Games Like Sons of the Arena: Pollice Verso

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 combat

Battles 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 choices

Recruits start as basic gladiators and specialize at level 2 based on their weapon:

Stamina, formations, perks

Every 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: "Last Stand," "Spear Wall," "Quick Shot," "Battle Cry."

Run your ludus

Between 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 development

The game is in active development. Wishlist it to be notified when the demo drops.