Citadelum (2024)

Citadelum had immense potential to be an extraordinary game, but only if it had more complexity and variation. Abylight Studios made a decent attempt to engage newcomers to this genre by adding a stylish look to a retro genre, and they might still accomplish that if they keep working on the game's features.

Citadelum takes the genre and adds new life to it by weaving divine interaction into the core of city management. Fans of games like Caesar, Pharaoh, and Zeus: Master of Olympus will feel right at home with the classic city-building mechanics. Still, the addition of the gods and the interplay between religious favour and urban expansion sets this game apart. The game’s unique three-layered approach—city-building, strategic expansion, and divine interaction—offers a depth of gameplay that keeps things interesting across multiple playthroughs. While the auto-battle mechanics might not satisfy those looking for deep military strategy, they work well in the broader context of the game. Citadelum is a must-play for fans of historical city-building games looking for something fresh and challenging. In conclusion, if you’ve ever wanted to play a game that lets you defy the gods—or curry their favour—while building the Roman city of your dreams, Citadelum is the game for you. Unfortunately, the game draws on and expands on elements from older titles yet lacks the depth needed to make it more appealing than its predecessors. For this reason, I award it a Thumb Culture Silver Award.

This is the kind of indie game that I would love to see succeed, and the next steps post-launch, both in terms of ongoing development and community support, will be crucial in determining whether it’s remembered as a Justinian or an Honorius.

Citadelum brings city building to the next level, and although some ideas feel a bit like busywork, at the base of it all is an exceptional sim experience.

Citadelum is a compelling Roman city builder that excels in its core objectives but is hindered by ambitious yet unpolished features. While it effectively captures the essence of city-building, it struggles to fully realize several of its more ambitious systems.