Anno Online

About

Anno Online is a single player and multiplayer real-time strategy game with a historical theme. It was developed by Blue Byte and was released on July 1, 2015. It received neutral reviews from players.

Anno Online is a free-to-play strategy simulation game that lets you build and develop big medieval cities. No download is required; you can experience a complex city simulation directly in your browser!

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44%

Audience ScoreBased on 498 reviews

graphics18 positive mentions

gameplay4 negative mentions

The game offers a charming atmosphere with nice hand-drawn graphics, reminiscent of classic city builders.
It has a helpful community that provides support and guidance to new players.
The gameplay allows for strategic planning and resource management, making it engaging for fans of the genre.

The game is plagued by microtransactions, which can hinder progress and create a pay-to-win environment.
It requires Adobe Flash and Google Chrome to run, making it inaccessible for some users and limiting its functionality.
Many players experience long loading times and technical issues, leading to frustration and a poor gaming experience.

graphics
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
39%
15%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the charming hand-drawn visuals and appealing art style, while others criticize them as outdated or subpar compared to other titles in the genre. Many appreciate the aesthetic appeal and the game's ability to create visually satisfying cities, but there are significant complaints about the overall quality and stability of the graphics, especially in relation to modern gaming standards. Overall, while some find the graphics enjoyable, others feel they detract from the gameplay experience.
- “The charming visuals and satisfying resource chains captured some of that old magic.”
- “The graphics are good for the eye and you will enjoy them.”
- “The buildings and graphics look great to me, very pleasing to the eyes.”
- “Once a promising city builder with sensible multiplayer, now unplayable due to microtransactions and horrendous graphics.”
- “The graphics are really, really ugly, bothersome, and make you want to quit the game.”
- “But, it's 2015, and experienced gamers have expectations of gameplay, challenge, immersion, and graphics that this game does not meet in any way.”
gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
73%
15%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing its core mechanics as repetitive and lacking depth, often comparing it unfavorably to previous titles in the Anno series. Issues such as lag, underdeveloped trading systems, and a lack of meaningful strategy have been highlighted, alongside frustrations with microtransactions and technical errors. However, some players appreciate the resource management aspects and find the graphics charming, suggesting that it may appeal to fans of building games despite its shortcomings.
- “Graphics are adorable and the gameplay is awesome (if you like the Anno franchise).”
- “Great gameplay focused on resource management.”
- “The game is pretty legit and relaxing where you build and maintain a town... if you are into building games, I would highly recommend this game to anyone into this kind of gameplay.”
- “Aside from the Flash player issues that were not fixed for ages, the gameplay does not offer an 'online' feel and feels like a terrible Travian clone, taking away all the fun from previous Anno series.”
- “I wish I could give this game a good rating, I really do, but I couldn't get past the first half hour of gameplay without getting bored.”
- “Frankly, it is under-featured, the gameplay is dated (at a date somewhere around 1991), and the development team seems so obsessed with controlling possibly offensive content that they have gutted any form or fashion of customization.”
monetization
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
64%
18%
The monetization in the game is heavily criticized for its reliance on microtransactions, which many players feel detracts from the overall experience and leads to a grindy gameplay. While some users note that these purchases are not essential to enjoy the game, the prevalence of microtransactions has sparked frustration, with calls for a shift away from this model. Overall, the monetization strategy appears to be a significant point of contention among players.
- “Does use microtransactions, but not needed to enjoy the game.”
- “There is no need whatsoever for the microtransactions unless you lack patience.”
- “Yes, there are a lot of microtransactions in the game, but these only speed up the game for you; they are not necessary to 'win'.”
- “But progress quickly turned into a grind, with timers and painful microtransactions dragging the experience down.”
- “Once a promising city builder with sensible multiplayer, now unplayable due to microtransactions and horrendous graphics.”
- “When are the game studios going to learn that the cancer that is microtransactions have to stop?!”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
11%
18%
The music in the game has received generally positive feedback, with many players praising its enjoyable and relaxing soundtrack that enhances the gaming experience. While some users found the music annoying or repetitive, overall, it is considered a standout feature, contributing to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment. Despite mixed opinions on other aspects of the game, the soundtrack is frequently highlighted as a strong point, with ratings often around 8.5/10.
- “I also completely love the music.”
- “One of my favorite things about the game is the music; it is a great soundtrack.”
- “I love city building games and this one is particularly relaxing due to the slower pace, awesome soundtrack and nice graphics.”
- “I got excited about this because of the 1701 feel (and music), but soon discovered a mobile game experience with micro-transactions and a tutorial setting that feels both annoying yet necessary due to some things not unlocking unless you go through the guide.”
- “Tried it... slow, annoying, limited options and unstable, not to mention the music which annoyed me. I couldn't turn it off in-game; it's basically just a limited web browser that goes to the online website version of this game.”
- “+decent music -- yes, there are volume controls.”
story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The game's story is well-integrated with resource gathering, exploration, and quests, reminiscent of previous Anno titles, allowing players to progress at their own pace. It features a rich narrative supported by engaging quests and online elements like guilds and trading, while also providing ample opportunities for players to earn in-game currency through daily play and quest completion. However, the reliance on microtransactions for speeding up progress may detract from the overall experience.
- “The game follows the Anno series' previous games with a very good storyline combined with online features such as guilds and trading of goods.”
- “I'll be honest with you about this game: it requires you to manage a city and a navy. When you first start off, the best move is to focus on the quests, which will ensure you build a proper economy in your city while also providing a navy tutorial.”
- “I'll be honest with you about this game; it requires you to manage a city and a navy. When you first start off in the game, the best move to make is to focus on the quests. These quests will ensure you don't go bankrupt by helping you build a proper economy in your city, while also providing a navy tutorial.”
- “The game shells out free currency for each week of continuous daily play, in addition to a ton in the first few quests you play through.”
- “There are lots of quests that will teach you and lead you through the game.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
86%
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with reports of frequent bugs, crashes, and loading issues that hinder gameplay. Many players experience freezing at the load screen and prolonged downtime, with some unable to start the game at all. While a few users have had positive initial experiences, the overall sentiment leans towards frustration due to the game's instability and inadequate customer support.
- “This game runs great! I really loved the basic tutorials, and I didn't have to pay for anything.”
- “I was pleasantly surprised by how stable the game is; it has a smooth performance that enhances the overall experience.”
- “The little guide has shown me around, and I appreciate how well everything functions without any hiccups.”
- “At the moment, I can't get the darn game to start - it just freezes at the load screen after I press the play button.”
- “There are hundreds of other free-to-play games that are way more user-friendly than having to start the game off doing troubleshooting steps just to try and even play it.”
- “However, that being said, there are glitches such as listed deposits of minerals not actually being usable, and the entire game takes a hiatus about every twenty-five hours of gameplay and will not load for 24 to 72 hours.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game is noted for its enhanced replayability compared to other free-to-play browser and mobile ports, making it more engaging for players looking for repeated playthroughs.
- “The game offers a variety of paths and choices, making each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
- “With multiple endings and character builds, I find myself coming back for more every time.”
- “The dynamic events and random encounters keep the gameplay fresh, ensuring that no two sessions are ever the same.”
- “The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
- “The limited variety in gameplay mechanics leads to a repetitive experience.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often leading to brief, unfulfilling play sessions. Additionally, issues such as bugs and the game's permanent closure have further diminished the experience.
- “It quickly gets repetitive and tedious; you find yourself logging in for 5 minutes here and there just to update simple things.”
- “Good atmosphere, but grindy, buggy, and now permanently closed.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is generally regarded as good, but it is marred by issues such as grindiness and bugs, leading to a negative overall experience, especially since the game is now permanently closed.