It’s been three months since the Steam reveal of Pompeii: The Legacy and the game’s development continues to forge ahead. As a solo developer, I’m proud to share the progress made on gameplay, story and visuals in this unique city-builder set in ancient Rome.
Key Milestones in Development
- Gameplay Advancements - Significant strides have been made in crafting the game’s core mechanics. From managing water systems with aqueducts to building intricate production chains, overseeing trade and logistics, managing resources and even delving into the complexities of family dynamics, Pompeii: The Legacy aims to deliver a rich and layered city-building experience.
- Focus on Trade - Trade mechanics are one of the latest features to take shape. Players will navigate a map of the Roman Empire, forge trade agreements with coastal cities and send envoys to negotiate alliances or even arrange marriages. More details on this feature are highlighted in the latest dev blog, now live on Steam.
- A Living Narrative - The narrative elements of the game have seen significant development. Players will interact with a cast of characters, watch their family grow and evolve, and experience how these personal stories intertwine with the broader challenges of rebuilding Pompeii.
- Visual and UI Enhancements - The game’s visuals have reached new heights, with additions such as intricately designed aqueduct systems, detailed character portraits created using reference photos of real actors and a more refined map of the Roman Empire. Improvements in UI design have also brought clarity and depth to city feedback panels and management tools, ensuring a seamless experience for players.
- Community Engagement - I’m thrilled with the milestones achieved so far, including a growing Steam wishlist and incredible community engagement on platforms like Twitter and Bluesky. The feedback and support I’ve received have been invaluable in shaping Pompeii: The Legacy.
What’s Next?
Although the gameplay trailer isn’t ready for this update, I’m working tirelessly to complete it in the coming weeks. Looking ahead, I plan to showcase gameplay focused on military operations, including RTS mechanics for managing armies, early next year.
Additionally, Pompeii: The Legacy is scheduled to participate in the Steam Next Fest in June 2025, offering a demo that highlights the game’s evolving systems and narrative depth.
Thank You
From the initial reveal to today, Pompeii: The Legacy has grown into something far greater than just a dream. Thank you all for your support and encouragement!
Important Links
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2632240/Pompeii_The_Legacy/
X: https://x.com/zzeljkokos
Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/zzeljkokos.bsky.social
Website: https://www.sisciagames.com/
Press Kit: https://www.sisciagames.com/downloads/PressKit.zip
About Pompeii: The Legacy
Set in the aftermath of the catastrophic eruption in 79 AD, Pompeii: The Legacy tasks players with rebuilding the city over 200 years. As the head of a Roman family, players will navigate political, economic and social challenges to restore Pompeii to its former glory. The game offers a rich mix of resource management, city-building mechanics and a deep narrative inspired by historical events.
About Siscia Games
Siscia Games is a newly founded independent game development studio based in Zagreb, Croatia. Pompeii: The Legacy is the studio's debut project.
The studio is led by veteran developer Zeljko Kos, who is also the co-owner of Little Green Men Games and Overseer Games studios. Over the years, Zeljko has worked as a designer, programmer and producer on numerous titles, including Legacy Dark Shadows (2004), Alarm für Cobra 11 (2005), Spaceforce: Captains (2007), The Legend of Crystal Valley (2009), Starpoint Gemini (2010), Doodle Jump for Windows Phone and BlackBerry (2012), Starpoint Gemini 2 (2014), Starpoint Gemini Warlords (2017), Starpoint Gemini 3 (2019), Patron (2021) and Aquatico (2023).
Although Zeljko is the sole full-time employee at Siscia Games, several skilled freelancers contribute to the development of Pompeii: The Legacy.
Contact:
Zeljko Kos
Solo Developer, Siscia Games
pr@sisciagames.com