Nova Roma

Game Overview

Nova Roma focuses on building and managing a growing Roman settlement. You begin with a small village and gradually transform it into a large and powerful city. To succeed, you must manage housing, food, water, resources, taxes, production chains, infrastructure, and the happiness of your citizens.

The game mixes classic city-building with deeper systems such as divine favor, weather risks, water engineering, and large-scale supply management. This gives it a strong Roman identity instead of feeling like a generic builder with a Roman skin.

Developer and Publisher

• Developer: Lion Shield
• Publisher: Hooded Horse
• Genre: City-building, strategy, simulation, management
• Mode: Single-player

Release Date and Platform

• Release: March 26, 2026
• Status: Early Access
• Platform: PC

Story and Setting

The game is set during a time when the Roman Empire is falling into decline. Your people leave the old world behind in search of a new future. Your role is to establish Nova Roma, protect its people, build strong infrastructure, and create a city worthy of Roman greatness.

Gameplay Features

• Build and expand a Roman city from a humble beginning
• Manage citizens, jobs, taxes, wages, and public needs
• Create complex production and supply chains
• Use dams, aqueducts, reservoirs, and other water systems
• Handle weather, flooding, fertility, and terrain changes
• Construct temples and seek blessings from the gods
• Pass laws and guide the development of society
• Defend the city against threats and invasions

Water and Terrain System

One of Nova Roma’s standout features is its water management. Water is not just decorative. It affects farmland, fire safety, bathhouses, fountains, and city planning. Players can build dams and aqueducts to control water flow, but poor planning can lead to flooding and other problems. This system adds a strong strategic layer to the game.

Citizens and Needs

Citizens are the workforce of Nova Roma. They need homes, food, heating, and access to important goods and services. As the city grows, they also expect more comfort and entertainment. Keeping citizens happy is important because a successful city depends on balancing survival needs with quality of life.

Resources and Economy

The game includes a wide range of resources used for survival, construction, production, and happiness. Food includes items such as apples, fish, grapes, meat, olives, and wheat. Other important resources include wood, stone, clay, iron, marble, gold, pottery, olive oil, bread, salt, wine, tools, and armaments.

Managing the economy means producing raw materials, refining them into useful goods, transporting them across the map, and making sure citizens and industries are supplied efficiently.

Religion and the Gods

Religion is a major part of the game. You can build temples and interact with Roman gods. Their favor can provide useful benefits, while ignoring them can lead to punishment or disaster. This mechanic adds both flavor and gameplay pressure, making religion part of the city’s long-term strategy.

Combat and Defense

Nova Roma is not only about peaceful building. The game also includes combat and defense systems. You can recruit soldiers, build walls and towers, and defend your settlement against attacks. Successful defense improves morale, while failure can damage the city and reduce happiness.

Early Access Information

Nova Roma launched in Early Access, which means the game is playable now but still in active development. The developers have said they plan to expand the game with more buildings, technologies, gods, and mechanics related to war, politics, and culture during the Early Access period.

Why Nova Roma Stands Out

• Strong Roman atmosphere and identity
• Deep water engineering and terrain control
• Detailed citizen needs and city management
• Religion and divine intervention systems
• Large-scale supply chains and logistics
• A mix of beauty, strategy, and disaster management