Ludus Mortis

About

Ludus Mortis is a grid-based RPG where you lead a band of gladiators through catacombs overrun by undead and demons. Set in a dark fantasy reimagining of 4th-century Rome, the game tasks you with rebuilding a fallen city by managing party members’ skills, scavenging resources, and methodically navigating procedurally generated dungeons. Combat emphasizes positioning and tactical turns, with enemies and traps designed to punish carelessness. The story follows a fractured empire where the Senate’s forbidden magic has turned the population against itself, leaving you to carve a path through political and supernatural chaos. The game leans heavily into oldschool CRPG vibes, blending historical trappings with fantasy horror. Its grid system demands precision, while permadeath risks and limited respawns raise the stakes. Though still new, early players praise its addictive loop of exploration and attrition. Released March 2024 on PC and Linux, it’s a niche pick for fans of calculated combat and grim worldbuilding. The developer’s first title shows clear ambition, even if its mechanics occasionally stumble under their own weight.

Storyline

Rome, 4th Century AD. Over the last few decades the Senate has become corrupt and has progressively lost power and influence, while the Emperor Diocletian and his army ruled unchallenged outside the eternal city. Seeking to return to a dominant position, the members of the Roman Senate decide to use necromancy to increase their power, creating an army of undead and demons to fight against imperial soldiers. By waging war on its own emperor, the Senate has caused a rift in the Roman population, which slowly began to live in fear. Year after year the armies of undead summoned by the Senate have taken over, imposing themselves on the senators and enslaving the Roman population. In this climate of chaos, an ancient gladiatorial school continued to train soldiers for the games. But the purpose of these gladiators is now different: to rid the city of the undead and invaders...to allow Rome to return to its former glory.