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. Players take the role of a Roman governor for city-building and can choose between different starting provinces, ruling either the Roman Empire in Latium or the Celtic kingdom in Albion. In the latter, players can choose to combine cultures or go fully Celtic. Players can choose between story mode and endless mode.

In story mode, players take the role of one of two predefined characters and may continue to play after the story concludes. In endless mode, players start by choosing a province and selecting from multiple difficulty settings. Players select rival governors that have different personalities and playstyles, and they do not always follow the same rules as the player. These governors can act as either opponents or trade partners.

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. In story mode, players assume the role of one of two siblings, Marcus Naukratius or Marcia Tertia. 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.

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.

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.

Anno 117 was planned to launch with built-in modding support, including a mod loader, as Ubisoft aimed to enable community modifications much earlier compared to Anno 1800. Mods have been supported since launch, though features like the in-game mod user interface and browser are still planned for post-release updates.

Anno 117 received "generally favorable" reviews, according to the review aggregator website Metacritic. OpenCritic stated that 90% 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. PC Games praised the city-building controls, noting that construction and district planning are handled smoothly and efficiently.