Nova Roma is a city-builder and management game from developer Lion Shield and publisher Hooded Horse that challenges players to rebuild civilization after the fall of Rome. In the game, players lead a group of survivors to distant shores with the goal of constructing a city capable of lasting through generations. The title emphasizes historically inspired Roman infrastructure and urban design, allowing players to engage with classic city-building mechanics in a streamlined format.
Lion Shield, known for its 2017 strategy release Kingdoms and Castles, draws on historical Roman engineering for Nova Roma. Studio co-founder Pete Angstadt explains that aqueducts, monumental structures, and mixed-use buildings provide a framework for city planning within the game. The developer has also focused on reducing tedious management, allowing players to engage directly with their city rather than relying on complex menus and spreadsheets.
Streamlined Population and Workforce Management
Unlike other city-builders that feature detailed citizen tiers, Nova Roma uses a general population system. Settlers, including freed persons, escaped slaves, and former citizens of Rome, arrive each season and are free to work in a variety of roles. This approach allows players to manage their workforce without manually promoting citizens through social ranks.
Workforce priorities can be adjusted via the Job menu, which lets players assign more emphasis to roles such as farming, baking, pottery, or construction. The population responds dynamically, enabling micromanagement to remain minimal while still maintaining strategic depth.
Balancing the Needs of the Gods
Divine influence plays an important role in Nova Roma. Players build temples and dedicate them to Roman deities, including Jupiter, Venus, Mars, and Mercury. Completing Divine Tasks, such as maintaining a growing population, providing food offerings, or expanding religious infrastructure, yields rewards such as improved citizen happiness, greater food output, and technological bonuses. Neglecting these obligations can provoke divine retribution, including fires, floods, or lightning strikes. These events can be adjusted through the game’s difficulty settings.
Realistic Terrain and Water Management
One feature that sets Nova Roma apart is its terraforming and water management system. Players can modify terrain by raising or lowering ground, building dams, and redirecting water to improve irrigation. Water in Nova Roma follows physics-based mechanics rather than voxel-based simulations, which allows rivers and channels to flow naturally. This system encourages strategic planning for soil fertility and city development, offering a realistic approach to environmental management.
Defense and Strategic Challenges
As settlements grow, players must expand military capabilities. Initially, defenses are limited to wooden walls and militia, but later stages allow for the recruitment of legionaries and the establishment of a standing army. Nova Roma includes a variety of challenges, from bandit and pirate raids to plagues and invasions by a resurgent Roman Empire. Threats increase in complexity as the city expands, providing players with ongoing strategic considerations.
Early Access Launch and Development
Nova Roma is scheduled to release in Early Access on January 22, 2026, via the Epic Games Store. Lion Shield plans to add additional content over time, including new interactions with the pantheon of gods and potential mythical elements. The game aims to combine historical city-building with streamlined management systems, creating a focused and accessible strategy experience.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Nova Roma?
Nova Roma is a city-building and management game where players lead a group of survivors to build a Roman-style city capable of enduring over time.
When will Nova Roma be available?
The game launches in Early Access on January 22, 2026, on the Epic Games Store.
How does citizen management work in Nova Roma?
Nova Roma uses a general population system rather than traditional citizen tiers. Settlers can work in any role, and players prioritize jobs through a simple Job menu.
Does Nova Roma include combat or defense mechanics?
Yes, players can build defenses such as walls and guard towers and later recruit legionaries. Threats include bandits, pirates, plagues, and invasions from the resurgent Roman Empire.
Are there unique gameplay features in Nova Roma?
The game features terraforming and physics-based water systems, as well as divine tasks for Roman gods that affect city growth and productivity.
Will the game include mythical elements?
According to Lion Shield, future updates may add mythical monsters and expanded interactions with the gods.
