Train gladiators. Manage your ludus. Send them to the sand to fight, win, and bleed. Turn-based hex tactics where stamina, formations, and four classes — Swordsman, Spearman, Archer, Mace Fighter — decide every match. Permadeath makes every loss final.

Sons of the Arena is a turn-based tactical game where you run a gladiator school in a brutal world inspired by Ancient Rome. Buy fighters at the slave market, equip them, train them in real combat — and watch them grow or die.Hex-based tactical combatBattles play out on a hex arena in the tradition of classic turn-based strategy. Position is everything: facing, flanking, line of sight, terrain, and zones of control shape every turn. There are no resurrections — when a gladiator falls, his gear goes back to the armory and his name to the wall of remembrance.Four classes, real choicesRecruits start as basic gladiators and specialize at level 2 based on their weapon:<ul class="bb_ul"><li>Swordsman — master of counterattacks, high parry, lethal in single combat.</li><li>Spearman — long reach, shield-wall formations, &quot;Push&quot; skill to break enemy lines.</li><li>Archer — covers the whole arena, area volleys, no zone of control.</li><li>Mace Fighter — crushes armor, +50% damage against targets shielded by allies.</li></ul>Stamina, formations, perksEvery action costs stamina: a tired fighter hits softer and misses more often. The enemy AI uses real formations — shield walls, wolf-pack flanks, archer screens — so the same skirmish never plays out the same way twice. Level-up perks let you specialize each fighter: &quot;Last Stand,&quot; &quot;Spear Wall,&quot; &quot;Quick Shot,&quot; &quot;Battle Cry.&quot;Run your ludusBetween fights you manage the school: build barracks, infirmary, smithy, and quarry; hire workers and healers; feed your fighters — or watch them weaken. Wounds heal in real days. Money is always tight.Pre-alpha — in active developmentThe game is in active development. Wishlist it to be notified when the demo drops.

Good Game Database

Sons of the Arena: Pollice Verso Achievements