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There’s nothing quite like Anno 1800, and its developers know it. That’s why this mix of RTS, city-building, 4X, and neo-colonization simulator has been getting its consistent splash of love over the years in the form of DLCs or downloadable content. There are a lot of them, and knowing which ones to purchase or which ones are worth it is something we’ll help you with. We’ll be recommending the best Anno 1800 DLC.
This way, you can choose which DLC packs or Season passes to prioritize if the budget is tight. Some Anno 1800 DLC are simply too impactful for gameplay to omit or just plain fun. These ones will ensure that you get the best gameplay experience for this unique RTS game, and for veterans of the franchise, they might just reinvigorate your love for Anno.
Anarchist
The Anarchist DLC, while not included in the season passes, was among the first to be released. It added a new AI opponent, Dr. Hugo Mercier, who you can select when starting a new game. Additionally, it introduced a defection system, new quests, ornaments, and items related to anarchy.
While not as elaborate as the later season pass DLCs, the Anarchist DLC does provide an intriguing twist to the game by introducing a charismatic AI character and fresh new mechanics. If you’re looking for new challenges and a different gameplay experience, the Anarchist DLC is worth considering.
Seeds of Change
Seeds of Change is the inaugural DLC of the Season 4 Pass, and it introduces significant changes to the New World islands.
The central feature of this DLC is the Hacienda, a modular building that acts as an agricultural hub. It efficiently accommodates jornalero and obrero residences, farms, and breweries while offering the flexibility to influence buildings across the island with its policies. That practically solves the space problem in New World maps and settlements.
The Seeds of Change DLC offers a rich set of gameplay enhancements, making it a game-changing addition to Anno 1800 for those who wish to optimize their New World agricultural production. After all, the Old World environment can get rather stale as time goes by.
Tourist Season
Tourist Season is the second DLC of the Season 3 Pass and adds a new lovely mechanic to Anno 1800—tourism.
It introduces tourists as a new residential tier, requiring an intricate network of services like hotels, food & drink venues, and transportation via bus stops. They’re definitely needy and meticulous and will require you to work with the new production chains. Furthermore, it added 22 new ornaments and a new monument called The Iron Tower.
For players who enjoy city-building games with a tourism aspect and complex systems, the Tourist Season DLC is a worthy investment. More importantly, you finally get to make a fake mini-Paris with this DLC.
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High Life
The High Life, the third DLC of the Season 3 Pass, focuses on the Industrial Age transition to skyscrapers. These structures attract more investors and engineers, but their residents have additional and exponentially increased needs, met by new goods and shopping arcades.
The DLC also adds new goods, production chains, multifactories, a new monument, and a questline, so it’s not like it won’t keep you busy.
The High Life DLC appeals to those who want to expand their cities vertically and cater to more demanding residents. However, it requires careful financial management, as skyscrapers can be expensive to maintain.
The Passage
The Passage, the third DLC of the Season 1 Pass, offers a more brutal experience by introducing a chilling new region known as The Arctic.
This region is home to new population tiers and focuses on heating mechanics to keep inhabitants warm and production operational. Additionally, the Airship Hangar allows you to build trade airships, adding a new dimension to your economic strategy or even in warfare.
If you’re interested in exploring harsh, wintry landscapes, managing the challenges of extreme cold, and navigating new production chains, The Passage DLC is an engaging choice.
Bright Harvest
Bright Harvest, the second DLC of the Season 2 Pass, brings agricultural innovation to Anno 1800. Silos, Tractor Barns, and a Fuel Station enhance animal and crop farms’ efficiency. These new elements are tied to the expansion of the oil harbor, adding an upgrade to a ‘grand’ oil harbor and introducing agricultural and industrial ornaments.
The changes might sound small, but the simple capacity increase for agricultural buildings will drastically affect how you build your settlements because now, you don’t have to create as many farms.
For players who enjoy optimizing their agricultural production and supply chains, Bright Harvest is almost a mandatory DLC, offering much-needed convenience on resource management.
Sunken Treasures
Sunken Treasures, the first DLC of the Season 1 Pass, enriches the Anno 1800 world by adding a new European map, Cape Trelawney. This region includes a continental island at the northern corner, Crown Falls. It also introduces new quests, items, and features, such as crafting and diving.
Old Nate, a neutral trader in Cape Trelawney, also spices up the gameplay with his presence. Crown Falls is the most crucial addition here since this is presumably where you’ll want to build your gleaming capital. It has by far the most space out of all the Anno 1800 maps.
Exploring the depths of the sea and discovering hidden treasures in the Cape Trelawney region are also engaging distractions. All these new features make Sunken Treasures a must-have in Anno 1800.
Seat of Power
Seat of Power, the first DLC of the Season 2 Pass, brings a modular Palace and Local Departments to European regions. This expansion allows players to customize their Palace and enact policies that affect various buildings, enhancing their functionality.
It won’t add several dozens of hours to your playtime, but it will make your city more beautiful and give it a more personalized touch. You get your own Versaille-esque palace; what’s not to like? Moreover, the Palace policies are too valuable to ignore.
If you’re keen on enhancing the management and aesthetics of your city, Seat of Power provides a fresh layer of strategy. It’s particularly useful for players who love to micromanage their cities.
Land of Lions
Land of Lions, the third DLC of the Season 2 Pass, introduces the Enbesa region, which is inspired by eastern Africa. With a focus on irrigation, this DLC ensures the fertile lands of Enbesa stay lush. But that also means agriculture is limited by your irrigation system, so you’ll have to balance out your priorities.
The DLC also introduces new population tiers, buildings, production chains, a monument, and story quests to expand the gameplay.
Land of Lions is often praised as one of the best expansions released for Anno 1800. Its rich content, intricate mechanics, and engaging story quests make it a highly recommended DLC for players seeking a comprehensive and rewarding experience.
Docklands
Docklands, the first DLC of the Season 3 Pass, adds a modular harbor building that optimizes your harbor and facilitates the exchange of goods with overseas traders via the Export/Import feature.
This new feature, by far, is the single most advantageous gameplay enhancement in Anno 1800 because it cuts down whole production chains and can even supply you with goods you can’t produce or don’t have access to. Playing without Docklands might as well be a handicap.
If you want the game in its easiest (and arguably most cozy) mode, then do yourself a favor and get Docklands.
Ultimately, the best Anno 1800 DLC for you is the one that aligns with your gaming style and provides the experience you seek in this beloved RTS-city-building game.
