At Gamelevate, we love diving deep into the passion and dedication behind indie games that bring something truly unique to the table. Pax Augusta, a highly detailed Roman city-builder, is one such title—crafted not by a large studio, but by a solo developer who turned a personal dream into reality. We sat down with the creator of Pax Augusta to learn more about the inspiration, challenges, and future of this historical strategy game.
Can you tell us a bit about your development team and the mission or philosophy behind your studio when creating games like Pax Augusta?
There’s actually no studio. I developed Pax Augusta in my spare time. I’d been waiting for a new Roman city-builder for a long time. Unfortunately, no new one came out. So I started developing one in my spare time.
What inspired the concept and setting of Pax Augusta, and how did you go about blending historical elements with engaging gameplay?
I didn’t want to invent anything new. I simply wanted a new Roman city-builder whose buildings were as accurate as possible to the originals. Most of the buildings can still be seen in Europe today. The new gameplay elements came from certain things that bothered me in other games or that I missed. I simply made the game the way I wanted it to be.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced during the development of Pax Augusta, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was the size of the project. The game has over 400 buildings. Designing them and programming the game mechanics was very challenging for me. I’m not a programmer—I had to teach myself everything. That was a lot of work at times.
Can you walk us through the core gameplay mechanics of Pax Augusta and what sets it apart from other strategy or historical games?
Pax Augusta places great emphasis on historical accuracy. I’ve read hundreds of archaeological articles, spoken with archaeologists, and drawn inspiration from historians. Even the tiniest details that no one ever notices are accurately recreated. That’s what makes the game unique.
How did you approach the balance between historical accuracy and creative freedom in the design of Pax Augusta?
There was no compromise on building sizes. That’s why some buildings seem much too large—but they really were that big. I always had one rule regarding game mechanics: It’s a game, not a history book. So if a game mechanic was too complex, I forwent realism and let it be a game. But I didn’t add anything that wasn’t there. I simplified or left out certain things. For example, the career path you can pursue isn’t accurate—it would have been much more complicated to advance. I just simplified it.
What features or aspects of Pax Augusta are you most proud of, and why do you think they resonate with players?
That the players can rely on me giving my best. I haven’t had a single weekend off in many years, no vacation, and I’ve worked on the game every evening after work. I gave my best to ensure the players got something nice. I can’t do more than that.
Was there any player feedback during development or early access that significantly influenced the final version of the game?
In the first demo, I received feedback: “It’s complex, please don’t make it more complex.” I took that into account. I stopped many small projects that would have made the game more complex. During the second demo, I noticed that many people didn’t fully understand the game mechanics. I’ve now improved that with small explanations.
Looking ahead, are there any planned updates, expansions, or future content for Pax Augusta that fans can look forward to?
I love my game. Even after all these years, I still enjoy playing it. I want to continue adding content for many years to come: new buildings, new maps, and new mechanics.
Stay tuned to Gamelevate for more updates on Pax Augusta and indie gems that keep the passion for gaming alive. Let us know in the comments—what feature would YOU love to see in a Roman city-
