20 Best Games Like Anno 117: Pax Romana – Fan Favorites 2026

So I’m telling you, that same appeal shows up here: the satisfaction of taking control, organizing resources, and guiding your people through new challenges.

Whatever your style, these great games will offer strategic depth, fresh decisions, and plenty of room to grow your next empire.

Our Top Picks for Games Like Anno 117: Pax Romana

Before you jump into the full list, here are the three titles that, in my experience, capture that mix of planning, strategy, and growing settlements into a thriving empire better than anything else:

Tropico 6 CITY BUILDER A sharp blend of political intrigue, economic prowess, and island-city management. Its flexible production chains and constant decisions make it perfect if you want new challenges beyond classic Roman provinces.

Cities: Skylines

CITY BUILDER

A modern city builder that rewards smart layouts and long-term planning. Watching your city come alive makes it one of the truly great games for anyone who loves to create and refine urban systems.

Banished

CITY BUILDER

A tough city building experience where every resource matters and your people’s lives are always on the line. Perfect for fans of similar games that demand careful planning from the very first hut.

These three are already top-tier picks, but keep scrolling, the full list brings even more depth, variety, and worlds to explore.

20 Best Games Like Anno 117: Pax Romana – Strategy Picks

Be ready to dive deeper into rich city building, tough land battles, expanding your empire, and shaping new provinces. This full lineup has plenty to keep you hooked. How many of these games like Anno 177: Pax Romana have you played?

• Tropico 6

Best Political-Economy City Builder

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• Type of game
• Political-economy / city-builder
• PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, Xbox One, Switch
• Creator/s

Limbic Entertainment (developer), Kalypso Media (publisher)

• Average playtime
• 30–100h
• Best for
• Fans of empire growth, economic strategy, island management
• What I liked
• Archipelago structure + humorous political mechanics
• In
• Tropico 6
• , you step into the shoes of El Presidente and
• manage your own island

(or rather archipelago)

nation, juggling infrastructure, economy, diplomacy and even military might. It keeps every session dynamic, letting you create a nation shaped by your choices, leadership style, and the direction you want its future to head toward.

The game’s visual aesthetic is colourful, satirical and lively. You’ll be building bridges between islands, organising trade, setting edicts and sometimes staging raids for world wonders.

Why we chose it

The ability to expand across islands, perform strategic raids and govern with both political and economic tools gives Tropico 6 a unique twist. If you’re looking for a builder that values diplomatic skills and economic prowess in equal measure, this one hits hard.

One thing that stands out is how it lets you lead an emergent Roman Empire-style power (minus the Romans) across tropical islands, blending humour with deep strategic systems.

My Verdict:

If you love mixing island-based city creation with high-stakes political manoeuvres and long-term empire-style growth, Tropico 6 is a must. It’s playful, deep and constantly keeps you deciding between progress, power, and popularity.

What do players say?

webkilla ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Tropico is IMO a lot more fun and engaging than the Anno games. You need to think and adapt a lot more – especially during the missions.

Apatride ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ It’s very different from Anno and Cities, it’s my favourite of all 3 by far.

Cities: Skylines

Best Modern Urban Management Sim

Our score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Type of game City-builder / urban management sim PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch Creator/s Colossal Order (developer), Paradox Interactive (publisher)

• Average playtime
• 40–200h
• Best for
• Players who want to create large, complex, realistic cities
• What I liked
• Flexible zoning, deep transport tools, modding support

Cities: Skylines

• takes that familiar satisfaction you get from
• games like Anno 117: Pax Romana
• and shifts it into
• a contemporary sandbox where every decision shapes how your workers live and move

. Instead of guiding a province through the age of empires, you’re growing a modern metropolis, adjusting zoning, traffic flow, and utilities across the land you claim.

As neighbourhoods grow, the game pulls you into balancing services and refining traffic, with room to experiment through layouts inspired by nature, Rome, or even the industrial revolution. Its massive modding scene lets you create detailed cities, test policies and add new tools, while ongoing support and extra research systems keep things fresh.

Why we chose it

Cities: Skylines

stands out for letting you shape massive, living cities with remarkable detail. Its policy depth, transport tools, and modding flexibility give it the strategic weight fans expect from empire-style builders.

Seeing tiny characters move through busy districts makes every choice feel meaningful, and it’s easy to tweak designs the moment you imagine a better route.

My Verdict:

If you love watching a metropolis rise from empty land,

Cities: Skylines

delivers that same strategic satisfaction you get from Anno 117: Pax Romana, just reimagined through a modern, urban lens.

What do players say?

u/earthquakejake03 ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ This game is dangerously addicting. I remember when I first played this game, I pulled an all-nighter.

u/UrbanPlanningNerd ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ The game is definitely addicting. There have been times where I dream about this, this game made me realise my passion of urban planning.

Banished

Best Harsh Survival Settlement Sim

Our score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Type of game Survival settlement sim / strategy PC Creator/s Shining Rock Software (developer & publisher)

Average playtime 20–80h Best for Players who enjoy micromanagement, realism, and tough survival loops What I liked Brutal resource management, family aging system, seasonal pressure Banished feels like the opposite of a roman triumph: instead of basking in an emperor’s glory, you’re just trying to keep a tiny village alive long enough to see another season. It’s a small-scale, almost dark fantasy city builder where hunger, cold and poorly timed storms can wipe out everything you’ve worked for. And honestly, that’s part of what makes it addictive.

You lead a handful of exiles who have to survive using whatever they can gather. There’s no direct combat or military system, your real enemies are winter, resource shortages, and that moment when you realize all your labourers got old at the same time. Every villager has a life cycle, families form, kids grow up, and if too many elders die at once…well, you’ll see what happened soon enough.

Why we chose it

Banished shines because every resource matters. Its aging system, labour shortages and seasonal tension make it a survival-first builder with features no similar games pull off this tightly.

The minimal UI lets you simply play, keep your supply chains tight, and react fast when things go wrong.

My Verdict:

If you enjoy guiding a vulnerable community and pushing through brutal conditions,

Banished

nails that survival-first feeling you love in Anno 117: Pax Romana, just with harsher stakes and zero mercy.

What do players say?

u/NeosapienX ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ This game is rough… one mistake and the whole town collapses, but that’s exactly why I love it.

u/DarklK1 ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Came back to Banished after years. Still one of the most satisfying survival builders ever made.

Frostpunk

Best Moral & Survival City-Building Challenge

Our score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Type of game Survival strategy / society management PC, PS4, Xbox One Creator/s 11 bit studios (developer & publisher)

Average playtime 20–60h Best for Players who enjoy tough decisions, cold-weather survival and moral dilemmas What I liked Law system, atmosphere, desperate resource pressure

Frostpunk

throws you into a frozen world where your people will survive only if you’re willing to make brutal calls. You play as the leader of the last industrial-era settlement, shaping laws that directly influence daily life (child labour, extended shifts, harsh punishments), each with consequences you’ll feel immediately.

The aesthetic is bleak and stunning: snowstorms swallowing buildings, workers huddling near the generator, and that constant sense that one bad decision will collapse everything.  Managing heat levels, coal supply, food production and citizen hope becomes a constant fight against the cold rather than any traditional enemy.

Why we chose it k stands out for how your moral choices reshape society. No other survival game ties lawmaking, resource strain and narrative consequences together this effectively.

What keeps the tension high is how every scenario adds new features that push your limits, which makes it one of the most interesting city-building games you need to try.

My Verdict:

If you like guiding people through impossible situations and making choices you’ll replay in your head later,

Frostpunk

delivers a gripping survival experience that hits harder than most strategy games.

What do players say?

u/Anonymous-Meme-284 ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Frostpunk is an excellent example of a city-builder with soul. I love city-builders, but so many of them suffer from the same problem of being super…dry? Frostpunk gives you an emotional reason to do stuff, and that’s part of what I love about it.

u/Unable-Angle-4212 ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ I finally beat this game without going too far. The storm is actually insane though…

They Are Billions

Best Post-Apocalyptic Base Builder With Strategy Combat

Our score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Type of game RTS / survival base builder PC, PS4, Xbox One Creator/s Numantian Games (developer & publisher)

Average playtime 30–120h Best for Players who enjoy tough defence layouts and constant pressure What I liked Wall-crafting, chokepoint strategy, escalating tension

They Are Billions

throws you into a world overrun by infected hordes, where every session feels like a battle to survive against impossible odds. You play as the leader of a fragile colony, expanding your base while prepping for the next wave.

The vibe is steampunk-grim, almost like an emperor trying to keep order while the world burns. Your team gathers resources, builds defences, and reinforces walls before a single mistake brings the whole place down.

Why we chose it

It forces you to fight smarter, not harder. Optimising chokepoints, upgrading troops, and knowing exactly when to promote new units gives it a depth few RTS titles match.

What really keeps you hooked is the tension: procedural maps, sudden swarms, and that creeping feeling that a single breach can undo everything. The moment the infected slip through a weak point, the colony collapses fast, and you instantly start planning the next attempt. It’s the kind of pressure that makes each run feel fresh and genuinely exciting.

My Verdict:

If you love strategic pressure and watching a base rise or fall based on every tiny decision,

They Are Billions

gives you that adrenaline spike no other survival RTS can match.

What do players say?

u/xXRHUMACROXx ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Every time I come back to this game I get greedy and push back the moment I build walls and every time I end up losing because 1 lost zombie quickly becomes a billion zombies lmao.

u/lentil_farmer ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ They Are Billions is a hard game to categorize… it’s almost like an RTS built from scratch using mechanics from other games. The result is an entirely single player title that fixes every problem I have with the genre.

Surviving Mars

Best Sci-Fi Colony Management Experience

Our score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Type of game Sci-fi colony sim / management strategy PC, PS4, Xbox One Creator/s Haemimont Games (developer), Paradox Interactive (publisher)

Average playtime 30–150h Best for Players who enjoy logistics, tech progression, and long-term planning What I liked Life-support chains, dome layouts, rover automation

Surviving Mars

drops you on the Red Planet with nothing but drones, domes and a desperate need to keep everyone alive. Instead of building a province like in ancient Rome, you’re basically acting as a futuristic governor, juggling oxygen, water, power and the mental health of colonists who crack under pressure.

The vibe is clean, retro-sci-fi, with colorful domes glowing at night and rovers scurrying around like a tiny team handling the heavy lifting.

Why we chose it

The blend of life-support logistics, research trees and hazard management makes this one of the smartest colony sims available, especially for players who love deep systemic play without feeling overwhelmed. And it also sits comfortably among the best sci-fi games if you like your strategy with a bit of atmosphere and long-term planning.

What keeps it engaging is how each breakthrough tech subtly shifts your strategy. One discovery might promote full automation, another changes resource flow entirely. Whether you go full sandbox or follow story-driven mysteries, the pacing always feels fresh.

My Verdict:

If you enjoy carefully expanding a colony while fighting Mars’ brutal conditions,

Surviving Mars

delivers a satisfying mix of structure, discovery and sci-fi survival.

What do players say?

u/BlackFenrir ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ I’ve been thoroughly enjoying Surviving Mars for the past few months, but there’s an itch here that I think maybe some of you may be able to help me scratch.

u/Redditor ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ I feel like Surviving Mars is far more about supply lines whereas Frostpunk is about the hardships and scarcity.

Planetbase

Best Resource-Focused Planet Settlement Sim

Our score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Type of game Sci-fi colony sim / resource management PC, PS4, Xbox One Creator/s Madruga Works (developer & publisher)

Average playtime 15–50h Best for Players who enjoy tight logistics, survival pressure and clear expansion goals What I liked Life-support loops, prioritisation system, clean modular bases

Planetbase

puts you in charge of a small off-world outpost where every oxygen generator, solar panel and meal matters. It’s not the latest entry in the genre, but it’s still one of the cleanest survival-management loops out there.

You guide your colonists as they build modules, automate tasks and expand the base while the planet throws sandstorms, droughts and harsh nights at you. Sometimes it feels like the environment itself decides whether to spare you or not, almost like the gods of the planet flipping a coin.

Why we chose it

Planetbase

stands out for its strict resource loops and smart scheduling system. Few colony games make efficiency feel this rewarding without overwhelming the player.

As you progress, mid-game goals kick in (plastic production, robotics, mining setups) and your crew naturally grows into a fully functioning workforce. It’s simple at first, but there’s enough depth to keep things interesting as your base expands.

My Verdict:

Fans of survival-focused builders where every resource counts will find

Planetbase

incredibly rewarding. It’s a tight sci-fi management experience where every expansion genuinely feels earned.

What do players say?

u/mblaser ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ The base game feels ‘solvable’ if that makes sense. I still get the itch to load up this game once a year or two and try some challenges.

u/alton1515 ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Planetbase is a bit like Banished, in that your production per person is very low. You don’t have much surplus to work with, and over-expanding will lead to issues.

Humankind

Best Civilization-Scale Culture-Building Strategy

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• Type of game
• 4X strategy / empire builder
• PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
• Creator/s

Amplitude Studios (developer), SEGA (publisher)

Average playtime 40–200h Best for Players who enjoy long-term planning, culture shaping and big-picture strategy What I liked Era evolution, cultural fusion system, flexible city-region structure Instead of dropping you into one fixed civilization,

Humankind

hands you a blank slate where your people evolve across eras. Every time you shift into a new age, you pick a fresh culture: Egyptians one run, Romans the next, then something entirely different.

The fun comes from watching your choices reshape the entire direction of your civilization every time you step into a new era. You’ll expand regions, manage influence, guide your population and decide how your society develops, visually and mechanically.

Why we chose it

Humankind

is one of the best strategy games, thanks to its cultural fusion mechanic, letting you build a civilisation that feels genuinely unique each playthrough. It’s perfect for players who enjoy era progression but want more control over identity and direction.

The art style mixes clean modern UI with warm, painterly terrain, making huge maps easy to read as your territory grows.

My Verdict:

This game is a great fit for strategy fans who want civilisation-scale decisions without getting locked into a single predefined culture. Its era shifts keep each campaign fresh and full of surprises.

What do players say?

u/ThrawnAgentOfSHIELD ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ I’m not sure if it’s because I got burnt out on Civ6 or if Humankind is actually better, but at the very least it’s my preference. … The world of Humankind feels more alive and vibrant than Civilization.

u/5ingle5hot ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ I came to the game late but I think it’s great. Quite a refreshing take on the civilization-style 4X. There are a few rough areas but I like it much more than the Sid Meier games.

Pharaoh: A New Era

Best Ancient Empire City-Builder

Our score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Type of game Historical city-builder / management strategy PC 2023 (remake)

Creator/s Triskell Interactive (developer), Dotemu (publisher)

Average playtime 30–120h Best for Players who want deep systems, historical style and classic management loops What I liked Monument building, Nile-based production, layered service systems

Pharaoh: A New Era

revives one of the most iconic ancient-Egypt management games with a clean modern look and the same depth that made the original a classic. In this game you’re shaping full Egyptian provinces, managing irrigation, feeding your people and developing neighbourhoods that move through different social tiers.

The visual style is bright and hand-painted, and watching the Nile flood each year still feels incredibly satisfying.

Why we chose it

This remake keeps the intricate supply chains, district services and monument construction fans loved, while making everything smoother and easier to read. It’s faithful, polished and perfect for players who enjoy complex historical management.

As you move through the campaign, each scenario pushes you to refine layouts, balance resources and juggle cultural needs like entertainment and religion. The pacing keeps you engaged without overwhelming you, and every completed monument feels like a proper achievement.

My Verdict:

Pharaoh: A New Era

is a strong pick for strategy fans who enjoy historical management with plenty of moving parts. It’s a classic experience refreshed for modern players without losing what made it great.

What do players say?

u/faceintheblue ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ I think this game is brilliant. Does it have the potential to be better? Absolutely. It has immense potential and a lot of things to improve on. But I also love CK3 for what it is right now. It’s very fun and very enjoyable and definitely worth my time.

u/9__Erebus ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ It’s pretty clearly a good game. … The DLCs (which cost as much as standard indie games) do add to the experience, but for me without them the game isn’t as strong.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VI

Best Turn-Based 4X Empire Builder

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• Type of game
• Turn-based 4X strategy
• PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, iOS
• Creator/s

Firaxis Games (developer), 2K (publisher)

• Average playtime
• 50–300h
• Best for
• Players who enjoy macro-level empire control across eras
• What I liked
• Flexible policies, deep tech trees, endless replayability
• Civilization VI
• drops you onto a fresh map and lets you guide a faction from the ancient age all the way into the far future
• . Instead of watching one settlement grow in real time like in
• Anno 117: Pax Romana

, here every choice shapes the bigger picture, from diplomacy and culture to military decisions and how your people live as your provinces grow.

The tech and civics trees let you shape your identity as you play, and the clean art style makes each region immediately recognisable. And the turn-based pace gives you room to think ahead, especially when planning supply routes or managing borders with aggressive neighbours who want to fight more than talk.

Why we chose it Civilization VI excels at delivering that “big picture” control. The era progression, flexible policies and massive replay value make it perfect for players who love strategy with long-term consequences,  and it’s also a great pick for anyone who enjoys turn-based strategy games with room to think each move through.

Mods, scenarios and unique civ abilities keep the game feeling fresh, even years after the latest entry launched.

My Verdict:

Civilization VI shines when you want full control over history itself, letting you grow cultures, build alliances and guide your people across centuries with choices that actually matter.

What do players say?

u/ACorania ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ It’s my go to game, so yes, I recommend it. If you like games where you start with a very small amount of resources and build up your society and research stuff and it gets progressively more complex, then it is great. The DLCs just add more stuff.

u/whateveritwas100 ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Civ 6 has grown on me so much — the way districts force you to think about city placement, and watching your empire evolve over centuries is just deeply satisfying. One of the best for me in the genre.

Kingdoms and Castles

Best Charming Medieval Settlement Builder

Our score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Type of game Medieval town-builder / light defense sim PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5 2017 (PC), 2023–2024 (consoles)

Creator/s

Lion Shield (developer & publisher), BlitWorks (console publisher)

Average playtime 10–40h Best for Players who want a cozy medieval builder with raids and dragons What I liked Simple layout tools, fun tower defense tension

Kingdoms and Castles

starts you with a tiny hamlet, a keep, and just enough workers to get things moving. From there, you gradually shape a thriving medieval realm, laying out houses, farms, granaries, towers, and walls while your peasants hustle through real-time seasons.

As your settlement grows, trouble starts knocking. Vikings poke at weak spots, dragons scorch whatever you forgot to protect, and the odd disaster keeps you on your toes. But nothing feels too harsh, it just nudges you to tighten defenses and rethink a few layouts.

Why we chose it

Kingdoms and Castles

earns its spot thanks to how cleanly it blends approachability with smart strategic play. The escalating threats give you a sense of progression, the defense layouts genuinely matter, and the charming voxel look makes it easy to read the whole map even when things get busy.

Once you settle into the flow of reinforcing walls, stocking essentials, and adjusting your layout as new threats appear, the game becomes surprisingly absorbing, easy to relax with, but rewarding enough to keep you experimenting for hours.

My Verdict:

If you like the strategic loop in games like Anno 177: Pax Romana but want something more relaxed and charming,

Kingdoms and Castles

is a cosy medieval alternative with satisfying defensive play.

What do players say?

u/Aeredor ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ It was a good game. I enjoyed the campaign and a few extra maps. I wish it had had better replayability.

u/youreaw1zard ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ If you like city building it’s worth checking out. Campaign and difficulty are weak but I enjoyed it.

The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom 2010

Best Trade-Focused Medieval Builder

Our score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Type of game Medieval builder / strategy with tactical expansion PC Creator/s Blue Byte (developer), Ubisoft (publisher)

• Average playtime
• 20–100h
• Best for
• Players who enjoy strategic resource flow and flexible playstyles
• What I liked
• Layered production chains, satisfying territory control
• The Settlers 7
• drops you into
• a colourful medieval world where every little workshop, mill and convoy links into a bigger production web

. Instead of juggling demons or fantasy forces, everything is grounded in smart planning: moving goods efficiently, choosing which regions to claim and deciding how you want your faction to grow.

You can pick a strategic path (economic, tech-heavy, or military) that completely shifts how you build and expand. Your layouts actually influence how fights play out, and the campaign teaches the basics at a steady pace before you jump into skirmishes or multiplayer, where the replay value really opens up.

Why we chose it The Settlers 7 stands out for how tightly its production loops connect to territory control. Your layout actually affects combat strength, and the different strategic paths keep every match feeling fresh.

The visual style is bright and almost board-game-like, making it easy to read what’s happening as your network expands.

My Verdict:

If you like strategy games where smart resource flow and territory choices decide the winner, The Settlers 7 is still one of the most satisfying medieval picks out there.

What do players say?

u/bnt8zn ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ 5 is excellent. The trade and diplomacy mechanics make it a lot of fun to play.

u/Thebadgamer98 ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ I’d say so. 4 is still far and away my favorite, but 5 was a great game in its own right.

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition

Best Classic Historical RTS Empire Builder

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• PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

2019 (Definitive Edition)

Creator/s

Forgotten Empires (developer), Xbox Game Studios (publisher)

• Average playtime
• 40–200h
• Best for
• Players who want classic RTS strategy with long-term growth
• What I liked
• Smooth age progression, varied civ playstyles

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition

• brings back one of the most beloved RTS experiences ever made. You
• start in the Dark Age with just a handful of villagers, then slowly expand your territory while gathering wood, food, gold and stone under constant pressure

.

Each civilisation comes with its own units and tech paths, so figuring out the right mix of micro and macro becomes part of the fun. Some lean into cavalry rushes, others rely on strong archers, and a few reward players who enjoy running tight production chains while handling early threats.

Why we chose it

AoE2 blends tight RTS combat with deep resource management. The age progression, civ variety and polished controls make every match feel different, whether you’re a casual player or someone who min-maxes every second.

The updated visuals make medieval maps pop with color, and the audio overhaul gives battles a weight they never had in the older versions. So for many RTS fans, it’s still the

• best
• Age of Empires
• game

to learn, master and keep installed forever.

My Verdict:

A great pick if you want a classic RTS that still feels sharp today.

Age of Empires II: DE gives you strategic freedom, fast-paced battles and tons of replay value.

What do players say?

u/mittenciel ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ I played it 20 years ago and returned 2 years ago. Better graphics, way more civs, more campaigns, a proper ranked ladder…

u/unknown ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ It’s an incredible remake of an already incredible game, of course it’s worth it. Plus the amount of content with the DLCs and everything is glorious.

Surviving the Aftermath

Best Post-Collapse Colony Survival Manager

Our score ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Type of game Post-apocalyptic colony management / survival sim PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch Creator/s Iceflake Studios (developer), Paradox Interactive (publisher)

Average playtime 20–100h Best for Players who enjoy survival loops, exploration and resource juggling What I liked Scavenging runs, tech-tree progression

Surviving the Aftermath

drops you into a world that’s barely holding together, and your job is to rebuild a functioning settlement from almost nothing. You grow your base piece by piece, gather resources in real time, scout the wasteland for supplies and send specialists to pick through ruined towns.

Colonists bring problems of their own (radiation, sickness, random events) and early mistakes can snowball fast, though nothing feels unfair unless you let small issues turn into demons later on. Research unlocks new industry lines, and crafting stations help stabilise things once you get your footing.

Why we chose it

It strikes a sweet balance between survival pressure and logistical depth. The supply chains, scavenger routes and tech progression feel meaty without overwhelming you, and the world-map expeditions add a layer most management sims skip.

Once your caravans start moving and your specialists clean out nearby hotspots, the whole camp settles into a satisfying rhythm that blends exploration with steady growth.

My Verdict:

Great pick if you enjoy survival colony sims that reward careful resource flow and long-term planning without drowning you in systems.

What do players say?

u/sankdog ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ I’m starting to get into this game … I can easily say this is a gem.

u/AnonymousRedditor ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ ☆ ★ Anno 1800 is genuinely the only city builder I can point to that’s been released recently that is actually good and looks beautiful.

My Overall Verdict

If you’re trying to figure out where to start with games like Anno 117: Pax Romana, the right pick depends a lot on how you like to play. Some people want chill building, others want pressure, others want full strategy brain-rot. Here’s the easiest way to find your match:

For newcomers who want something approachable →

Kingdoms and Castles

: Charming, simple to read, and the perfect warm-up before tackling bigger strategy systems.

For players who want the classic macro-strategy experience →

Sid Meier’s Civilization VI

: Turn-based and thoughtful, giving you plenty of time to experiment with long-term growth without pressure.

For sci-fi fans who like logistics with survival spice →

Surviving Mars

: A clean blend of colony management, production loops, and Martian hazards that keep things interesting.

For players craving industrial-era depth and layered systems →

Anno 1800

: A massive sandbox of production chains, trade routes, diplomacy and visual flair. Pure strategy comfort food.

Whatever your style (calm, tactical, sci-fi, or full industrial complexity), there’s a perfect entry point here to dive into Anno -style gameplay.

FAQs What is the best game like Anno 117: Pax Romana?

• The best game like
• Anno 117: Pax Romana
• is
• Tropico 6
• , thanks to its political layers, island-wide logistics and that mix of structure and freedom
• Anno
• players love. And if you prefer something calmer,

Kingdoms and Castles

is a great entry point.

What type of game is Anno 117: Pax Romana?

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a real-time strategy and management game where you grow territories, balance production lines and keep your population happy. It’s all about shaping a thriving region without the pressure of fast combat.

What makes Anno-style games unique?

What makes Anno -style games unique is how they mix relaxed resource building with deep production chains and long-term territorial growth. Few strategy titles combine planning, logistics and steady expansion in such a satisfying way.

Is Anno 117 like Anno 1800?

Yes, Anno 117 is similar to Anno, especially in how both use layered production systems, steady progression and real-time management.

Anno 1800

leans more into industrial complexity, while Anno 117 keeps things rooted in ancient-era growth.

Are there other Roman city-building games like Anno 117?

Yes, there are other Roman-era builders, with Caesar III and Nebuchadnezzar (not in this list) being notable picks. From this article,

Pharaoh: A New Era

scratches a similar strategic vibe thanks to its historical setting and resource web.

Do Anno 117 and games like Anno 117 require powerful PCs?

Anno 117 and games like Anno 117 don’t require powerful PCs, though having a decent processor and enough RAM helps during late-game expansion. Most players can run similar titles comfortably as long as they tweak settings when maps get busy.