The right map seed can make or break an Anno 1800 campaign — it decides how big your starting island is, which fertilities you get, and how far the pirates sit from your shipping lanes. Below are community-favourite seeds worth trying in 2026, from beginner-friendly starts to sprawling megacity maps.
How map seeds work
A seed is just a number you paste into the map settings when creating a new game. The same seed always generates the same world, so you can reliably reproduce a layout other players recommend. For the best experience, also pick a larger map size and an island arc or archipelago type so you have room to expand.
Best all-round seed: 1800
Seed 1800 is a long-time community favourite and a great first choice for new and veteran players alike — a balanced map with solid starting fertilities and manageable pirate placement.
Best for large islands: 111108851
If you hate running out of build space, 111108851 is dominated by large islands with plenty of resources and room to build, and conveniently keeps the pirates slightly out of the way.
Best for megacities: 440654298
For experienced players chasing enormous cities, 440654298 offers large islands in every map sphere — including a New World island that rivals Crown Falls in size and resource density. Ideal for sprawling, high-population builds.
Tips for picking a start
- Always grab the biggest starting island you can — it sets the ceiling for both your city and your industry.
- Check the starter island’s fertilities (potatoes, grain, hops, peppers) before committing.
- Prefer seeds where traders are close and pirates are across the map for a calmer early game.
- The Anno 1800 community wiki keeps an up-to-date list of favourite seeds if you want more options.