Deal | Like Pharaoh, but deeper: This city builder drops below $10 for the first time on Steam

Anyone who grew up with the classic city builders of the 1990s should feel at home in Tlatoani: Aztec Cities fairly quickly. Instead of Rome or Egypt, however, this time the setting is historical Mesoamerica. Production chains, travel routes, warehouses and the question of whether goods actually reach where they are needed take center stage. But the game goes beyond traditional city building: Trade, tribute, diplomacy, religion and military expansion all play an additional role in the development of the city.

There's also a rather unusual mechanic: In Tlatoani, symmetry isn't just about aesthetics. Roads, temples and other areas should be arranged as evenly as possible to keep the gods happy – so those who build their city in complete chaos will have to deal with the consequences.

The population is also simulated in considerably more detail than in many genre classics. Residents have their own professions, skills, needs, moods and daily routines. A beautifully planned city therefore isn't enough – residential districts, workplaces, markets and production facilities have to be arranged so that people and goods can actually reach their destinations. Overall, Tlatoani adds considerably more strategic depth to the classic city-builder formula while still delivering plenty of nostalgic charm thanks to its hand-drawn 2D graphics.

The concept has been fairly well received on Steam: 83% of more than 180 user reviews are positive. The fresh setting, high level of strategic depth and appealing visuals are particularly frequent points of praise. The game's deliberate focus on the great classics of the genre has also been well received. Criticism, on the other hand, centers on the weak tutorial and sometimes cluttered user interface, which make getting to grips with the already complex systems unnecessarily difficult.

50% off on Steam for the first time

Tlatoani: Aztec Cities was released on Steam on April 2 after spending almost a year and a half in Early Access and normally costs $19.99. However, a 50% discount brings the price down to $9.99 until September 24. According to SteamDB, the city builder had previously been discounted by no more than 30%, making the current deal a new all-time low. On the Steam Deck, Tlatoani is rated as “Playable.”

Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.