Tlatoani: Aztec Cities

About

Tlatoani: Aztec Cities is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Perspective Games and was released on October 31, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

"Tlatoani: Aztec Cities" is a simulation game that allows players to shape the history of the Aztec civilization by building and managing city-states. The game features individual simulation of citizens, resource management, and a focus on symmetrical city design. Players must balance the needs of their citizens, economy, and religion to create a successful and prosperous city-state.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 83 reviews

gameplay9 positive mentions

music2 negative mentions

Refreshing take on building mechanics with a unique Mesoamerican theme that stands out from traditional city builders.
Addicting gameplay with in-depth content and responsive developers who actively address bugs and community feedback.
The game captures the essence of classic city builders like Caesar and Pharaoh while introducing new mechanics, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.

The game is plagued by bugs, including crashes and issues with mission recognition, which can disrupt gameplay.
The tutorial is poorly designed, leaving players confused about key mechanics and resource management.
Some gameplay elements, such as military mechanics and resource distribution, feel unbalanced and can lead to frustrating experiences.

gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
The gameplay of this city builder is praised for its refreshing mechanics and depth, offering a complex yet accessible experience that combines resource management, military strategy, and environmental manipulation. Players appreciate the aesthetically pleasing 2D art style and the engaging historical setting, though some find the learning curve steep and certain mechanics, like trade and resource management, challenging. Overall, the game provides a thoughtful and strategic approach to city building, appealing to fans of the genre and Mesoamerican history.
- “Addicting gameplay with in-depth content!”
- “Gameplay is like any other city builder, but in a sea of medieval and Hellenic-themed historical city builders, it's as refreshing as the waters of Tlalocan.”
- “Between my own fascination with the Aztec civilization, the game's macro trade and city-state mechanics, and the satisfying hierarchy of needs and resources, I have been ensnared.”
- “In games like SimCity and Cities: Skylines, I feel as if the only real gameplay is min-maxing road layouts and grafting different district types onto that network; the playing god/ant farm appeal of watching little citizens go about their days doesn't appeal to me. I am a strategy game fan at heart, I like puzzles to solve, conniving and planning, and that's exactly what Tlatoani provides: it gives you a toolkit, a nudge in the direction of what buildings synergize, who should live where, a pantheon of gods to appease, and leaves you to work out the rest of the puzzle.”
- “It's a bit tricky to learn even in the tutorial; you can get your city caught in some hard-to-solve situations, as the resource management and transportation mechanics are fairly complicated.”
- “This makes the gameplay overall slower and more thoughtful than previous city builders.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
23%
23%
The graphics of the game are generally described as acceptable for 2024, featuring a simple yet nostalgic aesthetic that runs well on various hardware. While some players appreciate the art style and the inclusion of a day-night cycle, others feel that the graphics could be improved to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are considered charming but not groundbreaking, with a mix of positive and critical feedback regarding their complexity and clarity.
- “My favorite classical ancient city builder is Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom, and in my opinion, no other game since has been able to better combine all these aspects: aesthetically appealing 2D art style, well-distinguishable buildings, and cities that feel lively. The artwork and interesting mechanics like symmetry make you consider how you layout your city.”
- “Graphics-wise, it is nice that there are multiple presets available, and a day-night cycle is also pleasant to see.”
- “It's fun, the artwork is great, and it has its own quirks and charm.”
- “Unfortunately, this game feels like Against the Storm reskinned with an Aztec aesthetic.”
- “The graphics really aren't the best, but that's okay.”
- “Graphics are pretty enough to be acceptable in 2024, but simple enough that it runs on anything with a processor.”
story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The story focuses on the ascent of the Mexica people and the formation of the Aztec Empire, exploring their conflicts with various other peoples. However, players note that the pacing of the missions can be challenging, often requiring prior knowledge of the objectives to succeed, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “I'm only halfway through the campaign maps, but it tells the story of the Mexica people on their ascent to forming the Aztec Empire, detailing the various peoples and their wars.”
- “The narrative beautifully captures the rich history and culture of the Mexica, immersing players in their journey and struggles.”
- “The storytelling is engaging, providing a deep insight into the complexities of the Aztec Empire's formation and the conflicts that shaped it.”
- “A lot is left out of the rather short instructional missions.”
- “However, I feel that the pacing of the missions can be a bit brutal, especially on early levels.”
- “It sometimes feels as though you need to play the missions and fail first, in order to know exactly what tribute will be demanded and when.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The music effectively complements the Mesoamerican theme, featuring well-crafted, chill compositions that evoke an Aztec vibe. However, some users noted that a particular high-pitched flute in one of the tracks can be piercing.
- “The music is well done, chill, and has that Aztec vibe.”
- “Music is fitting with instruments matching the Mesoamerican theme, though one of the songs in particular has a high-pitched flute that seems to be quite piercing.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users have reported issues with grinding related to a potential bug affecting journal goals for farming or stockades, suggesting that these mechanics may not function as intended.
- “I think there is a bug with the journal goals for farming or the stockades.”
- “The grinding feels repetitive and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “It takes too long to level up, and the rewards don't feel worth the effort.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is lacking, resulting in a persistent shortage of resources and requiring players to construct numerous identical buildings to compensate.
- “Production isn't optimized, meaning there's a constant lack of resources and the player has to build countless identical buildings.”
- “The game's performance is severely hindered by poor optimization, leading to frustrating lag and long loading times.”
- “I often find myself struggling with inventory management due to the lack of optimization in resource allocation.”