Citadelum - PC Review

Illustration of a Roman-inspired city featuring classical architecture with a central figure, an older man in a red and white robe. With the word CitadelvM

Read Time:5 Minute, 7 Second

City-building games have long held a special place in the hearts of strategy fans. Citadelum (developed by Abylight Barcelona and published by Abylight Studios) is the latest. Set against the backdrop of Roman civilisation, the game introduces divine intervention as a core mechanic, adding an intriguing layer of depth to traditional city-building and strategic expansion. But how does it compare to genre classics such as Caesar, Pharaoh, and Zeus: Master of Olympus? Let’s delve into the world of Citadelum to find out.

Citadelum more like Citadel umm.

While it was exciting to see Citadelum adding gods, reminiscent of Zeus: Master of Olympus, it was disappointing that the gods don’t walk around naturally unless you actively anger or please them. It’s also a shame there are no roaming heroes or monsters to fight, even on the overworld, which could have added a unique, dynamic twist to the gameplay. It’s a missed opportunity, but we’re still eager for what’s to come! Let us know in the comments if there’s a particular feature you’re looking forward to.

Gameplay

Citadelum sticks to familiar city-building mechanics. You start by constructing a small settlement and gathering resources. You will build homes, farms, fisheries, and wineries to ensure your citizens remain fed and happy. Unlike older titles, the gods play a central role in your city’s development. Temples allow you to worship various Roman deities, influencing your city’s fate. This mechanic sets Citadelum apart from the more straightforward approaches of Caesar and Pharaoh. The gods affect part of your city’s growth. You build temples, make offerings, and seek their favour. However, the gods can be fickle. Worship one too much, and another might curse you. This adds an unpredictable element, making every decision more meaningful. The gods can directly impact your city. Their blessings enhance your economy or military, while their wrath can destroy crops or harm your people.

Ancient Roman Gods gathered in a luxurious hall wearing traditional attire such as Togas, surrounded by ornate pottery, mosaic flooring, and intricate decor. — Who’s a good boy

Expansion is a crucial aspect. You’ll meet nearby villages, build trade routes, and unlock new resources. Your legions protect your territory, and auto-battles streamline combat. Training soldiers and engaging in tactical auto-battles is a key part of protecting your territory from invasions and being able to travel on the map. But it’s not all about warfare—exploration also plays a large role in your success. While not as detailed or hands-on as some strategy games, the auto-battle mechanics are streamlined enough to feel satisfying. The focus remains on the larger city-building and resource-management aspects of the game. If you’re a fan of balancing multiple elements—military, economy, and religion—Citadelum offers that layered gameplay experience.

This is a top-down screenshot Citadelum auto-battle scenes showing tactical troop formations on a grassy battlefield. Archers, swordsmen, and cavalry units are marching into battle. Arrows indicate movement direction, and trees provide terrain obstacles. In-game interface elements display tactical options and unit statistics. — Romans roaming

Graphics & Audio

The visuals in Citadelum are a mixed bag. Zoomed in, the game’s world is beautiful, with impressive building details and the ability to peer inside various structures. This is a particularly nice touch, making the world feel more alive. However, when you zoom out, the visuals drop noticeably, with buildings and terrain losing some charm. The city looks more flat and less vibrant from a distance, which takes away from the immersive experience.

Overview of a Citadelum map, with a user interface overlay, showing buildings, roads, and greenery next to a body of water. — This game looks Ancient

Citadelum is underwhelming in terms of sound design. The background music fits the setting of Ancient Rome, but it becomes repetitive over time. There’s little variety to distinguish one moment from the next. When gods descend, they do so with dramatic lightning strikes, and temples emit an ethereal “ah” sound when clicked, which are nice touches but don’t quite elevate the experience. Clicking on houses prompts some background chatter from the citizens, which adds to the atmosphere but lacks the distinctiveness to be memorable. Overall, the sound design does the job but doesn’t leave a lasting impression, feeling more like background noise than an integral part of the game’s identity.

Longevity

Citadelum boasts replayability by offering players a wide range of creative tools. You can build your land, battle, or region maps for the overworld. The game also allows you to set up armies for battles, create missions, and even design full campaigns. Once you’ve crafted your masterpiece, you can upload it to the Steam Workshop for others to play. Likewise, you can download and enjoy custom creations other players make, extending the game’s life.

Citadelum also features a sandbox mode, which, while not wholly unrestricted, offers greater freedom and easier starts. It’s perfect for players looking to experiment without the strict pressure of campaign missions.

Screenshot of a game workshop interface showing options like Map, Battlefield, City Editor, Mission Creator, and Content Uploader with corresponding icons and descriptions. — Rome wasn’t built in a day

Final Thoughts

Citadelum takes the genre and adds new life to it by weaving divine interaction into the core of city management. Fans of games like Caesar, Pharaoh, and Zeus: Master of Olympus will feel right at home with the classic city-building mechanics. Still, the addition of the gods and the interplay between religious favour and urban expansion sets this game apart.

The game’s unique three-layered approach—city-building, strategic expansion, and divine interaction—offers a depth of gameplay that keeps things interesting across multiple playthroughs. While the auto-battle mechanics might not satisfy those looking for deep military strategy, they work well in the broader context of the game. Citadelum is a must-play for fans of historical city-building games looking for something fresh and challenging.

In conclusion, if you’ve ever wanted to play a game that lets you defy the gods—or curry their favour—while building the Roman city of your dreams, Citadelum is the game for you. Unfortunately, the game draws on and expands on elements from older titles yet lacks the depth needed to make it more appealing than its predecessors.

For this reason, I award it a Thumb Culture Silver Award.

Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.

About Author

Tyler Denyer

Tyler Denyer/ Tyluild is a passionate journalist, whose love of video games runs deep. With a focus on crafting captivating video game reviews, they immerse themselves in the worlds of gaming, especially ones with deep and rich lore. Beyond games Tyler is a lover of cats, travelling and finding a tasty treat to eat. Eager to stay on top of the latest trends, they regularly attend video game events, and keep on top of news in the gaming world. Fuelled by an insatiable curiosity, our journalist is equally enthralled by not just games themselves, but also new accessories. Their favorite style of game? Without a doubt, RPGs, allowing Tyler to fully explore his imagination, the grind in game is less tedious than in life.

See author's posts

Citadelum – PC Review