Game profile
Anno 1404: History Edition
Set in medieval times, players build thriving trade cities, deal with oriental merchants and raise towering cathedrals. This remastered edition of the fan favorite brings modern resolutions and includes all expansions.
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What kind of game this is
At its core this is Strategy / City builder, set in a historical period. Visually it is deliberately stylised rather than photorealistic, and the overall tone stays light and upbeat. The structure is guided rather than open, so you are moved along instead of dropped into a map. It rewards long uninterrupted stretches more than quick check-ins.
The difficulty is moderate and fair, demanding attention without punishing you for it. Story exists mostly as background texture rather than a reason to keep going. Co-op is supported, so you can bring someone along. It is available on one platform. It sits in the budget bracket.
What stands out
- Medieval trade
- Cathedral building
- All expansions
This fits you if
- exploring for its own sake is the point for you
- you want to wind down rather than be tested
- you can sit down for a proper long stretch without interruptions
- you have someone to play with
- you are watching your budget
- you want something light that leaves you in a good mood
Look elsewhere if
- you only ever get short bursts of play time
- you want something with real weight to it
- you want either a pure challenge or pure relaxation, not the middle
How long is Anno 1404: History Edition?
About 40 hours in total. At three evenings a week and two hours each, you will be busy for roughly 7 weeks, or 20 sessions.
How the rating ranks
Critics settled on 87 out of 100, which puts it above 71 percent of the 1276 games here and at rank 288 overall. That is mid-table for this database. Not a standout at the top, but solidly rated.
For comparison, Strategy averages 82 points across the database, so this one sits 5 points above its own genre. The figure rests on a comparatively small number of ratings, so treat it as an indication rather than a verdict.
Released in 2020, so it has 6 years behind it. Usually cheap by now and the rough edges are long fixed.
The facts
- Release year
- 2020
- Genres
- Strategy, City builder
- Playtime
- approx. 40 hrs.
- Difficulty
- Moderate, fair
- Story weight
- Background flavour
- Play with
- Solo, Co-op
- Setting
- Historical
- Visual style
- Stylised
- Price bracket
- Budget
- Platforms
- PC
- Critic rating
- 87 / 100
Direct comparison
| Genres | Release year | Playtime | Critic rating | Price bracket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anno 1404: History Edition | 2020 | approx. 40 hrs. | 87 | Budget |
| Anno 1800 | 2019 | Endless game | 83 | Mid price |
| Manor Lords | 2024 | approx. 80 hrs. | 79 | Mid price |
| Tropico 6 | 2019 | approx. 35 hrs. | 77 | Mid price |
If you liked this, try these
- 83/100 Anno 1800 Shared: Strategy, City builder, Historical, longer
- 79/100 Manor Lords Shared: Strategy, City builder, Historical, longer
- 77/100 Tropico 6 Shared: Strategy, City builder, Historical
- n/a Foundation Shared: Strategy, City builder, Historical
- n/a Going Medieval Shared: Strategy, City builder, Historical
- n/a The Wandering Village Shared: Strategy, City builder