Anno 117

Anno 117 is a real-time strategy video game featuring single-player and multiplayer modes, including co-op in both the endless mode and the campaign mode. In the latter, players can choose to combine cultures or go fully Celtic. Players start on an island with limited resources, build a stable economy, and expand to other islands as resources and opportunities allow. When encountering rival governors, players can respond to competition through either diplomatic engagement or military conflict. The research tree contains over 100 unlocks, including buildings, units, bonuses, and repeatable technologies. == Synopsis ==

Setting and characters Anno 117 is set during the Pax Romana, a period of peace and prosperity in the Roman Empire. Players focus on expanding the empire, reflecting the era's emphasis on territorial growth. It is the earliest historical setting in the franchise to date. As Marcus, players follow a young man uncertain of himself as he takes on the unexpected role of a Roman governor, while Marcia rises to prominence in a male-dominated Roman Empire, challenging its societal norms. Plot The sibling (Marcus Naukratius or Marcia Tertia) is summoned to Latium by Emperor Lucius Augustus. The city of Ambrosia lies in ruins after a volcanic eruption and must be rebuilt under the new name Juliana. With guidance from the imperial advisor Ben Baalion, the sibling works to restore the city. Just as the province begins to recover, Emperor Augustus dies. Gnaeus Firmius Calidus seizes control of the Senate and crowns himself Emperor, forcing the sibling into exile in Albion, a remote and untamed land. In Albion, the sibling must gain the trust of the native Celtic population and establish new settlements. They encounter Voada, a Celtic leader, and tensions arise during their interactions. The sibling manages to settle the situation, stabilizes Albion and lays the groundwork for the empire's expansion. With the province secure, the future of its settlements and people rests in their hands. After finding success in Albion, Calidus allows the sibling to return to Latium. They participate in a triumph ceremony, reclaim Juliana and Calidus offers them a reward for their efforts. == Development ==

Anno 117 was developed by Ubisoft Mainz and published by Ubisoft. It is the eighth installment in the Anno series and follows known strategic city-building elements. The Federal Government of Germany subsidized the development with 5,697,585 euro, which was its highest funding amount to date for a single video-game project. The Minister for Economic Affairs presented the sum at Gamescom 2023. Mods have been supported since launch, though features like the in-game mod user interface and browser are still planned for post-release updates. In an interview with IGN, creative director Manuel Reinher stated that the team had focused on improving the starting experience for new players while maintaining the game's complexity. They aimed to make the game more modular, allowing new players to choose and explore specific provinces with more context and story. Core players were still expected to enjoy managing multiple lands and engaging in trade, as the game would be more adaptable and user-friendly. The team was committed to keeping the brand's legacy while introducing new features. The focus on fresh ideas and more social content was presented as a new way to meet player expectations. They described their rebranding efforts as a reason to expand the community and strengthen the partnership between players and developers for the best experience. In a developer livestream, Ubisoft revealed that Anno 117 introduces major changes to city-building, including optional needs that allow players to partially fulfill categorized requirements to advance population tiers. A new attribute system links resources to specific benefits and drawbacks, affecting attributes like population, income, and satisfaction. Additionally, production buildings provide positive or negative effects for nearby structures, encouraging strategic placement and more integrated city layouts. Developers told GameStar that Anno 117 addresses the reality of slavery in the Roman Empire through its story but avoids using it as a gameplay mechanic. Although slavery is not part of the gameplay, the game includes Liberti, freed slaves who make up the first working population and who often remained dependent on their former owners and had restrictive duties towards them. Release Anno 117 was revealed during the Ubisoft Forward showcase in June 2024. A live-action teaser trailer was released to accompany the announcement. It features a public herald reciting Roman scripture to an empty field of sheep, which compensated for the lack of gameplay footage. Shortly after the initial reveal, a screenshot was leaked after being accidentally uploaded to the official Anno site and quickly removed. The leaked image showed a large coastal settlement divided into several areas. The herald appeared in a second promotional video featuring 117 social media comments from people who had long wished for the Roman Empire to be the setting for the new Anno game. Several artworks were released, which, according to the developers, contain some hints about the game's content. In July 2024, Ubisoft Mainz held a contest via Anno Union in which anyone was able to design an ornament for Anno 117. A template was provided for the contest that fans could use to get creative. The silhouette of a statue needed to be completed and sent to Ubisoft. Two further community contests were held, with participants creating an in-game quest in the first and designing an island in the second. At Gamescom 2024, Ubisoft shared new details about Anno 117. Significant changes to established mechanics, especially through the concept of Romanization versus Celtic traditions, were introduced. Cultural paths that influence city development, production chains, and population progression were presented. In November 2024, the first official screenshots were released, showing the confirmed regions of Albion and Latium. The shown landscapes include rocky terrain, forested green areas, and a marsh-like environment. In February 2025, Ubisoft announced multiple closed beta periods for Anno 117, allowing players to sign up immediately for the first one. That same month, a developer trailer introduced modular ships as a new feature. GamingBolt reported that players can build and customize their ships with modifications such as oars for better maneuverability or extra sails to catch favorable winds. Polygon noted some changes from previous installments, such as the ability to construct buildings diagonally and the impact of production building placement on their surrounding area. At Gamescom 2025, attendants were able to play a demo version of the game. A PC-exclusive demo was released on 2 September 2025, featuring one hour of playable content. The soundtrack for Anno 117 was produced in collaboration with Dynamedion and released on 7 November 2025. The game was released on 13 November 2025 for PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S. Funding from the Federal Government of Germany was increased by 800,729 euro to support the release of the third planned DLC. == Reception ==

Critical response Anno 117 received "generally favorable" reviews, according to the review aggregator website Metacritic. OpenCritic stated that 91% of critics recommended the game. The city-building gameplay was well received by critics. TechRadar positively noted the game's engaging supply chain management and described it as more accessible than recent entries in the Anno series. IGN praised the immersive city-building experience and strong sense of a living, populated city. The story received mostly negative reviews, but Marcia's storyline earned some praise. 4Players criticized that the campaign story is completely overshadowed by the sheer number of economic systems, trade routes, and optimization possibilities. On Steam, the game peaked at 50,484 concurrent players, nearly doubling the player count of its predecessor. From 11 to 18 November 2025, it held the third spot on Steam's global bestseller chart. It topped the revenue rankings in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, while reaching second place in France, fifth in the UK and eighth in the United States. It ranked among Steam's best-selling games of 2025. In Germany, Anno 117 debuted at number two on the November 2025 sales chart, selling over 200,000 copies that month. It finished the year at number seven on Germany's annual chart, becoming the best-selling German-produced game of 2025. Accolades Prior to its release, Anno 117 received two Gamescom Awards at Gamescom 2025 for Best PC Game and Best Booth (Jury Award). It appeared on several year-end lists of 2025, including PC Games (5th), Die Zeit, NPR, and Der Spiegel. IGN honored it with the Best Strategy Game of 2025 award. The game received three nominations at the 2026 German Computer Game Award: Best German Game, Best Innovation and Technology and Best Audio Design. == Notes ==