Pax Romana will be free to play for a limited time

You’ll be able to check out one of last year’s best strategy sims for free this weekend. Ubisoft’s Anno 117: Pax Romana will be free-to-play for a limited time from Feb. 26 through March 2.

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a strategic city-builder set during the Pax Romana period of Ancient Rome, one considered a golden age of peace and expansion. You’ll assume the role of a Roman governor, ruling over Latium or the Celtic lands of Albion. You’ll build up your land’s economy and dictate its culture, like what deities its people can worship. Anno 117: Pax Romana reviewed well, with an average 83 score on OpenCritic, with Polygon’s review saying it “makes one spectacular city-building game. Without menu clutter, Ubisoft’s latest is relaxing and strategically challenging at the same time.” It did catch some heat, however, for its use of generative AI artwork.

Future DLC was also teased via a gossip-filled live-action trailer. Expect a new island, deity, military units, and more to come to Anno 117 with its Year 1 pass. The first DLC pack is expected to drop April 2026.

The free-to-play period starts Thursday, Feb. 26, and ends Monday, March 2. If you’ve linked your Ubisoft and Twitch accounts, you can snag some Twitch drops — a Callinectes Logo and a Venusian Shell Logo —by watching Anno 117: Pax Romana streams. They’ll be given away until Thursday, March 12.