Publisher Paradox Arc alongside developers Perspective Games and Bellwood Studios have announced that Tlatoani: Aztec Cities has now left Steam Early Access. Originally launched in late October 2024, the city builder spent almost a year and a half receiving new content, improvements, and reworking its tutorial, before the team working on it decided it was ready to release the 1.0 version.
As its title suggests, Tlatoani puts us in the role of an Aztec leader tasked with turning modest settlements into sprawling cities. No fewer than 21 handcrafted campaign missions allow us to prove our mastery of planning and citizen management, complemented by 6 freestyle scenarios alongside a sandbox mode that promises “unrestricted creativity.”
Tlatoani Aztec Cities 1.0 Version Out Now
“Shape the history of the Aztec Civilization, one legendary city at a time,” a blurb on its Steam page reads. “From a single metropolis, to multiple city-states and finally an empire. Conquer the wilderness of Mesoamerica, build a nation and rise as its destined emperor - Tlatoani.”
Aside from planning out our cities, we’ll also need to gather and produce “dozens of goods and resources” that our citizens need.
We’ll also have to manage our economy, ensure our military is ready to face any potential threats, host festivals as well as honor the Aztec gods, which will likely require some good old human sacrifice.
Tlatoani’s 2D art style is inspired by classics like Zeus: Master of Olympus, Pharaoh, and Caesar. Although, broadly speaking, it also shares similarities in terms of gameplay, the title aims for a more detailed simulation layer that should, in part, remove some of the gamier elements of the classics listed above, like Caesar 3’s culture islands.
A map and scenario editor also allows the community to build and share levels beyond what Tlatoani’s 1.0 version itself offers.
If you’re feeling a bit nostalgic or simply happen to be looking for a new city builder to try out, Tlatoani: Aztec Cities is now available on PC, via Steam, for the price of $19.99/£16.75/€19.50 or your regional equivalent.
Between April 2 and April 9, it also benefits from a launch discount that slashes its price by 30%.
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