15 Games Like Anno 1800 for Builders Who Love Historical Depth

If you love Anno 1800 for its rich blend of city-building, trade routes, and historical depth, but want to explore other worlds and eras, here are 20 great games to check out. Whether you’re drawn to ancient civilizations, medieval realism, or survival in harsh landscapes, each title offers its own unique flavor while scratching that same builder’s itch.

From cozy, low-pressure experiences to grand, strategic simulations, there’s something here for every architect of history.

Kingdoms Reborn

Grow your tiny medieval hamlet into a sprawling empire across eras in Kingdoms Reborn, where you research technologies, manage simulated citizens, and evolve through four distinct ages—from Dark Age to Industrial Age.

Frostpunk 2

Set 30 years after the first Frostpunk, this sequel challenges you to rebuild society in New London during a harsh, frozen world.

Frostpunk

The original Frostpunk drops you into a late 19th-century alternate history where a global cooling event forces humanity to band together in a single icy city.

Nebuchadnezzar

Venture to ancient Mesopotamia in Nebuchadnezzar, where you build iconic cities like Ur, Nineveh, and Babylon from the ground up. The game emphasizes historical authenticity in urban planning, resource production, and trade, immersing you in one of humanity’s earliest civilizations. If you enjoy the economic systems of Anno 1800, you’ll appreciate how this game mirrors that complexity in a more ancient era.

Builders of Egypt

Experience the rise and fall of Ancient Egypt in Builders of Egypt, starting in the protodynastic period and ending with the fall of the Ptolemaic Kingdom.

Pharaoh: A New Era

You’ll plan your city along the Nile, manage seasonal flood cycles, and construct pyramids, temples, and monuments. The game’s attention to historical detail and city logistics will feel familiar to anyone who loves Anno 1800’s economic challenges.

Unknown Horizons

A free and open-source city builder inspired by the Anno series, Unknown Horizons tasks you with settling new islands, developing production chains, and advancing your society through class tiers.

Imperium Romanum

You’ll build roads, walls, and iconic monuments like the Circus Maximus, while managing social inequality, taxes, and public order. This historically grounded city builder captures the grandeur of Rome and delivers a deep management experience reminiscent of Anno’s trade and expansion systems.

Caesar IV

Step even further back in time to ancient Rome with Caesar IV, where you oversee city planning, supply chains, and citizen satisfaction in a 3D Roman province.

Manor Lords

Your villagers go about their daily lives, from hunting to crafting, while you manage everything from resource production to regional influence. For players who appreciate Anno 1800’s balance of city growth and people simulation, Manor Lords offers a grounded, historical twist.

Banished

Banished throws you into a harsh, frontier-like medieval setting where exiled citizens must survive by building shelters, farming, and gathering.

Songs of Syx

The depth of simulation rivals grand strategy games, combining micro-management of production chains with macro-level decisions. If you love the empire-building side of Anno 1800, Songs of Syx will scratch that itch on a grand scale.

Foundation

Your citizens grow into specialized roles over time, and you manage production chains without rigid constraints. It’s a serene, cozy building experience that still offers historical progression and depth—perfect if you’re looking for the artistic side of Anno 1800’s world-building.

Farthest Frontier

Develop a medieval settlement in a frontier wilderness where you contend with food spoilage, seasonal cycles, and detailed farming mechanics.

Rise of Industry

In Rise of Industry, you are an early 20th-century industrialist building supply chains, factories, and export routes in a beautifully modeled open world.