When real-time strategy (RTS) games dip into other genres, they’re taking a huge gamble. They can often alienate fans of each genre they’re incorporating, resulting in a product that pleases no one. Those that succeed, however, become a genre of their own, like theAnnofranchise.
Thanks to its innovation in the RTS genre,Annohas enjoyed a unique status in the gaming industry. Not many other games can copy their own brand of innovation successfully, at least to the extent that they’re popular enough to releaseAnno 1800 Console Edition. So when it comes to theAnnohierarchy, here’s how each game contributes to the series' relevance.
8Anno: Create a New World
Annohas often tried to break through the console oreven handheld market, but mostly to no avail. It’s too complex a game, so in order to find success in a more casual environment, it had to shed some of its mechanics and downsize. This is what it did withAnno: Create A New World.
RELATED:Best Strategy Games That Turned 20 In 2022, Ranked
It wasa Nintendo-exclusivetitle back in 2009, though it was made for older Nintendo consoles. The graphics are cartoonish, and the gameplay is a lot simpler compared to the usualAnnotitle. Due to its age, it’s hard to get a copy of this one unless it’s through an emulator.
7Anno 1602: Creation of a New World
The very first game in the series wasAnno 1602: Creation of a New World.It practically looks like a more outdated and pixelized version ofAnno’s usual favored setting, which is during the Age of Sail. It’s a charming relic whose mechanics and graphics are still decent by today’s standards.
RELATED:Best Strategy Games That Turned 30 In 2022, Ranked
In terms of gameplay,Anno 1602plays out similarly to more recent games in the franchise. Players need to find islands and settle them, gradually improving their populace’s living standards while engaging in trade and commerce as well as production, to make their archipelagic civilization thrive.
6Anno 2205
Anno 2205was the series' most ambitious title. Perhaps it waseven too ambitiousfor its own good, because it shot for the moon both literally and figuratively. It’s a futuristic space title whose main shtick is allowing players to extend their colonies to the moon after mankind discovers the next game-changing resource in the space rock in question.
However, the game had a myriad of performance issues, combined with bland structure variety and exhausting mechanics. Together, these all make it harder to swallow compared to the more basic, tried-and-tested timelines of the previousAnnogames. Despite the issues though, it’s still a decent game, especially for newcomers to the series.
5Anno 1503: The New World
Anno 1503is the second game in the series, released four years after the first game. Gameplay-wise, it’s more of the same, and some players might even be put off by the lack of dramatic innovations or shiny new mechanics brought to the table. However, it’s still an improved version of the original.
RELATED:Turn-Based Strategy Games To Try While Waiting For Civilization 7
The graphics and visuals are more serviceable here and the combat was made more complex, looking closely at how the game currently handles its naval warfare theater. Fans of the franchise can even consider this one a shinier version of1602,considering how the first game failed to secure the international recognition its creators wanted.
4Anno 1701
Anno 1701was a significant milestone in the series' lifespan, since it was the firstAnnogame to feature fully-3D graphics. This allowed the developers a lot more creative freedom for the game. They certainly added more mechanics, marking the start of turningAnnointothe complex challengeit is today.
There are even natural disasters such as tornadoes and storms present in the game, along with man-made maladies like plagues. Moreover, it was the first entry in the franchise that finally showed players how beautiful their cities could become, complete with vast palaces and vibrant colonial housing.
3Anno 2070
Anno 2070is yet another huge milestone forAnno.This marked the entry in the series where the developers became comfortable enough to leave the Age of Sail template.2070ist set during the near future of mankind, when global warming and its causes are just a hair away from blowing into an apocalypse.
RELATED:Great Strategy Games On Steam That Deserve More Attention
In addition to the shiny new visual style and sci-fi transition, it introduced some interesting and fresh mechanics, such as distinct factions and underwater colony extensions. Next to2205, it was one of the most ambitiousAnnotitles in the franchise. Some even prefer the new sci-fi setting compared to the Age of Sail.
2Anno 1404
Also known asDawn of Discoverin certain countries,Anno 1404is still hard to beat to this day. Some even consider it the quintessentialAnnogame and the best representative of the franchise, which is why it’s also the perfect entry point for a lot of newcomers toAnno.
Everything in1404seamlessly works well together, from the elegant user interface to the gorgeous graphics which still hold up to this day. The mechanics are also challenging enough without causingtoo much stress, while also providing thousands of hours of fun management.
1Anno 1800
After the lukewarm reception toAnno 2205and the less-than-stellar release ofAnno 2070, the developers went back to form withAnno 1800.A lot of series veterans regard it as a more refined, more challenging successor to1404. While also introducing new mechanics to the aging Age of Sail formula,Anno 1800also added some quality-of-life improvements.
Truth be told, it’s even hard to go back to the olderAnnogames after getting spoiled by1800’s upgrades. This time around, players lead their Victorian settlements into an Industrial Age powerhouse. The citizens are still needy and demanding as ever, and the game’s challenge has become more pronounced with the advent of quality-of-life changes. Now,console players canalso experience that nerve-wracking (but satisfying) city-building depth with theAnno 1800 Console Edition.
