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Anno 1404 - History Edition similar games & best alternatives

Anno 1404 - History Edition

PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2020

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Quick resume

Relive the captivating gameplay of a true city-building classic with Anno® 1404 History Edition.

Global score

82/100

Genres

Simulator, Strategy

Similar games

    Pros

    • Addictive and immersive gameplay
    • Deep and complex economic and city-building systems
    • Beautiful graphics and music
    • Flexible play styles including campaign, scenarios, endless mode
    • Stable performance and modern system support

    Cons

    • Requires ubisoft connect which frustrates some players
    • Steep learning curve and complex mechanics
    • Multiplayer can have synchronization issues at large scale
    • Combat is limited and sometimes considered boring
    • Lack of extensive tutorials for new players

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Violence, Fantasy, Intimacy.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players have freedom to build cities, manage trade routes, and choose play style (campaign, scenarios, endless mode) with many customizable settings."

    • Competence
      4

      "Game requires managing complex economic systems, supply chains, and city building with a significant learning curve and skill development."

    • Competition
      1

      "Includes AI opponents and multiplayer, but competition is optional and can be disabled for relaxed play at own pace."

    • Continuation
      5

      "Highly addictive with players reporting losing track of time and playing for many hours continuously."

    • Cooperation
      3

      "Supports multiplayer co-op modes where players can work together, though singleplayer is also common."

    • Creativity
      4

      "Players design and customize cities, layouts, trade routes, and production chains extensively."

    • Domination
      -2

      "While conquest and war exist, many players avoid combat and focus on balanced growth and trade; interactions are not focused on domination."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game as a relaxing and immersive escape, losing track of real time and stress."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of intrinsic interest and enjoyment rather than obligation or pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Players try different strategies, layouts, and economic approaches; game supports exploration of mechanics."

    • Exploration
      2

      "Exploration of new islands and resource management is part of gameplay, though within known maps."

    • Expression
      3

      "Players customize city layouts and aesthetics, though character customization is limited."

    • Fantasy
      -1

      "Game is set in a historical medieval setting with realistic economic and city-building mechanics."

    • Fellowship
      2

      "Community and multiplayer modes foster social interaction, but many play solo."

    • Growth
      4

      "Players learn complex mechanics and improve skills over time; game has a steep learning curve."

    • Health
      -4

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity component."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires continuous attention and management; not suited for casual or background play."

    • Intimacy
      -3

      "Social interactions are mostly surface-level multiplayer or AI interactions; no close relationship building."

    • Leadership
      1

      "Players can lead and manage their own cities and trade empires, but multiplayer leadership roles are limited."

    • Progression
      5

      "Strong focus on accumulating resources, upgrading cities, and expanding trade and production."

    • Relaxation
      4

      "Many players find the game relaxing and immersive, balancing challenge with flow."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Enjoyable visuals, music, and animations provide sensory pleasure though not intense stimulation."

    • Status
      -2

      "Limited social recognition or status mechanics; focus is on personal achievement."

    • Story
      3

      "Includes a campaign with narrative elements and quests that engage players in story."

    • Strategy
      5

      "Heavy emphasis on strategic planning, resource management, and problem solving."

    • Thrill
      1

      "Some suspense from managing threats and competition, but overall a controlled and steady experience."

    • Value
      4

      "Players perceive good value for time spent due to depth, replayability, and quality."

    • Violence
      -3

      "Combat exists but is a minor and often avoidable part of gameplay; focus is on constructive city building."

    • Survival
      2

      "Players manage threats and resource scarcity but game is generally stable and forgiving."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026