Bloodgrounds' Second Major Early Access Update Adds New Gladiator Expeditions, Deeper Gladiator Builds With New Class Abilities
"Trials of the Gladiator" update adds more than 30 different Gladiator Expeditions and 9 new class abilities.
January 22, 2026
Hamburg, Germany - January 22nd - Exordium Games and Daedalic Entertainment today release the second major Early Access update for Bloodgrounds - Trials of the Gladiator - offering brand new gameplay experiences while bolstering each gladiator class with an extra new ability.
Additional abilities make each gladiator type more deadly, allowing players to experiment with builds that now include biting frost, choking poison, dazzling explosives, spinning attacks, and precision dagger throws to increase the lethality of the classes.
Meanwhile, the new Gladiator Expeditions feature lets players use fighters who aren't currently battling in the arena, recovering, or training, adding strategic depth and new purpose to gladiators waiting on their return to glory.
This new feature is the only way that gladiators can change their worshipped Deity and Traits, allowing the player to further customize them to their preferred playstyle.
The new class abilities in this second Early Access update are:
- Class Mystic - Blizzard: Move through empty spaces, damaging and applying Frost to targets along the path and leaving Frozen Ground in your wake.
- Class Retiarius - Rally: Rally-up all your allies within range, restoring their missing Armor and applying Haste.
- Class Secutor - Groundbreaker: Slam the ground in front of you, sending out a shockwave that damages and applies Slow to all targets in a pattern.
- Class Serpens - Viper Dance: Spin around throwing daggers in all 4 directions, damaging and applying Bleed to the first target in line.
- Class Arcum - Flashflare: Throw a dazzling explosive in a line, hitting the first target and pushing them back.
- Class Saltator - Bladestorm: Jump forward on an empty space throwing daggers and damaging all targets in a pattern.
- Class Sacerdos - Banish: Attack the first target in a line, pushing them back up to 3 spaces and summon Electrified Ground on the targeted space.
- Class Caligo - Nightmare Pulse: Attack an enemy within range which then chain attacks up to 3 additional enemies or objects.
- Class Arborius - Wildgrowth: Enchant the ground beneath you, healing all allies and applying Poison to all enemies in a pattern.
The "Trials of the Gladiator" update is the second major expansion to Bloodgrounds while in Early Access, with the fan-favourite gladiator sim due for 1.0 release in early 2026.
- Link Press Kit and trailer download: Bloodgrounds Press Kit
- Bloodgrounds on Steam
- Watch the Animated Early Access-Trailer:
About Bloodgrounds
Bloodgrounds blends brutal, tactical grid combat with deep squad management, RPG progression, and roguelite elements. Players step into the sandals of a once-enslaved gladiator turned wealthy patron, commanding teams of physical, ranged, and magical fighters across blood-soaked arenas.
Prepare for a challenge — every gladiator’s death is permanent, their loss reshaping your path to vengeance against the tyrannical Emperor who killed your father and stole your youth.
With a striking visual style combining dark fantasy and gritty pixel-art gore, Bloodgrounds is set to captivate fans of XCOM, Darkest Dungeon, Heroes of Might and Magic, Into the Breach, Last Spell and Battle Brothers — players who crave deep tactical gameplay and meaningful long-term progression.
Key Features
- Highly Tactical Turn-Based CombatMaster grid-based arena battles, unleash powerful abilities, and use traps, consumables, and divine powers to sway the fight.
- Hardcore Roguelite StakesLose a fighter, lose them forever — along with their gear and progress. Surviving gladiators are rewarded with valuable loot and experience points, creating a satisfying and motivating progression loop.
- Deep Squad ManagementRecruit, train, and upgrade gladiators; build unique class combinations; and balance trauma, status effects, and glory-seeking risks.
- Audience and Arena DynamicsWin over the bloodthirsty crowd for battle rewards, or manipulate the underworld to sabotage rivals before the fight even starts.
- A Dark Fantasy WorldExplore Marevento’s political intrigue, navigate a noble’s revenge quest, and rise through deadly tournaments toward the Emperor himself.
Next to the main game Bloodgrounds, there is also a Supporter Pack available that includes the Original Soundtrack, a digital artbook and in-game cosmetics like armor & weapon skins, more estate banners and gladiator appearance options.
Please also have a look at the roadmap up until 1.0 release early 2026. More detailed plans on the direction of the Early Access can be obtained from the Bloodgrounds Community Hub.
Media contact: Bernd.Berheide@daedalic.com
About Exordium Games
Exordium Games is a game studio founded in 2014 in Zagreb, Croatia. Over the years, we have created 100+ Games and 30+ other projects, spanning innovation and education, and accumulated over 20 million mobile users and over 500,000 downloads on standalone platforms. We deliver great experiences to players no matter how and when they play. Please visit: https://exordiumgames.com/.
About Daedalic Entertainment
Daedalic Entertainment is a renowned publisher that has supported indie developers for over 18 years, bringing their titles to every major gaming platform. The lineup of games includes a diverse variety of unique titles, focusing on four distinct areas: storytelling, strategy, co-op games, and wholesome games. With an international team of around 45 employees, Daedalic is currently working with various development studios to create a new lineup of innovative games across consoles and PCs to market. Recent hits include New Cycle, Barotrauma, Unrailed!, Yield! Fall of Rome, Into the Emberlands, Deponia, Shadow Tactics, Inkulinati, Hidden Deep, Fling to the Finish!, and more.
Please look out for upcoming games like Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown, The Occultist, Woodo, Bloodgrounds, Barotrauma Home & Harbor Expansion and many others. Since April 2022, Daedalic Entertainment has been a subsidiary of the French publishing house, Nacon.
For more, please visit: https://press.daedalic.com.
Follow us on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/developer/daedalic.