Anno 117 transports the legendary city-building series to the Roman Empire, but not without Ubisoft Connect woes

The Roman Empire is possibly the most natural fit for simulations of town construction, and certainly a historical setting I, like many others, am always happy to step into. Anno 117: Pax Romana whisks the long-running series over to Ancient Rome, delivering a typically stunning rendition of the era that digs into the fine details of its most iconic monuments and structures. While it's largely a refinement on a winning formula that has delivered some of the best city builders in past years, one problem the Romans didn't have to deal with is already causing Anno 117 players grief: Ubisoft Connect.

Let's start with the good stuff, because there's plenty of it. If you're already familiar with the series, you'll have a rough idea of what to expect from Anno 117: Pax Romana. Out of the gate, it's a real looker, with some spectacular vistas and all that beautiful Roman architecture. Towering statues and giant constructions such as the Colosseum (more on that in a moment) define the shape of your cities, while housing districts, commercial zones, and social spaces such as the Forum sprawl out across the countryside.

You're able to build in the heartland of Latium, or opt for a tougher challenge out in the furthest corners of the empire. "The mysterious Celtic wetlands of Albion, where no civilized Roman wants to be" (what we now know as Great Britain), awaits you. Get in close and you can watch your citizens going about their daily lives, or zoom out and admire your handiwork from a distance. Its predecessor, Anno 1800, was already beloved, but Anno 117 has managed to conquer it and claim the crown for the best-rated game in the series on aggregation site Metacritic.

A lot of that is down to the additions. Along with pushing the graphics a little further, the building options have been expanded. The military systems are notably enhanced to give the Roman legions the respect they deserve, with full ground and naval combat on show. You're able to set up games against a range of premade rival governors with specific personalities, traits, and negotiation preferences, so be sure to consider how you approach them when it comes to diplomatic interactions, treaties, or declarations of war.

Likewise, religion gets a lot of attention to reflect the era. Choose a patron deity for your islands to determine the boons that your settlement will favor; Neptune dramatically enhances the effectiveness of your fishers and ship-builders, for example, while Mars eschews construction buffs for stronger troops. These will also have a wider-reaching global effect on all regions under your control, and one can even become your dominant patron if their influence grows widely enough. Stoke the belief attribute among your citizens, and you'll be rewarded with a motivated and enthusiastic work force.

Personally, I'm particularly taken by the handling of monuments, which have long been a core piece of the Anno games. The most notable of these for the Ancient Rome setting is the amphitheater, of course, with the likes of the Colosseum acting as the centerpiece of culture. In Anno 117, these must go through four separate building stages, and you're able to hold a celebratory festival once the work is complete. Then you can hold events ranging from local gladiator games to the naumachia, a grand-scale mock battle loved by your citizens.

There's a lot to get stuck into, then, but there's one major gripe that has sprung up since the game's launch. Anno 117 requires both Denuvo Anti-tamper and an Ubisoft Connect account, and the latter in particular is causing frustration. At the time of writing, Steam reviews sit at 72% positive, and almost every thumbs-down rating is accompanied by mention of Ubisoft Connect. For some, they're unable to create the account required, while others report "constant multiplayer connection errors" and an inability to stay in a game with other people.

Anno 117: Pax Romana is out now on Steam, priced at $59.99 / £49.99. If you love the series, or have always wanted to try it, it's a great place to start - just be sure to keep the above in mind and make sure you've got a Ubisoft Connect account ready to go before you play.