Anno 2070
- November 17, 2011
- Related Designs
- 26h median play time
Anno 2070 is a polished management sim with some innovative ideas, but it doesnt push them far enough.
Get on Steam
Get on Epic Games Store"Anno 2070" is a strategy game set in a near-future world impacted by climate change and rising sea levels. Players must build and manage advanced cities, create production chains, and engage in diplomacy and trade to prosper. The game features a comprehensive economic system, new gameplay mechanics, and the ability to construct massive, sprawling metropolises.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Anno 2070 offers a captivating city-building and economic simulation experience set in a futuristic world, with intricate resource management and engaging gameplay.
- The game features stunning graphics and an immersive soundtrack that enhance the overall atmosphere and gaming experience.
- The introduction of underwater construction and resource management adds a new layer of depth to city planning, providing fresh challenges and opportunities for creative expansion.
- The mandatory use of Ubisoft Connect and the associated login issues make the game frustrating and often unplayable, with many players experiencing activation key problems.
- The game suffers from a lack of clear tutorials and guidance, leaving new players confused about mechanics and objectives.
- Many players report being locked out of their accounts or unable to access the game due to server issues, leading to a poor overall experience.
- story685 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in Anno 2070 is generally viewed as a mixed bag; while some players appreciate its unique sci-fi setting and the way it integrates gameplay mechanics, many find it lacking depth and excitement. The campaign serves primarily as a lengthy tutorial, with missions often described as repetitive and tedious, focusing on fetch quests rather than engaging narratives. Overall, while the game offers a variety of missions and a compelling environment, the storyline itself is often considered basic and unmemorable.
“Overall, Anno 2070's engaging gameplay, compelling storyline, and unique setting make it a standout title in the Anno series.”
“The campaign story was great in my opinion.”
“The story is unique as well; it is set on future Earth where global warming has turned the planet into a large ocean with many islands.”
“The campaign, the expansion campaign, the missions, the bonus missions, the world events...and aside from a few standouts, it's really just the same game over and over again.”
“I have no idea how a game studio could spend so much money on making a really pretty game and yet not hire a single competent writer to work on any part of it: the world, the story, or even the dialogue.”
“The story is not that nuanced and is more like an excuse for the game - global warming, melting ice caps, more and more land under the sea.”
- gameplay669 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Anno 2070 is characterized by its intricate resource management and city-building mechanics, which are both engaging and challenging, offering a mix of familiar elements from previous Anno titles and innovative features like underwater construction and ecological balance. While many players appreciate the depth and complexity of the gameplay, some criticize its repetitive nature and steep learning curve, particularly for newcomers. Additionally, the reliance on online connectivity and Ubisoft's DRM has led to frustrations that detract from the overall experience for some users.
“The futuristic setting introduces cool new mechanics that refresh the familiar Anno formula.”
“With its intricate resource management and engaging gameplay, it challenges players to balance progress with environmental sustainability.”
“The gameplay is smooth and well made, the graphics and sound quality are excellent.”
“The gameplay of Anno 2070 is simplistic, stale, and repetitive.”
“The only issue is the repetitive nature of the core gameplay loop which might get a bit tedious after a while.”
“The gameplay was very dull (and I usually love this type of game), and there is virtually no help anywhere when a problem arises with installation or loading...and problems arose...a lot.”
- graphics570 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of Anno 2070 are widely praised for their impressive detail and aesthetic appeal, even years after its release. Players appreciate the vibrant visuals, intricate animations, and the immersive atmosphere created by the game's futuristic setting and soundtrack. However, some users note that the graphics can be demanding on hardware, leading to performance issues, and a few find certain elements, like character avatars, to appear dated. Overall, the game is considered visually stunning, making it a standout in the city-building genre.
“With its intricate management systems and stunning visuals, Anno 2070 allows you to create and oversee a futuristic world brimming with advanced buildings, complex infrastructure, and innovative technologies.”
“The game's richly detailed graphics and immersive soundtrack bring its dystopian future to life with stunning realism.”
“The graphics are stunning, and the game has an incredibly detailed and realistic world.”
“The graphics have to be set to all lowest settings in order for the game not to crash.”
“The constantly blurry visuals of this game take a lot of the charm out of it.”
“The graphics are uninspiring.”
- music200 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many players praising its immersive and atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall gaming experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as beautiful, soothing, and fitting for the game's futuristic setting, often describing it as a standout feature that keeps them engaged for hours. While a few critiques mention that the music may not always match the gameplay, the general consensus is that the soundtrack is a significant strength of the game, contributing to its charm and appeal.
“The game's richly detailed graphics and immersive soundtrack bring its dystopian future to life with stunning realism.”
“The music is absolutely phenomenal.”
“The soundtrack is peaceful and, at times, epic.”
“All in all it's a good game, but what I really don't like: I don't like the music and the character voices are super annoying.”
“The only downside of the game is the music, it just never matches the gameplay; the audio of the game feels random from a soundtrack and rarely fits the situation you are in.”
“Music in this game is not that memorable, but will keep you company as you build your own city.”
- stability80 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and issues related to the Uplay launcher, which complicates the gaming experience. While some players manage to run the game smoothly after troubleshooting, many express frustration over frequent crashes, lag, and the need for extensive troubleshooting just to start the game. Overall, the game's stability is considered poor, significantly detracting from its enjoyment.
“Game runs great, no bugs, no problems.”
“My working laptop (i5, no graphic card, 6GB RAM, Windows 7) runs great on low settings.”
“Alienware 18 R3 (i7 6700, GTX 980M, 32GB RAM, Windows 8/10) runs great on the best settings if plugged in.”
“The game has had glitches since launch and nothing has been done about that regardless of countless complaints and forum entries.”
“The complete edition is buggy and does not even work; you are wasting your money, don't buy.”
“This, Ubisoft, is utterly ridiculous, and you should never have released such a buggy piece of software to your customers.”
- replayability77 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits high replayability, with many players praising its depth, varied scenarios, and multiple factions to explore. While some users noted issues with online features affecting replay value, the single-player experience remains engaging with numerous unlockables and customizable settings. Many reviews highlight the game's potential for extensive playtime, making it a worthwhile investment for fans of city-building and strategy genres.
“The game offers incredible replayability through obtained near the end of playthrough through scientists and a lot of time can be invested in a single save by improving conditions for citizens on your various islands.”
“Great replayability for single-player with the different map setups and AI.”
“The open-ended random scenario maps make for endless replayability, and the core management gameplay is simple but satisfying, slowly building in complexity until you feel like you're really overseeing a massive living, breathing nation.”
“The environmentalist theme hurts its replay value due to its repetition throughout the 1990s.”
“An interesting and engaging twist on the city building genre, but the linear path of development and awkward military gameplay makes replayability difficult.”
“Anno 2070 is worth trying but has limited long-term replay value.”
- grinding74 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The reviews consistently highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is excessively tedious and repetitive, often requiring significant time investment for minimal rewards. Players express frustration with the micromanagement and resource management systems, which can detract from overall enjoyment, making the gameplay feel drawn out and monotonous. While some appreciate the complexity and challenge, many find the experience ultimately burdensome and lacking in fun.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The only issue is the repetitive nature of the core gameplay loop which might get a bit tedious after a while.”
“The trading and transport that is the heart of the game simply becomes tedious in my experience.”
“You will love it for an hour, and then struggle to find enjoyment the next 8 or so before you finally realize this game has nothing to offer beyond tedious resource grinding for ever-decreasing gains.”
- optimization44 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing performance issues such as lag and frame drops, even on high-end systems. While some users report smooth gameplay after initial setup and appreciate the graphics, others find the optimization lacking, leading to frustration during gameplay. The transition to a 64-bit architecture and server improvements have been noted, but many still feel that the game does not fully utilize modern hardware capabilities.
“They basically migrated the whole online part to a more modern server architecture and the game was also ported from 32-bit to 64-bit, which should give it another bump in performance and future-proofing.”
“Everything was going so smoothly as I optimized my logistic network, positively shifted my population's skill demographic, increased my tax revenue, and improved relations with my AI neighbors.”
“The game is beautiful and runs smoothly even on low-spec systems.”
“The graphic is not so bad, but it is badly optimized. Even with current-gen hardware (as of 2021), it's still choking without using the full potential of my rig. Still playable, still enjoyable.”
“It's decent looking, but even at 1080p, it's so poorly optimized that 6-core i7s with GTX 2060s actually struggle not to drop frames at times.”
“The main detriment to this game is the optimization.”
- atmosphere35 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive visuals, stunning underwater features, and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of a dystopian future with vibrant city-building elements, although some note that it lacks the coherence of earlier titles like Anno 1404. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both tranquil and engaging, making it a standout aspect of the game.
“Furthermore, the game's sleek visuals and atmospheric soundtrack contribute to its immersive experience, drawing players into its dystopian future world.”
“I did however really, really love the atmosphere, the little details on practically everything, it all seems so alive and the water, the exploration, and the city-building is vibrant, colorful and it just feels awesome.”
“The atmospheres this game creates are priceless, from heavy industry to peaceful and harmonic cities + great soundtrack to fit the moods.”
“It lacks the atmosphere of Anno 1404, but it is a lot more fun in the long run.”
“Anno 2070 is set in the near future and therefore lacks the atmosphere Anno 1404 had, I think.”
“This game combines a weird post-apocalyptic kind of atmosphere after global warming has all but ruined Earth, along with a base-building/city-management system.”
- humor32 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- -6 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often highlighted through its satirical take on environmental issues and the absurdity of gameplay scenarios, such as causing disasters that affect friends while enjoying the chaos. Players appreciate the clever design of buildings and situations that elicit laughter, although some find the humor can wear thin with repetitive gameplay. Overall, the game balances a lighthearted tone with moments of social commentary, making it an entertaining experience for those who enjoy strategy and city-building genres.
“Allows you to ruin the environment so that your friends get a tornado to ruin their city while you just stand there laughing.”
“Good sense of humor in the scenarios.”
“The climate change near future setting is swag, city building is pretty dank, and natural disasters are hilarious as fuck.”
“The humor in the game feels insignificant and often relies on glitches that aren't funny.”
“I found the jokes to be flat and lacking any real wit or creativity.”
“The attempts at humor often fall flat, making the experience more cringeworthy than entertaining.”
- monetization12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- -8 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized for its intrusive advertising and mandatory registration with Uplay, which bombards players with promotional content even after purchasing the game. Players report a frustrating experience filled with microtransactions for trivial in-game items, constant pop-up ads, and surveys, leading many to perceive the game as a cash grab rather than a genuine effort by the developers. Overall, the monetization strategy detracts significantly from the gameplay experience, leaving players feeling exploited.
“The game offers a variety of microtransactions, including fun options like purchasing new titles for your leader.”
“I appreciate that the monetization system is transparent and doesn't force players to spend real money for in-game purchases.”
“The in-game store provides a range of cosmetic items that enhance the experience without impacting gameplay.”
“They force you to receive their advertisements to play after paying retail for it.”
“Game is filled with microtransactions, the silly kind like paying money to get a new title for your leader.”
“When the game finally launches you will be pestered with surveys and pop-up advertisements.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express a mix of emotional investment and frustration regarding the game. While some appreciate the dedication behind the title, others feel a lack of emotional connection compared to previous installments, particularly due to technical issues and perceived unfair practices related to multiplayer features. Overall, the emotional response is marred by disappointment and anger towards the game's launcher and company policies.
“If that's not wholesome dedication, I don't know what is.”
“It lacks the historic charm of 1404 (or Dawn of Discovery for us folks in the US), so it's harder to invest emotionally or mentally in your little islands.”
“Buying Anno 1404 with the promise of a multiplayer patch, while it actually was released as a multiplayer DLC, made me feel cheated.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features strong character development that enhances the strategic gameplay, complemented by dynamic events that maintain player engagement and interest throughout the missions.
“An excellent strategy game, with good character development and dynamic events to keep the missions interesting and the player on their toes!”
