Rune 05 · City builder · Ubisoft Mainz, 2019
Anno 1800
Build an industrial-age empire of factories, ports and colonies. A beautiful, satisfying puzzle of production chains.
Edition reviewed: Anno 1800 (2019).
Official artwork © Ubisoft MainzWhat you do
Plan cities, connect production chains, trade by sea and keep a growing population happy as they move up through social classes.
Who it suits
Players who love planning and watching a city grow. Not about war, mostly.
01The opening
You start on a small island with farmers. Fish, clothes and schnapps keep them happy, and the town starts to hum.
02The midgame
Workers, artisans and engineers each want more. Soon you are running ships between islands and building a second world in the New World.
03Where to stop
No natural end: stop when a new production chain is running smoothly.
Why it works
- Gorgeous, detailed cities
- Satisfying production chains
- Relaxed pace
Watch out for
- Lots of paid DLC
- Complex later on
The score
Overall 4.3 out of 5 · Deep carved · how we score
Our verdict
The prettiest city builder there is. Finish a chain, then stop.
Written by the Rune Hall desk. Updated 23 October 2026. Facts were checked against the publisher and store pages at that date; prices and platforms can change.