Summary
The strategy genre is one of the oldest in gaming, dating all the way back to the early 1970s with games likeInvasionon the Magnavox Odyssey. But while the strategy genre has remained a prominent part of the video game landscape for its entire existence, it’s definitely remained a more niche genre. Nowadays, most casual players want something they can just pick up and play for an hour or two, likeCall of Duty, and not somegrand strategy gamethat takes a few hours of gameplay just to learn its basic rules. That being said, there have been one or two strategy games that have managed to break into the mainstream recently, andAnno 117: Pax Romanacould be next on that list.
Debuting all the way back in 1998, theAnnofranchise has always performed quite well, but it hasn’t really broken into the mainstream gaming market all that often. The last entry in the series, 2019’sAnno 1800, is the closest the series has gotten to mainstream success, hitting 2.5 million players by early 2023, a figure that its subsequent console release would have only increased.Annoonly seems to be growing more popular with age andAnno 117: Pax Romanaseems poised to continue that trend, though it’s going to have some fierce competition on launch.
Anno 117: Pax Romana Is The Most Recent in a Long Line of Exciting Strategy Game Announcements
It’s a Great Time for Big-Budget Strategy Games
Originally announced back in September 2022,Age of Mythology: Retoldis an upcoming remake of the beloved 2002 RTS classic. Following a similar gameplay structure to its better-known sibling,Age of Empires,Age of Mythologysees players construct an ancient-era town, gather resources, train some troops, and wage war against their neighboring enemy encampments. But whereAge of Empiresfocuses on real-world history,Age of Mythologygives players access to some godly abilities.Age of Mythology: Retoldhas just been shown once again atthe recent Xbox Showcase, and it’s looking very promising, as is its position as a day one Xbox Game Pass title this September.
ButAge of Mythology: Retoldis far from the only big-budget strategy game gracing players' screens in the coming months. Being made by Oxide Games – a studio that includes some veteran ex-Firaxis devs –Ara: History Untoldis another day-one Xbox Game Pass title heading to PC this year. WhileAge of Mythologyis an RTS,Arais set to be a grand 4X title that plays similarly toCivilization. ButAra: History Untoldhas plenty of unique tricks up its sleeve.Ara’s simultaneous turnsand alternate, ‘What If?’ historical timelines should be enough to set it apart from the crowd.
ButArawon’t have long to enjoy the spotlight, asCivilization 7has been officially confirmed for 2025. Though fans will have to wait until August for its full reveal, Firaxis has already teased some innovativenew features forCivilization 7. If all goes to plan,Civilization 7could be the biggest entry in franchise history, something that its simultaneous launch across PC and consoles should certainly help.
Anno 117: Pax Romana Offers Fans Something Completely New
The strategy genre is experiencing a bit of a golden age right now, and with all the aforementioned titles coming thick and fast, it’s not going to be easy for therecently announcedAnno 117: Pax Romanato carve out its place in the strategy game market. That being said,Anno 117is already getting quite a bit of buzz from the strategy community.Anno 117marks the earliest setting in franchise history by 1287 years, and it’s a setting fans have been wanting to see for years now. That alone will be enough for many fans to check out the game upon its 2025 launch.
Anno 1800
WHERE TO PLAY
Anno 1800 is a city-building video game developed by Blue Byte and published by Ubisoft. It features real-time strategic gameplay in a story-based campaign and customizable sandbox mode, as well as a multiplayer experience. Players can create massive cities, plan logistic networks, embark on journeys on new continents, and explore the world.Welcome to the dawn of the Industrial Age. The path you choose will define your world. Are you an innovator or an exploiter? A conqueror or a liberator? How the world remembers your name is up to you.In Anno 1800, players will take charge of their own fortune as they navigate the rapidly evolving technological landscape and malicious political arena of the 19th century in their quest to build an empire that will reach from the smog-filled cities of Europe to the teeming jungles of South America.Combining beloved features with innovative gameplay, Anno 1800 is the beginning of a new era for the Anno franchise as players leave their mark on a crucial moment in human history. Defeating the opponent can be done by diplomacy, trade, or ultimately warfare. Some of the new features include expeditions across the globe and a new workforce feature.
