5 Roman-themed video games to ease the wait for Gladiator II

“Gladiator II” is one of the most anticipated movies of the year and is scheduled for release on November 22nd. It is a sequel to the mythical “Gladiator”.Gladiator” (2000) Starring Russell Crowe, but does not return in this second part. To liven up the wait until release date, Meristation has decided to compile a quick selection of video games set in ancient Rome. This is a surprisingly uncommon historical scenario in this medium.

Expedition: Rome

Expeditions: Rome is a role-playing and strategy video game set during the last days of the Roman Republic, before the beginning of the Roman Empire. Plot is very important in this adventure. We follow a young Roman nobleman who falls victim to a political conspiracy and has his father murdered. Our protagonist eventually becomes the Roman general Legacius, commanding his own legion.

Emperor: Rome

Imperator: Rome takes you through the birth of the Roman Empire in brutal historical reenactment, with a map that stretches from the Iberian Peninsula to India. This is a pure and simple strategy video game where you can manage every aspect of your empire: economic, political, social, cultural, religious, etc. These all use real historical events as a backdrop to give variety to events like Spartacus's rebellion. Of course, in addition to managing the Roman side, we have a large number of nations and tribes at our disposal, so we can also create our own history if we wish.

praetorian

Praetorian is a real-time strategy video game developed by Spanish studio Pyro Studios, also the creators of Commandos Saga. Unlike other titles in this genre, it focuses more on military strategy and tactics than on resource management or building the empire itself. This title includes reenactments of many real historical battles, such as the campaigns of Julius and his Caesar in Gaul and Britain and the battle of Crassus in Parthia. A high-definition remaster was released in 2020 to mixed reviews, but luckily the original is still available for purchase on Steam, so if these criticisms don't convince you to jump to the current version? The classic version is there.

Rome: total war

Rome: Total War is one of the most iconic video games set in ancient Rome. It's a title that combines real-time and turn-based strategy, allowing you to control and manage your territory and engage in large-scale battles with a host of brave legions. The game's story takes place from the rise and fall of the Roman Republic to the first decades of the Roman Empire. A remaster was released in 2021 called Total War: ROME REMASTERED. This is essentially the base game, but remastered in 4K resolution and with numerous visual and gameplay improvements.

Rise: Son of Rome

Ryse: Son of Rome was one of Microsoft's big bets for the launch of the Xbox One. Set in the first decades of the Roman Empire, this revenge story puts us in the shoes of General Marius Titus, beginning at the end and telling the rest as flashbacks. The plot takes us to various locations, including Rome itself and Roman Britain. Marius is a skilled warrior who faces all kinds of dangers and is able to destroy his enemies in the most savage ways. Admittedly, historical fidelity is not Son of Rome's strong point. Because there are some clear fantasy elements and, essentially, we are faced with an “alternate version” of ancient Rome. This is to emphasize the overwhelming technical aspects that are still relevant today, as well as the high production power of video games, which can sometimes make you feel like you are watching a big-budget movie.

Spartan: Total Warrior

Spartan: Total Warrior is not a title available on the current platform, but it deserves an honorable mention. Luckily, it's not hard to find used, nor is it particularly expensive, making it a highly recommended option if you've been bitten too much by the Gladiator II bug. This spin-off of the Total War saga is a fantasy story that gives an interesting perspective on the Roman Empire. We play Spartan warriors who must protect ancient Greece from an invasion by Caesar's legions. Through the various levels, you can not only fight off the invaders, but ultimately take the fight to Rome itself. This action title draws heavily on the rich Greek and Roman mythology.