Bloodgrounds Build 20712094 - early access

Bloodgrounds is a grim, tactical gladiator management game that blends turn-based arena combat with estate and city-building. You play as a noble heir bent on revenge against a tyrannical Emperor: recruit, train, equip, and sometimes sacrifice gladiators to climb the tournament ranks, win the favor of the crowd, and push toward the Capitol. Combat is high-stakes - fallen gladiators are permanently lost - which gives every decision real weight.

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What it feels like
- A dark, character-driven strategy experience where narrative motives (revenge, legacy) are tied directly to gameplay systems.
- Tactical arena battles that reward careful positioning, timing, and resource management rather than brute force.
- A management layer between fights that feels meaningful: upgrading your estate and the city of Marevento unlocks services and tools that change how you prepare and wage war.

Core loop
1. Recruit gladiators (through payment, duels, or mercy).
2. Prepare them: level up, assign gear, treat traumas and status effects, choose abilities.
3. Use Deity powers or underworld deals (crime lord sabotage) to shape battles.
4. Fight turn-based, grid-based encounters where initiative, action points, and positioning determine outcomes.
5. Win crowd favor to earn rewards, then spend gold to expand and upgrade buildings - unlocking better services, items, and monuments.
6. Defeat regional Arena Champions to progress the age and access more powerful options, all while risking permanent loss of your fighters.

Why it stands out
- Permadeath and permanent equipment loss heighten tension and make victories meaningful.
- Multiple recruitment options (pay, fight, show mercy) add roleplaying and strategic flavor.
- Tactical depth: initiative order, action points, class and weapon abilities, traps, consumables, and environment matter.
- City/estate progression is integrated into the strategy loop: buildings like infirmaries, markets, and monuments directly affect your roster and options.
- Extra systems such as Deity abilities and criminal sabotage let you customize the pre-battle stage in interesting ways.
- Classes include physical, ranged, and magical archetypes, offering diverse team-building possibilities.

Minor notes
- The tone and mechanics are unforgiving; players who prefer low-stakes, forgiving progression may find the permadeath element punishing but satisfying.
- The game features an ongoing roadmap and a Special Edition, suggesting post-launch content and enhancements.

Key features
- Turn-based, grid-based arena combat with initiative-driven turns and action-point economy.
- Permanent death: lost gladiators and equipment remain gone, raising the stakes of every fight.
- Recruit via gold, duels, or mercy - each method has different gameplay and narrative implications.
- Three main class archetypes: physical, ranged, and magical; deep class and weapon abilities.
- Equipment, consumables, traps, and status management (including treating traumas) shape each encounter.
- Deity abilities and optional crime-lord sabotage to influence battles before they begin.
- Estate and city management: build and upgrade structures (infirmary, market, monuments) that unlock services and new mechanics.
- Region progression: defeat Arena Champions to advance the age and access stronger buildings and items.
- Audience mechanics: satisfy the crowd to gain rewards, adding a performative layer to fights.

Verdict
Bloodgrounds offers a tense, rewarding mix of tactical combat and strategic management. Its permadeath and crowd-driven rewards make each match feel consequential, and the estate-building adds satisfying long-term progression. If you enjoy careful tactical play, hard choices, and a dark, revenge-driven narrative, Bloodgrounds is worth a look.