Anno 117: Pax Romana – is the pricey Governor’s Edition worth it?

Domagoj Belancic

17/11/2025

Translation: Patrik Stainbrook

Pictures: Domagoj Belancic

I’m checking out the Governor’s Edition of Anno 117: Pax Romana. Is this collector’s box worth the price at around 150 francs or euros?

Note: at the end of this article, you’ll get a chance to win the Governor’s Edition of Anno 117: Pax Romana (PC) tested here.

I almost never play strategy and city builder games, but the Anno series is one of the few exceptions that intrigues me. The first game, Anno 1602, was particularly special. Little Domagoj spent what felt like ages playing it.

After a long absence from Anno, I’m getting back into the series with the latest instalment, practising my city planning as a Roman emperor. In preparation for my glorious return – Hail Domagius – I take a closer look at the Governor’s Edition of Anno 117: Pax Romana.

Costing around 150 francs or euros with a 3D puzzle and all kinds of Anno bells and whistles, I have one question: is the collector’s item worth it?

This article deals exclusively with the physical contents of the Governor’s Edition of Anno 117: Pax Romana. You can check out a detailed review of the game in this article by Samuel:

Packaging and unboxing: couldn’t be better

In my review of the Collector’s Edition for Ghost of Yōtei, the packaging really frustrated me. I was barely able to take out the contents without breaking the box. Fortunately, this isn’t the case with the Governor’s Edition of Anno 117: Pax Romana.

The box is wrapped in a pretty cardboard sleeve, super easy to remove. When I open the box, I discover a total of four compartments filled with goodies. Visually, it reminds me of a book set.

I pull the individual slots from the box without much resistance using a small tab. This is how it’s done! Both game sleeves also slide out of the container without any problems.

Unboxing is an important step with any – let’s be honest, unnecessary – luxury object. And in this case, Ubisoft has more than succeeded with its unboxing experience.

I’m looking forward to exploring the rest of the box.

Contents: solid, with some filler

The Governor’s Edition comes with the Gold Edition of the game. This includes three planned expansions – though none of them are available yet. Still, you also receive some cosmetics as a gift to tide you over.

The Governor’s Edition is available for PC and PS5 – I unboxed the PC version. Since physical media for PC is extinct, you only get a download code for the game in the regular case. The PS5 comes with an actual disc – cool!

Both variants come with a stylish steelbook. Incidentally, the design of the steel shell was chosen in a community vote. I think the Anno fanbase chose well.

The red art book contains a total of 84 pages, filled with exciting behind-the-scenes insights for the city builder.

There are sketches, artwork and statements from developers about various designs and gameplay mechanics. The book feels heavy and high-quality, with thick pages to boot. Anno superfans will definitely enjoy browsing their collection.

Let’s move on to the things I’d classify as mid at best.

First, I discover a fancy blueprint for an in-game building. Ok, cool. Now what do I do with it? It can’t be hung up, the thing’s got visible folds. Best I can do is look at it once and be done with it. Thanks for nothing.

The three lithograph prints featuring artwork from the game are neater. In contrast to the folded blueprint, I can hang them up or stick them somewhere.

Still, stuff like this doesn’t really excite me. It’s filler material, all so they can list another bullet point in the product description, nothing more.

This letter from the town crier falls into the same category. Mind you, it’s nice that he finally got back in touch with me – not that I’m telling you what he wrote, of course. But once more, what am I going to do with a letter? At least the wax seal is a nice touch.

There are also three neat little decorative pieces. One coin from Albion (Great Britain), one from Latium (Rome) and the Anno logo. I can place all three of them on stands. The coins don’t fit well and fall at the slightest touch. What a shame,

I like how these unique little gifts feel. They’re probably made of synthetic resin, but they still feel heavy and metallic enough.

How good is the 3D puzzle?

The highlight in this box is the 3D amphitheatre puzzle (36 x 31 x 13 cm). I love it when collector’s editions contain goodies that fit the target group for the respective game. The overlap between Anno and arts and crafts fans is likely pretty big, so this 3D puzzle fits like a glove.

Even utter noobs like me can finish the 3D puzzle in around two hours – the packaging states around three hours to complete. The enclosed instructions are clear and easy to understand – with a few exceptions that drive me crazy. Sometimes, I can’t figure out how to attach one part to the rest of the build. Well, maybe it’s just me.

Individual pieces of the puzzle are attached to cardboard sheets. Before I can add them, I clip them out of the box. Removing a piece feels satisfying, I love it.

I’m slightly ticked off by the seemingly random component numbering. Why is number 156 placed between parts 3 and 99 on the cardboard sheet?

Finding the right components quickly degenerates into an annoying game of «Where’s Wally?» – especially at the start of my build, when I’ve only removed a few parts from the arches and have no general overview.

The more bits I add to the amphitheatre, the fiddlier things get. With my moderately dexterous fingers, I accidentally bend a small hook that’s supposed to hold the outside of the amphitheatre in place. The back part of my building looks a bit dilapidated as a result. Oopsie.

Still, I’m more than satisfied with the end result. The 3D puzzle impresses me with a detailed display, even without an overly complicated construction process. It should definitely prove a worthy display piece to many collectors.

In a nutshell

Impressive collector’s item with some filler

The Governor’s Edition of Anno 117: Pax Romana won me over with its high-quality and well thought-out packaging. Its stylish steel case and, in the case of the PS5 version, the inclusion of a physical game disc, are commendable. Anno fans will particularly like the high-quality art book, which reveals exciting insights into the development of the game.

Like every collector’s box, the Governor’s Edition of Anno 117: Pax Romana contains some generic decorative items that can only really be displayed. The 3D puzzle, however, is undeniably great. Not too complex to build, it shines as a finished amphitheatre with cool details that Anno collectors will love.

Pro

• Elegant and well thought-out packaging
• Fascinating artbook
• Impressive 3D puzzle

Contra

• Quite a bit of filler

Video games

Ubisoft Anno 117: Pax Romana - Governor's Edition

Windows, DE, IT, FR

8

Domagoj Belancic

Senior Editor

Domagoj.Belancic@digitecgalaxus.ch

My love of video games was unleashed at the tender age of five by the original Gameboy. Over the years, it's grown in leaps and bounds.

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