Pax Romana is Doing Something the Series Has Never Done Before

Just like any other popular strategy franchise, Anno tries to evolve its core formula with each subsequent entry. From one Anno entry to the next, players can expect to find new gameplay mechanics, overhauled visuals, refined UI, and fresh ideas that breathe new life into the franchise. Anno 117: Pax Romana looks like it’ll include everything on that list.

Set to release on November 13, Anno 117: Pax Romana is launching six years after its predecessor, Anno 1800. But while Anno 117: Pax Romana is certainly continuing this trend of evolving the series’ core formula, there’s one big tradition that the new entry is leaving in the past.

Anno 117: Pax Romana Is Breaking a 27-Year-Long Series Tradition

There have been a total of seven mainline Anno entries over the last 27 years. Each one has taken place in a different era, ranging from settings that are based primarily on real-world history like Anno 1800 and Anno 1404, to more fantastical settings like the futuristic worlds of Anno 2070 and Anno 2205. But regardless of setting, every Anno game (on Continuous Mode) has begun with the player laying their colony’s foundations on a randomized island, often one that the player has little choice over, and occasionally one that’s part of a specific larger region:

Anno 1602 – Players start on a ship near a randomized island

Anno 1503 – Players start on a randomized island

Anno 1701 – Players start on a randomized island settled in the Queen’s name

Anno 1404 – Players start on a ship near Lord Northburgh’s Warehouse

Anno 2070 – Players start on a floating base called The Ark

Anno 2205 – Players start in the Temperate Regions

Anno 1800 – Players start in The Old World

Some of these Anno titles eventually offer the opportunity to explore new regions and establish new colonies and trade routes to unlock items that are exclusive to that region. Anno 1800, for instance, lets players explore The New World and its Jungle Regions further into the game, and Anno 2205 sees players exploring and colonizing the Arctic Regions and eventually the Moon. But while players can venture out to these regions later on in their career, all Anno games, including 1800 and 2205, restrict the player to start in a randomized location in a specific region.

Anno 117: Pax Romana Lets Players Choose Between Two Starting Provinces

For the first time in franchise history, Anno 117: Pax Romana is giving players the choice of two different regions when they start a game: Latium or Albion. These two regions present unique challenges and opportunities, such as different skill trees to invest in and different pantheons to worship.

The Differences Between Anno 117’s Latium and Albion Provinces Explained

For those looking for the most straightforward and traditional Anno experience, Anno 117: Pax Romana’s Latium is likely the best option. The heart of the Roman Empire, Latium is the western region of Italy where Rome still stands today. When choosing Latium as Anno 117’s starting province, players have just one goal: create a thriving Roman city. To achieve this, players will have access to the best Roman technologies, buildings, and even unique abilities from the Roman gods themselves, such as reduced unit maintenance costs from Mars, the Roman god of war.

Choosing Albion at the start of Anno 117: Pax Romana offers an intriguing twist on the traditional Anno formula. While the overarching goal is still to guide Albion to greatness, players will be faced with the constant challenge of balancing two very different societies. On one hand, players can choose to embrace the Celtic traditions of Albion’s natives, which paves the way for unique buildings, technologies, and a different pantheon of gods. On the other hand, they can choose to impose their Roman way of life on Albion’s citizens, and bring over the architecture and technology of their Latium homeland.

This balance of beliefs is the greatest defining difference between Anno 117: Pax Romana’s Latium and Albion starting provinces, and is undoubtedly one of the upcoming entry’s most exciting gameplay additions.