Pompeii: The Legacy – Complex Roman City Builder Worth Your Time

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• DEVELOPER: Siscia Games
• PUBLISHER: Siscia Games
• PLATFORMS: PC
• GENRE: City-builder / Management
• RELEASE DATE: April 9, 2026
• STARTING PRICE: 19,99€
• REVIEWED VERSION: PC

Pompeii: The Legacy has now fully stepped out of early access, and I decided to give it another proper run: from the very beginning all the way to the end of the research tree, finishing with the jewelry store. Back when I first reviewed it in early access, I gave it a solid score, and honestly, I still stand by that. This is a very good city builder, especially in a time where we’ve seen a flood of Roman-themed games. What helps Pompeii stand out is its more grounded, historically accurate approach. It leans away from fantasy and focuses on realism, and if that’s something you enjoy, this game is very easy to recommend. That said, even in its full release, it still carries some of the same underlying issues.

Great interconnected systems

This is a game about management, production chains, and trading. Those three pillars define everything you do. You’re managing citizens, expanding your city, and juggling a huge number of buildings and systems. And that’s where one of the biggest problems starts to show. There is simply too much management. While I appreciate the depth and the sheer number of options available, it eventually becomes overwhelming, especially in the late game.

The game gives you tools to track production, shortages, and upgrades through its menus, and those menus are actually quite useful on their own. But when everything is spread across multiple layers and systems, it becomes messy. You can find the information you need, but it takes time, and eventually, it just feels like you’re constantly digging through menus rather than actually building and enjoying your city.

Another issue is how certain mechanics are paced. Some of the more interesting features, like the military system, only really come into play much later. When it does appear, it takes on a light RTS-style approach where you defend against external threats by building walls, placing guards, and managing your defenses. The bigger problem is that many players may not even reach this point quickly, because while the early game moves fast, the mid-game tends to drag, and that’s where you’ll spend most of your time before unlocking those later systems.

Where the game does shine is in its interconnected systems. Your family plays a role, allowing for marriages, expeditions, and trade relationships with other factions. Trading itself is one of the stronger aspects of the game. You can’t produce everything on your own, so you’re forced to rely on external cities for certain goods. The game does a great job of presenting this information clearly, letting you control trade limits, track supply, and decide what to export or import.

Dynamic events and disasters add more flavor to the game

The 1.0 release also introduces more dynamic events, ranging from storms and volcanic ash to various decision-based pop-ups. These events add some flavor, but they don’t feel particularly impactful. They’re there, they happen, and you react to them, but they don’t drastically change how you play. A more noticeable addition is the expanded fire system, and this is something I’m not a big fan of.

Fires occur far too frequently, and dealing with them becomes more tedious than engaging. You’re forced to rely on prefectures and similar structures to manage outbreaks, often needing multiple of them to stay safe. There’s also a bucket chain system working in the background, but it doesn’t feel effective. Even environmental factors like rain don’t seem to help, which just makes the whole system feel frustrating rather than dynamic.

On the other hand, some systems are handled much better. Disease, for example, is fairly manageable once you unlock apothecaries and medicine production. The reworked aqueduct system is another great thomg, making water distribution much easier and more efficient. Reservoirs now cover a wider area, reducing the need for excessive micromanagement with wells, and overall it feels like a meaningful improvement.

The research tree is probably one of my favorite parts of the entire game. It’s well-structured, easy to navigate, and provides a clear sense of progression. It naturally aligns with how your city develops, unlocking new buildings, mechanics, and societal options like laws and taxes at a steady pace. It never feels random or disconnected, and it gives you a strong sense of direction throughout your playthrough.

What’s new in 1.0 version?

There are improvements in presentation. Ambient sounds have been noticeably expanded, with more environmental detail and a greater sense of life in your city. As your population grows, the world feels louder and more active, which adds to immersion.

New buildings, such as entertainment structures like circuses, along with additional temples, mines, and academies, further expand your options and reinforce that Roman atmosphere. Features like festivals, arena games, and public events also help sell that theme, even if they don’t drastically change gameplay.

When it comes to modes, the game offers both a campaign and a sandbox. The campaign runs for around 20 hours and does a good job of introducing mechanics step by step, but personally, I found myself gravitating much more toward sandbox. It simply offers more freedom and lets you approach city-building in your own way without restrictions, which fits the game much better once you already understand its systems.

One thing that becomes increasingly important the longer you play is city planning. Placement matters a lot. You can’t just build randomly and expect things to work out. You need to think ahead, leave space for future buildings like baths or entertainment structures, and plan your layout with both the present and late-game in mind. It adds a layer of strategy that I really appreciate, but it also reinforces the game’s tendency to become overwhelming if you’re not careful.

The final verdict

In the end, Pompeii: The Legacy is still a very solid city builder. It’s not perfect, and it definitely leans too far into complexity at times, especially with its management systems and late-game clutter. Some mechanics feel poorly balanced, like the fire system, while others, like research and trading, are genuinely strong. But if you’re into city builders, especially with a historical Roman setting, this is a game that’s very easy to recommend. It offers a lot, sometimes even too much, but there’s no denying that it delivers a deep and engaging experience for those willing to invest the time.

Review copy provided by the publisher