From the moment one assumes the mantle of governor in Anno 117: Pax Romana, the game casts a deliberate balance between grand ambition and measured calm. Set in the Roman era, the title invites the player to shape provinces, build cities, and carve out influence – whether through culture, commerce or the sword. Although the series’ familiar city-builder roots are discernible, the shift to ancient Rome carries a sense of fresh identity and context that the development team at Ubisoft Mainz have clearly embraced.
The narrative framework is serviceable and welcoming: you are entrusted by Rome to govern a province, restore order, expand influence, and decide whether you will cooperate with the Emperor – or maybe even challenge him. The story is not ambitious in the style of a cinematic epic; rather, it plays the role of a guiding companion as you grow your settlements. Some sequences feel introductory and lightly sketched out, giving the campaign a somewhat predictable feel at times. Nevertheless, the story succeeds in setting tone and purpose without overwhelming the core gameplay.
Gameplay here blends the comfortable with the refined. Building cities, creating supply chains, satisfying citizens’ needs and expanding across islands feels entirely in line with the series’ heritage – but with meaningful improvements. One immediately noticeable change is the freedom to build roads diagonally, creating more organic urban layouts rather than the rigid grid-based look and feel of past entries. This architectural flexibility injects aesthetic pleasure and subtly shifts the planning mindset. The management systems – citizen tiers, influence of culture, religious systems and technology trees – are deeper than they initially appear, enabling the feeling of governing rather than simply expanding. On the PlayStation 5, the controls translate well: the UI is streamlined, menus responsive and building placement feels fluid, which matters in a genre where friction can easily dim the joy.
Visually and sonically, the game is a treat. Provinces present contrasting environments: the warm heartland of Latium and the misty, boggy wetlands of Albion offer variety in terrain, architecture and atmosphere. The detail in buildings, the bustle of industry, the ebb and flow of citizens and goods – there’s character and life in the simulation. The soundtrack and audio cues complement the experience without drawing undue attention; the result is often calming, even meditative, as one watches a city live and breathe. That said, in very dense settlement states or during heavy UI navigation, slight performance hiccups or controller-navigation slowdowns can emerge on PS5 – minor nuisances rather than deal-breakers.
Yet, the game is not without its limitations. The campaign’s narrative impact falters at times: choices don’t always carry weight, and progression can feel incremental rather than dramatic. While naval and land-based skirmishes exist, their reward and integration into the broader economy sometimes feel undercooked compared to the rest of the systems. For veterans of the series expecting a seismic change, the mechanics may feel familiar – even comfortable – to a fault: the evolution is subtle rather than revolutionary. Additionally, in scenarios where one relaxes into the pace, there are moments when the challenge dips and the sense of demand eases – offering more serenity than urgency.
Taken as a whole, Anno 117: Pax Romana is a refined and assured entry in Anno’s city-builder lineage. On PS5 it delivers a smooth, polished experience, with smart adaptation of core mechanics for console play, and a setting that invigorates the formula rather than replacing it. For newcomers and series fans alike this should provide many hours of engrossing management, thoughtful decisions and urban elegance. The game may not upend the genre, but it reaffirms why this series has held sway for so long.
In conclusion, this is a strong title if one is prepared to trade dramatic narrative peaks and radical system overhauls for dependable mechanics, aesthetic polish and thoughtful design. If your ambition is to build, to plan and to govern rather than to battle your way to dominance, this game will suit you well, and will provide dozens of hours of enjoyment.
Score: 8.5/10
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