In Anno 1800, you will be able to experience the industrial revolution of the 19th century and open up opportunities for the development of the whole empire. The main task of players is to create a thriving network of interconnected cities. In order to achieve this ambitious goal, players can use a wide range of tools, which can be classified into three categories: diplomacy, trade, and art of war.

Anno 1800 offers a number of new thematic features: for example, players can send squads of researchers on expeditions to distant lands. The developers have also added a new parameter - "workforce" - to the manufacture control mechanics, which aims to make the industry function in a more realistic and comfortable way. There is also a new resource, oil, which can only be found in South America.