itch.io

Big update for Ludus Magna was deployed today. Already 500 players registered to the beta. I ve recently created an itch.io demo slice where you can play without registering.
Would be glad if you try it out and tell me if it works for you and you can play the game without registering:
Game page is here: https://jokool1981.itch.io/ludus-magna
Past Changelog: https://www.ludus-magna.com/changelog

Here are the details of the last update:

V 1.6.0.  - Path of Mastery

A major progression update introducing Gladiator Disciplines — per-gladiator skill trees with combat, rest and training effects — plus a redesigned Achievements page, senator-run elite training schools, and a long list of bug fixes and security hardenings.

It is a long time since i posted here about the game. Cant find my old feedback post anymore so i am opening a new one.

Would love to hear some feedback - i myself consider the game pretty advanced now and enjoy playing it.

V.1.6.0 - Changelog

Update 1.4.3 just dropped
Changelog:

## [1.4.3] - Season of Glory (2026-02-11)

### Challenge Season System

- Season Challenges: Competitive timed events with leaderboard rankings

- Unlimited Attempts: Restart challenges while preserving your best score

- Scoring Formula: Fame x1 + Gold x0.1 + Victories x5

- Two-Column Leaderboard: Live Leaderboard (active runs) alongside Top Scores (best finished runs)

- Responsive Layout: Grid on desktop, tabbed interface on mobile

- Hall of Champions: Frozen final rankings when a challenge concludes

- Challenge Rules Dialog: In-game explanation of scoring and mechanics

### Gladiator Name Expansion

- Expanded name pool from ~100 to 900 unique combinations (30 first names x 30 cognomens)

- Duplicate prevention with retry logic ensures unique names within a roster

- Synchronized across all generation points (game start, market, end-day, challenges)

### Leaderboard Redesign

- Compact single-row layout replacing previous card-based design

- Rank indicators with crown/medal icons for top 3

- Score tooltip with detailed stat breakdown on hover

### Combat & Balance

- Parry logic fix: Standard weapons now correctly apply parry mechanics

- Expanded QTE word pool to 62 words for critical hit typing prompts

- Guaranteed staff diversity: 3 different staff types available daily in the market

Come and enter the challenge! test the game, and win a 50 € amazon gift card, a 25 € steam gift-card or a 10 € steam gift-card for TOP 3 places.

I ve made a lot of updates lately:

- mobile update - game is now playable on mobile phones and mobile defices
- Lanista Setup revamped - choose now one of many pictures for your lanista_
- Added a lot of new choosable gladiator images - 80 so far
- added a parry-mechanic to QTE-Combat
- bugfixes and a lot of QoL-Updates
- you can find the full changelog and latest patches here: https://www.ludus-magna.com/changelog

greetings,
Jo

I have updated a LOT:
- new tutorial that teaches the basics of the game
- new equipment types, armors and combat logic
- event screens when reaching certain fame-caps
- added a main boss-fight at the end against the champion of rome
- added a feedback survey at the end
- leaderboard revamped
- and much more under the hood

and
- no need to enter your email when testing - just select a username and you re ready to go!

would be glad if someone else also give it a try and give me feedback.

thank you,

Jo

thank you - very valueable feedback.
currently i am implementing an "action log" and testing it, preventing users doing multiple clicks. Let`s see.
Maybe i want to add an "online fight market" later too where users can challenge other players, so i dont want to make it easily hackable. and - there is already a leaderboard showing top scores.

update:
- deployed some updates today, increasing performance, fixing some bugs, and implementing a fix for users not klicking too often causing race conditions to not work.

Hey!

Thank you for your time and feedback.
What Lanista name did you use? Did you give him a name?

- Thank you for your hint about the email. actually u can just enter any fake-email to play. will consider to disable it.
- all gladiators are not black - in your case this was certainly pure "coincidence". the game selects 2 random gladiators from a whole pool.
- Lag: if you move the logic to the client cant it be easily hacked? performance will be increased later on.
- the freeze screen shouldnt happen and actually never did in any of my games. Did you select your lanista perks and gave him a name?
- The ui does not lock while waiting: do you mean you expect a kind of "spinning wheel" while waiting for network?

Did you do some arena fights too?
At fame 100, the market unlocks, and then you have a lot more to do and think of.

Maybe you want to give it another try - i have implemented a final boss fight that is triggered when reached 1500 fame. Also i did a lot of balancing, 2 new lanista perks, etc.

thank you for testing, much appreciated!greetings,

Jo

Hello folks,

Iam here to seek help, playtesters and valuable feedback for my Browsergame.All began with an idea and quickly evolved to a really impressive Lanista (=owner of a gladiator school) browser-game with nice graphics and a hopefully challenging gameplay loop.The game is inspired by the Spartacus board game and the new "House of Ashur" series on Prime.

Your goal:
You are a Lanista - the owner of a gladiator school (Ludus) in ancient Rome. Train your gladiators, hire staff, buy equipment on the market, fight in the arena, and build your fame to become a legend of Rome!

Victory conditions:
- Survive 100 days and collect as much Fame as possible
- Reach 1500+ Victory to win immedeatly

Loosing conditions:
Bankruptcy - If you cannot pay your daily upkeep for 5 consecutive days, your ludus will be closed and your game is over.
All Gladiators Lost - If all your gladiators die in the arena, your ludus will fall and your game is over.

What you need to play:
- a modern Browser
- an internet conncetion
- sound is also included (background music and fight sounds, but is optional and can turned off)

Participating is easy:
just go to https://ludus-magna.lovable.app/auth enter an email and passwort and you re ready to go.
Here is a basic game-guide for beginners:
https://ludus-magna.lovable.app/guide

Not every piece of the game is in there, because it is part of the game to find out the (meta) game to be a successfull lanista who knows when to fight and how to prepare his gladiators.

Please remeber - the game is still BETA but is in good shape and should not have any gamebraking bugs.
Also i am constantly adding new features, doing QoL-changes and fine-tuning balancing.

Here is a sceenshot from the "My Ludus" page:



I need your help feedback for:
- Bugs, balancing
- General look and feel of the game - do you like it? Is it challenging?
- Is any important info missing you want to know before something happens in the game?
- How do you like the Arena-Fight simulation? Is everything clear and transparent how a fight is executed and simulated?
- Is there an important feature you are missing (thematically)?
- Is the game too easy or too difficult for you?
- anything else you would like to let me know :-)

Thank you for your time!
I hope you have some fun hours playing "Magna Ludus". All you need is a browser an internet connection and a desktop computer.

greetings,
Jo