- BGG rank
- BGG #15,961
- BGG rating
- 6.9
DreamEscape
- 1–2 players
- 90–120 min
- Complexity 3.4/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,111
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Gladiatores: Blood for Roses
2020
Rules assistance for Gladiatores: Blood for Roses
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–5 players
- 60–90 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for Gladiatores: Blood for Roses
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Gladiatores: Blood for Roses is a board game released in 2020 for 2–5 players, 60–90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jason Maclean Jones and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Take That.
Similar games
- BGG rank
- BGG #23,477
- BGG rating
- 6.2
ElemenZ
- 2–4 players
- 12–30 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #3,860
- BGG rating
- 8.2
Mega Empires: The West
- 5–9 players
- 180–780 min
- Complexity 3.2/5
- 2019
- BGG rank
- BGG #728
- BGG rating
- 7.0
Coup
- 2–6 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 2012
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,793
- BGG rating
- 8.2
Cocktail
- 2–9 players
- 15–45 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,741
- BGG rating
- 7.7
Ambition
- 2–5 players
- 10–30 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2017
- BGG rank
- BGG #27,900
- BGG rating
- 5.5
The Worst Game Ever
- 2–8 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.1/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #9,357
- BGG rating
- 6.1
Legends of the Three Kingdoms
- 2–10 players
- 40 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2007
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,625
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Heroes Love to Lie
- 2–5 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 1.0/5
- 2025
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,827
- BGG rating
- 6.5
BANG!
- 4–7 players
- 20–40 min
- Complexity 1.6/5
- 2002
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,334
- BGG rating
- 8.2
BattleCON Fighting System
- 2–4 players
- 10–45 min
- Complexity 3.7/5
- 2010
- BGG rank
- BGG #20,658
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Бэнг! Звёздные Войны
- 4–7 players
- 20–40 min
- Complexity 2.0/5
- 2020
About the game
Gladiatores: Blood for Roses is a swift-playing card combat game of rival gladiator schools. Each player's school bids for eight playable 'famous hero' gladiators from the market that each comes with their own unique combat skills, talents, abilities, strengths and weaknesses. Every gladiator's card set is a unique selection of combat moves that chain in sequence with your opponent's choices in a deadly duel of strike and counter-strike! Enter your chosen gladiator into arena events, impressing the crowds with your fighting skill while secretly planning your opponent's demise. Variable gladiator abilities makes each game a tactical challenge. Outmaneuver your victim in blow for blow combat for the prize wreaths, while secretly laying bets on the outcome of each fight! The combat cards simulate the close up cut and thrust of in-your-face arena combat; while secret tactics cards, sponsors and your own devious hand management skills might ensure a spectacular win! Be aware however that the other players might be secretly plotting your demise...
Designers
Publishers
- BadCat Games
Questions and answers
Gladiatores: Blood for Roses supports 2–5 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Gladiatores: Blood for Roses is 60–90 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Gladiatores: Blood for Roses for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Gladiatores: Blood for Roses has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Gladiatores: Blood for Roses belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fighting, and Deduction. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Take That. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Gladiatores: Blood for Roses are: Jason Maclean Jones. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Gladiatores: Blood for Roses as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.