Anno 1404 - History Edition similar games & best alternatives
Anno 1404 - History Edition
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
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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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
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