Runerock Arena

For years I have been wishing for am updated English-language version of Gladiator Manager, a completely addictive shareware game from 20+ years ago... Well here it is! The gameplay loop is nearly identical, keeping everything that made the original games so much fun. No flashy graphics or cutscenes needed, this is rock-solid game mechanics honed over the years.

This game has a long history beginning from the 1990's. It's a very straightforward turn-based arena combat game with a management layer for hiring and equipping etc. There's a lot of different races and a good variety of equipment and spells. Skills, including spellcasting skills, improve with use. So you can either hire young cheap gladiators and see them improve (and guide them in a direction you want), or if you have the money, hire superstars (but they age and retire at some point). In Finland, it's a cult classic both because it's a good game and also because of hilarious tongue-in-cheek descriptions for everything. I switched the language to English for a moment, and it's the same descriptions, only slightly less unique and flashy writing style.

Guys this game is unhinged. Let me introduce you to the infinite win strategy: Step 1: Start with an empty team and keep restarting until you can recruit a halfling with 50 Bow skill and 45 Dexterity. Just an absolutely deadly cursed child. Step 2: Spend your entire bankroll buying the cursed child a bow of completely unreasonable power. If you get lucky with the monthly discount, you can snag a blessed 8–19 damage bow that frankly should not be obtainable by someone this small or this early in the game. Step 3: Fill the rest of your roster with disabled, elderly, and close-to-death human shields. I'm talking 35-year-old sumos, men held together by scar tissue and contractual obligation, whoever can physically occupy a tile. Form a defensive wall of flesh around the child. Step 4: Watch the cursed child no-scope entire gladiator teams all the way to the semi-finals. If you get lucky your sumos will also throw the enemy off bridges. Some of the time this plan will work every time.

A very good continuation in legendary Areena games, which I have played since my childhood! The atmosphere and gameplay are still the same - but this is a good thing. Many things has been also improved, such as graphics and playability. This is also a thing with the now released full version! Best of the Areena games up to this date. Easy and fun to learn.

Great game. Very addictive. This is as good as earlier games were. I was a young adult when Areena 5 was a thing and now I am not so young but I still enjoy gaming. AI is not really good in this game though and for single player game it is not optimal for longevity.

Simple but entertaining, just as it was back it the days with Areena 4