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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

    Motivations

    • Autonomy

      Game with the same Autonomy vibe

      4

      "Players have freedom to build cities, manage economy, research, diplomacy, and military with many options and customizations."

      Capsule for Hearthlands Hearthlands

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

    • Competence

      Game with the same Competence vibe

      4

      "Game requires learning complex logistics, supply chains, signaling, and economic management with skill feedback."

      Capsule for Transport Fever Transport Fever

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

    • Competition

      Game with the same Competition vibe

      1

      "Includes league play and tournaments, but competition is casual and often against AI rather than ranked multiplayer."

      Capsule for Backyard Baseball '97 Backyard Baseball '97

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

    • Continuation

      Game with the same Continuation vibe

      5

      "Highly addictive with players reporting long sessions and habitual play, often losing track of time."

      Capsule for Garden Galaxy Garden Galaxy

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

    • Cooperation

      Game with the same Cooperation vibe

      3

      "Co-op mode available where players work together; multiplayer supports both competitive and cooperative play."

      Capsule for HOARD HOARD

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

    • Creativity

      Game with the same Creativity vibe

      4

      "Players design and build entire cities and republics from scratch, including infrastructure, logistics, and production chains, allowing for creative problem solving and customization."

      Capsule for Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic

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

    • Domination

      Game with the same Domination vibe

      -2

      "While conquest is possible, the game emphasizes balanced interactions, diplomacy, and story-driven play rather than domination or trash talk."

      Capsule for Old World Old World

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

    • Escapism

      Game with the same Escapism vibe

      4

      "Players use the game as a relaxing, immersive escape from real life stress."

      Capsule for shapez 2 shapez 2

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

    • Expectation

      Game with the same Expectation vibe

      -4

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

      Capsule for Dogpile Dogpile

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

    • Experimenting

      Game with the same Experimenting vibe

      3

      "Players try different strategies, unit compositions, and objectives, exploring game mechanics and scenario variations."

      Capsule for Order of Battle: World War II Order of Battle: World War II

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

    • Exploration

      Game with the same Exploration vibe

      2

      "Game involves discovering new islands and unlocking new maps and content, though environments are somewhat structured and familiar."

      Capsule for Worshippers of Cthulhu Worshippers of Cthulhu

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

    • Expression

      Game with the same Expression vibe

      3

      "Players can customize city appearance, colors, and layout, expressing personal style."

      Capsule for Airborne Empire Airborne Empire

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

    • Fantasy

      Game with the same Fantasy vibe

      -1

      "Game is set in a stylized medieval world with some fantasy elements but mostly realistic city building."

      Capsule for The Settlers® : Rise of an Empire - History Edition The Settlers® : Rise of an Empire - History Edition

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

    • Fellowship

      Game with the same Fellowship vibe

      2

      "Community and multiplayer modes foster social interaction, though solo play is common."

      Capsule for Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity® Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity®

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

    • Growth

      Game with the same Growth vibe

      4

      "Players learn complex systems and improve skills over long playtime; steep learning curve."

      Capsule for Space Empires V Space Empires V

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

    • Health

      Game with the same Health vibe

      -4

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity component."

      Capsule for Satisfactory Satisfactory

      "Primarily sedentary gameplay with no physical activity component."

    • Idle

      Game with the same Idle vibe

      -3

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

      Capsule for SuperPower 2 Steam Edition SuperPower 2 Steam Edition

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

    • Intimacy

      Game with the same Intimacy vibe

      -3

      "Social interactions are mostly surface-level competitive or cooperative gameplay; no close relationship formation."

      Capsule for Tower Wars Tower Wars

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

    • Leadership

      Game with the same Leadership vibe

      1

      "Players manage their city and armies, but no strong leadership roles over others in multiplayer."

      Capsule for The Settlers® : Rise of an Empire - History Edition The Settlers® : Rise of an Empire - History Edition

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

    • Progression

      Game with the same Progression vibe

      5

      "Strong focus on accumulating resources, upgrading buildings, expanding production, and increasing company value."

      Capsule for Sim Companies Sim Companies

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

    • Relaxation

      Game with the same Relaxation vibe

      4

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

      Capsule for Train Sim World® 3 Train Sim World® 3

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

    • Sensation

      Game with the same Sensation vibe

      2

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

      Capsule for Ratopia Ratopia

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

    • Status

      Game with the same Status vibe

      -2

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

      Capsule for Paper Planet Paper Planet

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

    • Story

      Game with the same Story vibe

      3

      "Includes character stories, quests, and a narrative that engages players."

      Capsule for Tiny Bookshop Tiny Bookshop

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

    • Strategy

      Game with the same Strategy vibe

      5

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

      Capsule for Surviving Mars Surviving Mars

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

    • Thrill

      Game with the same Thrill vibe

      1

      "Some suspense from managing threats and meeting demands, but overall controlled and steady gameplay."

      Capsule for Caesar™ IV Caesar™ IV

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

    • Value

      Game with the same Value vibe

      4

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

      Capsule for Ostriv Ostriv

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

    • Violence

      Game with the same Violence vibe

      -3

      "Combat exists but is minimal and often disliked; focus is on constructive city-building."

      Capsule for Pharaoh + Cleopatra Pharaoh + Cleopatra

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

    • Survival

      Game with the same Survival vibe

      2

      "Players manage threats and resource scarcity, but the game is generally stable with manageable risks."

      Capsule for Anno 117: Pax Romana Anno 117: Pax Romana

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

    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.

    Last update: 30/04/2026