Trading in gunpowder kegs and fields of wheat for missile turrets and high tech underwater algae farms, Anno 2070 brings the popular civ-building strategy series into the modern era with a much-needed twist. With humanity recovering from a global ecological meltdown that leaves much of the world's land and vital resources now well below sea level, you now have to weigh out both the environmental and economical impact of your actions as you build out your budding archipelago empire. While the fresh sci-fi vibe had me hooked from the get-go, it's the shades of depth 2070 adds to the franchise's already elaborate gameplay that makes the ebb and flow of expanding my ever-struggling civilization so captivating.

In Anno 2070's plausible, not-so-distant future, resources and available land are scarce, giving rise to conflict. I like that the environmental theme is more than just a cool nail to hang the story on. Decisions you make regarding your colony's layout, the types of structures you create, and the way you harvest resources all have a dramatic impact on the gameplay. This creates a neat "cause and effect" flow throughout the game. Balancing the need to expand while mitigating the damage it causes to the fragile island ecosystem is a clever update that adds spice to the familiar intricacies of Anno's economy-centric city building.

It's also interesting how Blue Bytes ties this into the game's two main playable factions, who embody very different attitudes and approaches to survival. The tree-hugger Ecos use green power and eat healthy food, yielding a slow-growing but stable economy. In sharp contrast, the industrious Tycoons favor unsustainable coal power and junk food. Their initial rapid economic growth dwindles as resources are consumed. A third support faction of nerdy scientists (Tech) also come into play with helpful research, advanced gadgetry, and the ability to create underwater colonies.

The crazy thing is you often have to play all three factions simultaneously within your colony in order to access the full range of building options and strategic advantages. Each group brings unique structures and perks to the table, but they also create eco-havoc that you have to deal with on-the-fly. As with the past games, combat is straightforward and downplayed in favor of economic strategizing. Emphasis is instead placed on the game's complex colony management system. When you add in juggling the needs of internal groups within your own colony on top of defending it all, this more than compensates for the often middling battle encounters.


Though it's not perfect, Anno 2070's story-driven campaign mode does a commendable job of introducing each faction's play style and incorporating the game's many moving parts at a comfortable pace. It is on the short side, and the first two-thirds of it feel like an extended tutorial before the action kicks in. The fact everything you build carries over from one mission to the next also gives me mixed feelings. It's a cool concept that you don't see very often in this kind of game, but it also can pose problems when you make poor planning decisions that don't get resolved before moving on to the next mission.

Still, I found the campaign mode worth playing through, as it prepped me for the real fun found in Anno 2070's expansive sandbox mode. Continuous Play pulls out the stops, letting you pick your starting faction and dive into the deep end unfettered by finishing conditions that prematurely end the game. I spent hours-on-end blissfully caught in the addictive current of free-form building and expanding. If you prefer a more specific goal, there a quite a few single scenarios can be played as either solo or multiplayer maps too.

Anno 2070 requires a U-Play account, but unlike some other Ubisoft titles, you're not booted out of the game if your internet connection drops. In fact, it adds some intriguing and worthwhile elements that tie into the game's factions while enhancing the core experience. New World Events, which are like multi-scenario mini-campaign expansions, can be accessed online, and smaller missions cycle in and out on a daily basis. You can even cast your vote alongside other players for your choice of faction leader for the Senate and World Council. Electing a leader grants additional perks for the ruling faction, which is a cool touch.


Rounding out its exhaustive scope and elaborate complexity, Anno 2070 is a thing of visual beauty. The futuristic look is an exciting update for the series, which has been stuck in the past until now. Even when looking down upon your growing realm from the lofty heavens, there's a ridiculous amount of little details that simply pop out. Each faction has distinct structures, and I love catching little flurries of activity from the bustle of vehicles moving along city streets to the animations of farming and industrial work. Zooming is a real treat too, since the activity amplifies when you hit the street level where citizens are going about their routine business amongst robot drones and hovering craft.