1
Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this. Closest Match Closest MatchThe most similar game to the anchor, by what players say.
City BuilderExplorationColony Sim
$14.99 ~24.6 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 82.4% of 4k
The Squirrel's verdictAnno 1404 runs the same city-builder-meets-trade-routes formula as 2070 in a medieval setting, and drops the server-dependent Ark feature that broke the anchor for many players. Co-op is included. At $14.99, 24.6 median hours, and Very Positive reviews, it suits players who want the core Anno loop in a historical context. Ubisoft Connect is still required and login failures appear repeatedly across reviews.
Not for you if you want to escape Ubisoft Connect entirely, or a DLC-unlocked campaign rather than the base game content by default.
2
Budget Pick Budget PickThe best game here for the least money.
The Settlers® : Heritage of Kings - History Edition
PC
Colony SimCity BuilderRTS
$5.99 ~38.5 hr median no co-op 83.7% of 838
The Squirrel's verdictThe Settlers: Heritage of Kings shares the build-an-economy-then-fight-your-neighbors structure Anno players know, trading Anno's futuristic ecology layer for medieval kingdom management. It's also a Ubisoft title with its own launcher friction, per reviews. At $5.99 with 38.5 median hours and Very Positive rating, it suits players wanting classic Settlers-style base building without waiting for a modern Anno entry.
Not for you if you want co-op (none here) or you've sworn off anything requiring a Ubisoft launcher account.
3
Anno 1602 History Edition
PC
City BuilderColony SimGrand Strategy
$9.99 ~11.3 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 78.4% of 273
The Squirrel's verdictAnno 1602 History Edition is the series' starting point: colony logistics, trade routes, and production chains in a founding-era setting, without futuristic factions or ecosystem management. At $9.99 with 11.3 median hours, it's the shortest and most focused entry on this page. Ubisoft Connect is required to launch, and several reviews report the launcher failing to open or authenticate on a 25-year-old single-player game.
Not for you if you want Anno 2070's futuristic setting and faction depth, or a launcher-free experience for a classic single-player game.
4
The Settlers® : Rise of an Empire - History Edition
PC
City BuilderMedievalRTS
$11.99 ~21.3 hr median no co-op 76.6% of 748
The Squirrel's verdictRise of an Empire centers on production-chain building and territorial expansion without naval warfare or Anno 2070's ecosystem factions — a simpler, more grounded loop. The History Edition includes expansions. At $11.99, Mostly Positive reviews, and 21.3 median hours, it suits players who want steady economic building over strategic depth. Ubisoft Connect is required, and authentication failures at launch appear in several reviews.
Not for you if you want faction variety, naval combat, or ecosystem management, or authentication errors at launch are a dealbreaker for you.
How the Squirrel matches games
Not tag overlap. We compare what players actually say across hundreds of
thousands of reviews about how each game feels to play, then break
the comparison into the mechanics you can see in each card. The mark on
every bar is Anno 2070™'s own score, so you can read where a match runs
hotter or cooler than the anchor.
Verdicts are written against a fixed editorial standard, machine-audited,
and human spot-checked. Which games make the cut is a human call. Prices
and review data refresh automatically. Full method & AI disclosure →