City-building PC game Anno 1800 is getting a board game

From Wildlands and Brass designer Martin Wallace.

News by Alex Meehan Senior Staff Writer

Updated on June 9, 2020

Historical city-building PC game Anno 1800 is being adapted into a board game spin-off.

Anno 1800 is a video game set during the 19th century, in which players sail across the ocean to the New World in search of trade and materials for industrial development. They construct and develop cities across the world using the resources they obtain and trade along the way.

The latest entry in the 20-year-old Anno series, which has included entries set in both the past and future, Anno 1800 combines city-building with exploration in a story-driven campaign about the expeditions to South-America. Players can challenge each other to competitive multiplayer matches in which they go toe-to-toe against one another to establish the greater civilisation.

The video game board game adaptation looks to translate these beloved mechanics into an engine-building game - meaning players gradually upgrade their options and open up new possibilities - that will focus on both trading and city-building.

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Anno 1800 – Neu im Herbst 2020 Das große Aufbau-Strategiespiel über das Zeitalter der Industrialisierung! Im Brettspiel zum beliebten PC-Spiel von @Ubisoftmainz baut ihr kontinuierlich eure eigene Industrie auf, um eure Heimatinsel weiterzuentwickeln. ? Schiffsflotten ermöglichen einen regen Handel und die Erschließung neuer Inseln in der Alten und Neuen Welt. Es gilt, die Wünsche eurer Bevölkerung zu erfüllen. Doch sind die Einwohner anfangs noch mit Brot und Kleidung zufrieden, verlangen sie schon bald nach wertvollen Luxusgütern. Dabei müsst ihr Produktionsketten sinnvoll planen und die Spezialisierung der Bevölkerung im Auge behalten. Das Ziel: Eine kluge Verteilung von Bauern, Arbeitern, Handwerkern, Ingenieuren und Investoren. Aber Vorsicht: die Konkurrenz schläft nicht und kann euch die neuen Errungenschaften jederzeit vor der Nase wegschnappen! Wer erschafft die florierendste Insel?? Spieleautor: Martin Wallace? . . .? Anno 1800 - New in autumn 2020? The great engine-building, strategy game about the age of industrialization! In the board game based on the popular PC game by @Ubisoftmainz you continuously build up your own industry to develop your home island. ? Ship fleets allow for active trade and the development of new islands in the Old and New World. You have to fulfill the wishes of your own population. While the inhabitants are initially satisfied with bread and clothing, they soon demand valuable luxury goods. You must plan production chains sensibly and keep an eye on the specialization of your population. The goal: A wise distribution of farmers, workers, artisans, engineers and investors. But beware: The competition never sleeps and can snatch the new achievements from under your nose at any time! Who creates the most prosperous island?? Game designer: Martin Wallace . . #kosmosgames #anno1800 #martinwallace #ubisoft #wirspielenweiter #wekeeponplaying

A post shared by Kosmos Games (@kosmos_games) on Jun 4, 2020 at 3:00am PDT

Featuring sailing exploration and the establishment of civilisations on new islands, this upcoming board game will pit players against one another in a battle of balancing the needs of the population with the player’s ambitions. The ultimate goal of Anno 1800 will be to form a society of farmers, workers, artisans, engineers and investors - all working together for the betterment of everyone. However, players will have to be wary of their opponents and prepare to compete against their civilisation.

Anno 1800 is designed by Martin Wallace, the creator of Brass: Lancashire and Age of Steam, as well as Discworld: Ankh-Morpork - based on the Terry Pratchett novels - and the recent skirmish game Wildlands.

The publisher behind the game is Kosmos, which previously adapted another city-building PC game - Cities: Skylines - for the tabletop. The publisher’s legacy game city-builder My City is among the nominations for this year’s Spiel des Jahres award.

According to an Instagram post by Kosmos, Anno 1800 is set to be released sometime in autumn 2020.