Build the best ludus in this adventure game

Ludus is an indie video game developed by Cocopo and published by Cheesecake. The game is set in ancient Rome and will challenge you to survive the era of gladiators. However, unlike other gladiator games, it will not be all about fighting. It simulates the life of a ludus owner, where you need to train your gladiators, hire competent employees, and buy new armors and weapons. Your end goal is to build the best ludus in the world. 

Where the greatest gladiators are

At its core, Ludus employs tycoon-like gameplay. You play the role of a ludus owner and your goal is to make your place the best. You can do so by improving all your gladiators. You can choose from five gladiator fighting styles and train your band of warriors based on it. Of course, you will also need to buy new armors, swords, and other equipment that can help your gladiators win their battles.

Not only that, but you also need to make your school a comfortable working environment. You need to hire the best employees and manage them so that your ludus run smoothly. There is also the option to buy slaves and develop them to become a gladiator. Once you deem them good to fight, you can either set them up for a battle or put them up for auction.

To train your gladiators fully, you can arrange for them to fight against other gladiators. Aside from taking care of your school and all its gladiators, Ludus will also need you to take care of your family. The game also includes other activities like fishing, taking care of your livestock animals, and even socializing at the local tavern. 

Unique concept, sub-par execution

Ludus plays from a first-person point of view. While you cannot play any of the characters in the game, you are in complete control of their action. Be careful with your choices, because it may not only affect the performance of your warriors—it can also lead to your family’s death. The game rewards you with coins for every action you make. The coins you get can be used to get better weapons and equipment for your ludus.

You can also use the coins to hire workers to fix your school or buy food from farmers to feed your family and gladiators. At a glance, Ludus offers a unique game concept. Instead of an action-themed gladiator game, what you will get is a management game that gives you full control of everything. However, while it may have a good idea, its execution is not that smooth. For one, the game needs more optimization, as it can be glitchy.

Some gladiators get stuck in their shacks, and there is nothing you can do to free them. Moreover, the fishing system requires random keystrokes for you to catch a fish. Additionally, there are numerous frantic chores that you need to do before you can set up a fight for your gladiators. Most of them need coins, which leads to another issue. There are not that many side quests you can do to gain rewards. 

Still needs patching up

All in all, Ludus is a game that you can enjoy playing. The mechanics are rather easy, and there are a lot of things to do in the game. The management element also isn’t that difficult, allowing you to get to your goal easily. However, it needs serious optimization for players to enjoy playing it. The game is broken in so many ways that it will kill your desire to spend time on it.