LANISTA: Shadows and Dust

“The gladiatorial school embodied the entirety of gladiator life. It was managed by the Lanista, often a former gladiator, who oversaw the daily activities and operations.”

LANISTA: Shadows and Dust is a classic-inspired tactical roguelike that mixes ancient Roman history with a pinch of post-apocalyptic bloodsports.

It is a loot-driven, perma-death, gladiator arena where you climb the ranks of a dystopian society through blood, glory... and cybernetics!

The year is 3027, half a century after the Great Drought turned the last of Earth’s oceans into a barren desert of salt and sand.

What was once a highly advanced, technological society - strictly driven by science and striving for progress - quickly devolved into the most primitive, savage representation of a hunger-driven humanity, when answers were sought but science had none left to give.

Rome now stands as the last bastion of civilization, but with resources dwindling and the future of humanity on the line, scientists turned back to the most basic of principles: Natural Selection.

“Under extreme circumstances, only those most adapted to their environment shall survive.”

This simple idea led to the resurgence of an ancient breed of combat bloodsports, and a renewed meaning to the title of Gladiator. Along came the Lanistas, the strategic overlords that both rule and guide the Gladiators to victory, sharing in both their glory and rewards.

"The fittest must survive. The strongest will be fed. The fiercest shall lead."

You are a Lanista. It is your duty to train, equip and manage your Gladiators in order for them to rise above the competition, as you dictate their actions even during combat.

Through the power of coin, influence and strategic prowess, your goal is to command your fleshy pawns as they hack and slash their way through the daily (and deadly) fights at the arena, and attempt to overcome the mighty Tournaments that represent an opportunity for glory, as well as your next meal.

As your Gladiator grows in power and fame, you will be presented the opportunity to participate in deadly Tournaments.

A mere 10 of these events are what stands between you and eternal glory, with each Tournament representing a new tier of difficulty, loot rarity, boss fights and new playable classes to unlock - but winning a Tournament is no easy feat, for victory shall be measured in severed limbs and lifeless corpses left behind.

Featuring over 18 classes of Gladiator, these castes may be the baseline that defines your pawn’s fighting style, but it will be the combination of equipment, training, abilities and strategy that define your success as a Lanista.

With a huge assortment of rarity-driven equipment, over 13 weapon archetypes, 40 active abilities, more than 160 unique ability combinations and even a challenging Auto-battler mode, you are in control of the threads of fate that intertwine your path to success - even if that means your fleshy pawns won’t live to share the spoils.