It, too, was well-received even if it was very similar to the first game. The inevitable sequel, Anno 1503, was released in 2003, also created by Max Design. Just a pretty screenshot of a ship at sea. It was a 2D isometric city-builder with goods-based management systems and some real-time strategy elements, and it became quite popular, especially in its home region of Austria/Germany.

What I mean to say is the first game in the series was called Anno 1602 and came out way back in 1998, created by a now-defunct company called Max Design. Speaking of the series, let me explain the history of the Anno franchise because learning is fun!Īnno began in the year 1602. The complex interaction between building up your cities, producing goods, and dealing with other characters leads to an intense and intellectual challenge that has defined the Anno series for over two decades. The diplomacy screen helps you try to make nice with others…or be a big jerk! Of course you can’t relax for long because there’s others who also are trying to seize islands and produce goods-the rival players, be they actual humans in the multiplayer mode or AI characters. Then a short while later everyone is content, and you can sit back and watch the gold roll in. At times you’re perplexed as to your people’s desires, trying to set up new production chains and deliver the goods. This leads to the need for ships and trade routes, and soon enough you’ll have a huge fleet all for the purpose of meeting those pesky population needs. Anno is basically a game of ever-expanding needs fulfillment-they once longed for fish and schnapps but soon will require sausage, bread, beer, and oh so much more!Įventually you’ll have to expand to new islands because your people will demand more goods not available on your first location. Our cities grow up so quickly! Fine craftsmanship, here we come!Īfter fulfilling all the current needs of your populace, you can upgrade their houses to unlock even more needs. As your population grows their needs increase, which are fulfilled by newly unlocked buildings. Starting with an empty island, you place houses and production buildings thereupon, connecting everything together with roads. If you’ve never played an Anno game before, let me try to summarize what you actually do. Still, there’s a soothing rhythm to it all if you can find the groove hiding within the various complex systems. Granted, there’s much micro-management required, and the game strongly favors those of us with a patient dedication to detail.

It’s so easy to get sucked in to the whole affair, as the hours fly by and your empire slowly expands. Anno 1800 is an engrossing and fantastic mix of city building, economic simulation, and real-time strategy.

Anno 1404 how to intercept ships