This week in our Pixel Sundays, we talk about one of the most significant city-building and economic simulation series — the Anno franchise. Over the years, players have been able to build and expand their cities across different eras. With the release of the upcoming Anno 117: Pax Romana only a few days away, we’re taking a look back at the full history of the franchise.

Summary

We’ll go through it chronologically as usual — starting with the classics, then moving into the modern era, and finally diving deep into Anno 117: Pax Romana.

The early years: The Anno classics

It all began with Anno 1602: Creation of a New World. The game was developed by the Austrian studio Max Design in cooperation with Sunflower Interactive from Germany. You start in the year 1602, taking control of a European colonial power. Your mission is to establish colonies and build an economy and trade network. The gameplay features different population stages within your colonies: starting with pioneers who explore and lay the foundation, then settlers, followed by citizens, and finally merchants, who bring in the big profits.

Anno 1602: Creation of a New World was a massive commercial success. In Germany, it won the “Computer Game of the Year” award and sold over 1.7 million copies in German-speaking countries. Globally, it reached more than 2.7 million sales by 2004. Anno 1602: Creation of a New World was re-released in 2024 as the “History Edition”, allowing players to experience the beginnings of the franchise on modern PCs.

The next title came in 2002 with Anno 1503: The New World. Once again developed by Max Design, the game expanded its mechanics considerably. Maps became larger, there were more islands, and production chains grew more complex. It became Germany’s best-selling game of 2002, with over 200,000 copies sold in less than a week. By 2006, it had sold over 2 million copies. Some criticism arose because the original version lacked multiplayer.

Then in 2006 came Anno 1701 with a bold vision. Following the success of the first two titles, Related Designs received a budget of around 10 million euros, making it the most expensive German game of its time. 1701 was the first installment to feature full 3D graphics. It introduced new building types, improved AI with distinct personalities, and more flexibility in island sizes and scenarios. This game too became a record-breaking bestseller.

Finally, we come to the last classic: Anno 1404. This was the first title published by Ubisoft and developed again by Related Designs/Blue Byte. Set in the Middle Ages/Renaissance, it focused on Hanseatic trade, crusades, and the construction of cathedrals and mosques. The gameplay emphasized not only settlement building and economic management but also the construction of monumental structures. With its historical setting, the game showcased the franchise’s growing diversity.

Transition and experimental settings

After so many historically themed titles, the developers wanted to try something completely new and took a bold leap into the future. On November 17, 2011, they released Anno 2070. Set in the near future, the game explored topics such as environmental issues, island colonization, and technological progress. Players could choose between two factions (Ecos and Tycoons), each with different approaches to city management and resource production. Anno 2070 introduced new gameplay mechanics such as environmental and climate factors. Rising sea levels could flood islands, affecting production and living conditions.

With the Deep Ocean expansion, underwater settlements were added — a significant departure from the traditional island-based gameplay. The game clearly broke away from its classic historical roots, embracing bold new ideas. This marked the beginning of the experimental era, where both setting and mechanics were reimagined.

On November 3, 2015, Anno 2205 was released. The game went even further into the futuristic direction, allowing you to build megacities on Earth and colonies on the Moon. The maps became even larger (up to five times bigger) and featured more scenarios. Additionally, production buildings became modular, and the game introduced new sector systems, architectural styles, and changes to trade and industry. However, some elements were reduced or simplified: no procedural maps, no multiplayer, and a simplified naval warfare system.

During this phase, the franchise wanted to move away from the classic Anno style and try something new. There were new gameplay mechanics, themes, and with that, new target audiences were reached. However, these games were not very popular, especially Anno 2205, since much of the depth was lost.

Return to Historical Strength: Anno 1800

Anno 1800 was the most recent game to be released. It launched on April 16, 2019 and returned to a historical setting in the year 1800. It is the seventh main entry in the Anno series and takes place at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. With this game, the developers decided to go back to the roots of the classic city-building and economic simulation formula.

Just like in the classic Anno titles, players must gather, process, and trade resources. Different islands offer various resources and production options. A central gameplay element is the transportation of resources between your islands. A newly introduced mechanic is tourism, allowing cities to become more attractive through hotels and visitor piers, generating additional income. The game world is divided into the “Old World” and the “New World”, with different island types and regions offering unique challenges and resources. There were also several quality of life improvements such as blueprints and a planning mode that lets players pre-place buildings.

Anno 1800 marked the return to the series’ historical strength after the mixed results of its experimental predecessors. It reinforced the familiar setting and gameplay that many fans loved. The game was a huge success and received very positive reviews on Steam. Additionally, it won several German awards such as the German Computer Game Award 2020 in the categories of “Best German Game” and “Best Game Design.” The game successfully combined lessons from previous and experimental entries, creating a title that almost everyone enjoyed.

Focus on Anno 117: Pax Romana

Now let’s finally talk about the newest entry, Anno 117: Pax Romana, which releases on November 13, 2025. This title takes the franchise into ancient times for the first time, specifically into the year 117 AD during the era of Pax Romana. At the start of the game, players can choose between two starting provinces: the Roman heartland of “Latium” or the Celtic-influenced “Albion”.

Pax Romana also introduces several new gameplay mechanics. There’s a new faith/religion system that affects populations and provinces. Another major addition is production buildings with environmental effects, making strategic placement more important. Players will also be able to customize ships with various components like sails or oars. The developers aim to make the game accessible to both newcomers and long-time fans while keeping the depth intact.

Anno 117: Pax Romana launches on November 13, 2025 for PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. It will be available in two editions: the Standard Edition and the Gold Edition. The Gold Edition includes the Year 1 Pass featuring the first three DLCs planned for 2026. As a pre-order bonus, both editions include the Builder Pack.

Anno 117 is seen as a potential milestone for the franchise. It brings the series back to its historical roots while also improving technical aspects and introducing exciting gameplay innovations. The brand remains true to its origins yet continues to evolve and expand. This allows it to attract new players while still retaining its fan base. Early tests from Gamescom and streamers with early access have been very positive, though it remains to be seen how deep the new mechanics go and how much they change the overall gameplay experience.

Outlook and Conclusion

With Anno 117: Pax Romana, the series reaches a new peak. After more than 25 years, Ubisoft Mainz once again manages to blend history and strategy in an impressive way. The step into antiquity not only brings a fresh setting but also new gameplay possibilities that meaningfully expand the established concept.

The future remains exciting, but one thing is certain: Anno continues to be one of the most important city-building series ever made. Whether in the Renaissance, the Industrial Age, or now the Roman Empire, the heart of the series remains the joy of creating a living world, optimizing it, and watching it flourish across generations. With this new installment, Ubisoft proves once again that tradition and innovation can coexist, forming the foundation for many more years of Anno history to come.

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