Gladiatorial combat is a highly thematic part of history that's frequently used in creative media, most notably in films such as Gladiator. Video games have also attempted to take multiple stabs at the theme over the years, including old games such as Shadow Of Rome and even science-fiction takes such as Ratchet: Gladiator.
Unfortunately, there haven't been many stand-out gladiator games that have stood the test of time. Despite this, however, the gladiator theme has yet to die out. From visceral experiences such as We Who Are About To Die and fantasy games like Gladiator Guild Manager, all the way to VR games like GORN, these are just a few excellent examples of gladiator-themed video games.
7 Gladiator Guild Manager
Fantasy-Themed Gladiatorial Auto-Battler
- Platform(s): PC
- Released: 2024
- Developer(s): Entertainment Forge
- Genre: Strategy
Gladiator Guild Manager tasks players with managing a roster of gladiators in brutal, bloody battles. Each of these fights takes place in real time, with the ins-and-outs of battle happening automatically, as with all games in the auto-battler genre. This results in an accessible but strategic experience that's all about risk and reward, as well as efficient management.
There are all kinds of gladiators for players to hire, expanding their team as they progress through the game. The fantasy setting and theme allow for a wide variety of classes, which results in diverse fights across the game's array of gladiatorial tournaments.
6 Swords And Sandals: Immortals
Humorous Turn-Based Arena Battles
- Platform(s): PC, Mobile
- Released: 2023
- Developer(s): Whiskeybarrel Studios
- Genre: Strategy
With roots in the golden era of Flash games, Swords And Sandals is a series of gladiator games known by many. The gameplay loop of these titles, while simple, is tremendously accessible and frequently addictive. The latest addition, Swords And Sandals: Immortals, is a great modernization of the classic series.
The gameplay mostly consists of players engaging in turn-based battles, choosing moves from a wheel of available options. The gladiator customization is also surprisingly deep, allowing players to customize not only their appearance but their starting stats. Furthermore, players can choose from a variety of classes, greatly impacting how their gladiator will perform in certain situations.
5 Space Gladiators
Gladiator-Themed Roguelike... In Space!
- Platform(s): PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Mobile
- Released: 2021
- Developer(s): Blobfish
- Genre: Action, Roguelite
This science-fiction roguelike features a hand-drawn aesthetic and overall style, developed by Blobfish, the developer behind Brotato. Space Gladiators puts players in the shoes of a space gladiator, battling enemies for the entertainment of aliens, who can frequently be seen cheering along in the background.
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The game's combat is weighty, revolving around dashing, attacking, and managing energy that can be used for abilities. Each run is also broken up by a variety of challenging arenas, which emphasize the gladiator theme.
4 Mortal Glory 2
Turn-Based Tactics In Fantasy Arenas
- Platform(s): PC
- Released: 2024
- Developer(s): Redbeak Games
- Genre: Tactics, Roguelike
This tactical roguelike puts players in control of a team of fantasy gladiators, each with their own unique abilities. The game's grid-based combat is consistently tactical, and environmental hazards ensure players are kept on their toes at all times.
Mortal Glory 2 gives players a great deal of customization over their party on each run, allowing them to equip characters with unique items and abilities, upgrading their stats along the way. Despite being a small-scale indie game, Mortal Glory 2's roguelike structure and variety of fantasy races provides plenty of replay value for the relatively low asking price.
3 Clone Drone in the Danger Zone
Voxel-Based Hack-And-Slash In A Sci-Fi Arena
Clone Drone In The Danger Zone
Clone Drone In The Danger Zone is a science fiction gladiator game with a voxel-based art-style and a variety of ways to play. The game features a story mode, an endless mode, and a variety of fun challenges to play through. Furthermore, the game even features a level editor.
The hack-and-slash combat of Clone Drone In The Danger Zone is frequently satisfying, as each enemy robot — as well as the players themselves — can be dismembered. The game also features a variety of ways for players to upgrade their robot, resulting in a strategic and highly replayable hack-and-slash experience.
2 GORN
Brutally Violent, Physics-Based VR Arena
- Platform(s): PC, PlayStation
- Released: 2019
- Developer(s): Free Lives
- Genre: VR, Action
This great VR game features brutal, bloody combat with a cartoon aesthetic that makes things feel a little more lighthearted than they otherwise would. GORN, published by Devolver Digital, is no more — and no less — than a gladiator simulator, delivering a visceral gladiatorial experience for VR.
GORN's combat is driven by heavily simulated physics, resulting in a system that's inherently weighty and satisfying to engage with. The game's variety of weapons also help to keep things fresh for a good while before the violent monotony of its loop kicks in.
1 We Who Are About To Die
Gladiator Simulator With A High Skill Ceiling
We Who Are About To Die
- Released
- November 14, 2022
- Platform(s)
- Microsoft Windows
- Developer
- Jordy Lakiere
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action, Indie Games, Fighting, Simulation, Strategy
This action-packed roguelike puts players in the shoes of a gladiator, taking part in brutal and unforgiving battles with skilled combatants. We Who Are About To Die uses a physics-based combat system that's relatively tricky and hard to learn, but it can be rewarding for players that persevere through its initially rough difficulty curve.
We Who Are About To Die also features permanent death, meaning that dying sends players back to the very start. However, the elements of random generation, variety of character backgrounds, deep career management, and modular equipment system result in an experience with a high amount of replay value.
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