Anno 1404

About

Anno 1404 is a historical real-time strategy game with city-building and economic simulation elements, set in a fictional world inspired by medieval and renaissance history. Experience ingenious gameplay, fabulous graphics, and stunning music as you manage resources, trade, diplomacy, and warfare to build and maintain your empire. Play in single-player or multiplayer mode, with a focus on hanseatic trade, early capitalism, and the Crusades. The game was developed by Related Designs and published by Ubisoft.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 800 reviews

graphics56 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

Anno 1404 offers a rich and immersive city-building experience with intricate resource management and trade systems.
The graphics are beautiful and have aged well, providing a charming atmosphere that enhances gameplay.
The game is highly addictive, with a satisfying progression as players develop their cities and manage their economies.

The AI can feel unbalanced and cheat, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
The combat mechanics are considered weak and not the main focus of the game, which may disappoint players looking for strategic warfare.
The user interface can be unintuitive, making it difficult for new players to grasp the game's mechanics without external help.

graphics
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
2%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and detail, with many reviewers noting that they have aged remarkably well and still hold up against modern standards. The visuals are described as stunning, with intricate designs and a charming aesthetic that enhances the gameplay experience. While some mention minor performance issues and a lack of depth compared to newer titles, the overall consensus is that the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal and enjoyment.
- “The graphics are gorgeous, the trade routes are addictive, and there’s something immensely satisfying about watching your little villagers run around like busy bees.”
- “This new civilization also gives us all the opportunity to admire another architecture made of white facades, domes and cupolas with thin and elegant towers, bazaars of colorful fabrics in the middle of palm trees... at the release date, Anno's graphics engine was simply a wonder and quite simply offered the finest details ever seen in a management game.”
- “By far the best strategy/simulation I have ever played, largely because of the stunning graphics.”
- “Cons: average graphics running on a very poorly optimised game engine.”
- “The graphics can be choppy especially when compared to more graphically impressive rivals.”
- “While the game is made with some love for graphical details, it simply misses the depth of any build-up strategy game before 2000.”
gameplay
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
66%
3%
The gameplay of Anno 1404 is praised for its rich city-building mechanics, exploration, and trade elements, which create an immersive experience that stands the test of time. While the game offers a deep and addictive strategy experience with a focus on efficient design, some players find it can become overly complex or slow-paced at times. Additionally, the lack of clear tutorials for certain mechanics can lead to confusion, but overall, the gameplay is well-constructed and engaging for fans of the genre.
- “The meticulous city-building mechanics are a delight for fans of the genre, and the game’s emphasis on exploration and trade provides a rich, immersive experience.”
- “With countless hours of gameplay spent navigating the complexities of diplomacy and managing your economy, it’s easy to see why this installment is considered one of the best in the series.”
- “Gameplay is very well balanced, and the sandbox experience is very engaging.”
- “It's so close to being a really good game, but lacks the proper managing tools to safely set up economies, so the player is forced to constantly adjust production chains, which really slows down the gameplay.”
- “The game has a supposed tutorial, but it doesn't explain all of the cryptic mechanics.”
- “Some 'obvious' or basic game mechanics are not explained very well, which can lead to confusion.”
story
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
81%
8%
The story aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it poorly constructed, childish, and filled with annoying quests, while others appreciate its originality and the way it serves as a tutorial for gameplay mechanics. Many users note that the campaign can feel tedious and is marred by bugs, but some still enjoy the character development and plot twists. Overall, the narrative is seen as a secondary feature to the gameplay, appealing more to newcomers than seasoned players.
- “The plot is actually rather well constructed (at least I liked it) and allows above all to gently discover the basics of the gameplay.”
- “The story is very interesting and original.”
- “The game also features a fantastic storyline in the campaign which also functions as a tutorial, the story has some great characters each with a unique personality, and a brilliant and exciting plot twist at the end.”
- “The plot is silly, childish, and naive.”
- “Lazily written and executed singleplayer campaign, which can only be completed properly if the player has previous knowledge of all the bombs the game will throw at him, especially the 6th and the 8th (last) missions.”
- “The voice over and missions are terrible and very annoying.”
music
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
48%
3%
The music in the game is consistently praised as "best in class," with many reviewers highlighting its relaxing and atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack is described as sweet to the ears and well-integrated with the game's visuals, contributing to a rich and immersive environment. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that adds significant value to the gameplay.
- “Its just one of those gems you hold onto for years, very well made, music is sweet to the ears.”
- “The kind of game that never gets old, music, graphics, gameplay everything is made to last.”
- “So much attention to detail went into the visuals, the music fits, and the game is a really enjoyable city-building/management with great voice acting to boot.”
- “Visually overly rich, with so many effects... and don't get me started on the music.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious and repetitive, often requiring a significant time investment that can detract from the overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the depth and planning involved, many feel that the extended battles and grinding can become monotonous, making the experience feel less engaging over time.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I enjoyed the campaign, but I have to say, after some 40 hours it can get quite repetitive and tedious.”
- “In general, the game demands a lot of attention and planning, and that sometimes gets a little tedious.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The game is widely praised for its high replayability, with many users highlighting it as endlessly enjoyable and fun. It is considered the best in its series, offering unlimited opportunities for players to return and experience it again.
- “It's endlessly replayable too.”
- “Very fun, super replayable and also pretty damn cute.”
- “Best game in the series with unlimited replayability 10/10.”
- “404 - replayability not found”
- “404 - replayability not found”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is generally regarded as funny, with humorous elements highlighted by quirky details, such as the title's numbers summing to nine. However, some players find the humor to be overshadowed by shallow gameplay and illogical mechanics, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “Really a funny game.”
- “Funny fact, the total of the numbers in the title always equals 9.”
- “Colourful and detailed graphics, funny but shallow.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The monetization aspect of the game is positively received, with users appreciating the absence of microtransactions and downloadable content (DLC), indicating a preference for a straightforward purchasing model without additional costs.
- “No microtransactions, thank you!”
- “No microtransactions, thank you!”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including unresponsive controls, a frustrating tutorial, and numerous bugs that detract from the overall enjoyment. Users have reported an inability to customize mouse buttons, further compounding the negative experience.
- “The game is buggy and unenjoyable.”
- “Can't change the mouse buttons, horrendous controls, and an annoying/buggy tutorial.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game has been criticized, with users reporting that it fails to run smoothly even in development builds.
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Reviewers consistently highlight the game's impressive graphics and music, contributing to an overall immersive and enjoyable atmosphere.
- “The graphics are stunning, the music is captivating, and the overall atmosphere is immersive.”
- “The visuals and sound design create a truly enchanting atmosphere that draws you in.”
- “The combination of beautiful graphics and atmospheric music makes for an unforgettable experience.”