Anno 1800 — Review (2026): Is It Worth Playing?
Anno 1800 is a city-building simulator from Ubisoft Blue Byte, released in April 2019 on PC. The game transports players to the 19th century — the era of industrialization, steamships, and colonial expeditions. Players build cities, develop economies, send expeditions to the New World, and manage complex production chains.
What is the game about
You are the ruler of an island empire. Starting from a small farming settlement, you develop it into an industrial metropolis with factories, railroads, and steamships. Each population tier demands new goods: from bread and sardines to sewing machines and telephones. The economy is built on production chains and trade.
Gameplay
- Production chains: from farm to factory — dozens of interconnected productions.
- New World: colonize tropical islands for new resources.
- Expeditions: send ships in search of treasures and new lands.
- Many expansions: Land of Lions, Seat of Power, New World Rising, and others.
Should you play it in 2026
Yes. Anno 1800 is the best city-building simulator of the decade. The perfect balance between macroeconomics and city life details. If you love Cities: Skylines or Tropico — try this.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Deep economy | Lots of micromanagement |
| Beautiful industrial era | Expensive expansions |
| Calm pace | Requires time to learn |
FAQ
Do I need to play previous Anno games? No, each entry is standalone.
How many hours? 50–100 hours for the campaign, endless in sandbox.
Is it on consoles? No, PC only.