls—such as economy death spirals triggered by minor mismanagement—the game’s polished interface and responsive trade mechanics make recovery possible with smart planning. While character animations in cutscenes occasionally suffer from lip-sync issues, the world itself brims with charm, from animated citizens in tunics to serene waters teeming with marine life.
With *Anno 117: Pax Romana*, Ubisoft delivers a thoughtful, visually rich, and mechanically satisfying entry that both honors the series’ legacy and boldly reimagines its historical context. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer to the franchise, there’s never been a better time to raise your standards—and your aqueducts—under the Roman sun.
