Gladiabots

About

Gladiabots is a single player and multiplayer tactical strategy game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by GFX47 and was released on May 22, 2019. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Gladiabots" is a Science Fiction Strategy game where you construct the AI of your robot squad and compete in battle arenas, either in a single-player campaign or multiplayer mode . The game features simple and powerful AI programming with no coding skills required, and various game modes such as elimination, domination, and collection. Additional features include tournaments, sandbox mode, and the ability to unlock new robot skins by ranking up and earning points.

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 539 reviews

gameplay11 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

The game has a fun premise and offers a unique AI programming experience that allows for deep strategic gameplay.
The visual style is simple yet effective, and the user interface is polished and intuitive, making it easy to navigate.
The asynchronous multiplayer mode allows players to compete against others' AIs without needing them to be online, providing endless replayability.

The game can become tedious and repetitive, with limited replayability once optimal strategies are discovered.
The in-game currency and cosmetic options can feel overbearing, especially given the game's small size and scope.
The learning curve can be steep, and the debugging process may frustrate players who are not familiar with programming concepts.

gameplay
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
76%
5%
The gameplay in Gladiabots is characterized by its simplicity and depth, allowing players to engage in programming mechanics that require strategic thinking and problem-solving. While some find the repetitive nature of improvements tedious, others appreciate the game's focus on AI behavior and the absence of random elements, which leads to predictable outcomes based on player creativity. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of addictive, thought-based gameplay that appeals to fans of programming and tactical challenges, though it may not resonate with those seeking more dynamic or action-oriented experiences.
- “The single-player campaign serves as both tutorial and testing ground, introducing new mechanics gradually and then layering them into increasingly difficult missions.”
- “The gameplay is rock solid (albeit totally mechanical) and the effects, sound, music, and UI give this game a really pleasant presentation.”
- “The main gameplay loop is essentially sending your robots to fight, watching the battle and judging their behavior, then iteratively improving or extending your AI graphs afterwards.”
- “These tedious improvements feel dull and uninspired, and they make up most of the gameplay after about an hour or so.”
- “The programming makes up the vast majority of the gameplay, and sometimes it feels like the smallest change, which should have just been an optimization, now makes all of your robots stand completely still or just jitter around and not attack anything.”
- “Not only does this completely break up the gameplay experience to have to stop watching a match to do this, but finding out exactly where the problem is can be troublesome as you often have to completely pause the game and go step by step just to figure out which decision branch is failing.”
graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
70%
10%
The graphics in Gladiabots are generally described as simplistic and unremarkable, prioritizing functionality over visual flair. While some players appreciate the clean designs and customization options for bots, others find the interface clunky and distracting, suggesting that the minimalist aesthetic serves the gameplay better than elaborate visuals. Overall, the graphics are not the main draw of the game, which focuses more on programming logic and AI strategy.
- “The graphics and automated camera are pleasing to watch your AI play out, but there is a fast forward option to skip through any predictable portions.”
- “Clean graphics and getting to use programming logic in a visual way, wonderful.”
- “Although the graphics are good, the interface is very clunky.”
- “The graphics are nothing special, but the simple designs of the machines fit the game, and the varied paint scheme options are surprisingly varied, adding a lot of visual customizability to your team.”
- “Graphics aren't the memorable bit in Gladiabots.”
optimization
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its stability across platforms, allowing it to run smoothly even on lower-end systems. However, some users note that minor changes in programming can lead to unexpected performance issues, affecting gameplay. Additionally, there are options to purchase optimization packs, which can enhance the experience but may also encourage a grind for cosmetics.
- “Performance is stable across platforms, and the game runs smoothly even on modest systems.”
- “The multiplayer ranked and un-ranked matches are what interest me the most and have me spending hours analyzing my AI and making changes here and there to improve my performance.”
- “Each increasingly difficult fight against opponents tests whether the logic you gave your team of autonomous robots is good enough to win the current fight or whether it needs to be optimized.”
- “The programming makes up the vast majority of the gameplay, and sometimes it feels like the smallest change, which should have just been an optimization, now makes all of your robots stand completely still or just jitter around and not attack anything.”
- “You can spend a long time grinding for the cosmetics - or just buy the 'optimized edition' or the 'optimization pack' to get a stack of extra currency.”
- “Expect programming puzzles and optimization first, tactics and strategy second.”
story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
64%
18%
The story aspect of Gladiabots is minimal, primarily serving as a framework for its gameplay mechanics rather than a traditional narrative. The single-player campaign functions as a tutorial and testing ground, gradually introducing players to AI programming through increasingly challenging missions, but lacks a cohesive storyline or character development. Players appreciate the challenge of designing AI for mech battles, though some express frustration over the need for an account to progress and the absence of a more engaging narrative structure.
- “The single-player campaign serves as both tutorial and testing ground, introducing new mechanics gradually and then layering them into increasingly difficult missions.”
- “Here's the plot twist: you're making the AI.”
- “After doing the tutorials, I got to chapter 2 mission 6 in single-player and won 3 online matches before I lost the first one by just tweaking the default AI a bit for an all-assault team.”
- “There isn't the same progression of equipment or story; Gladiabots throws you into deep water.”
- “Apparently without an account, you can't finish any single-player mission.”
- “Gladiabots does not provide any mission; it is basically an arena fight between mechs, but the challenge of programming the AI of the mechs is giving me hours of pure fun.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The music in the game is generally well-received for its pleasant presentation and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, though some players find it repetitive and suggest turning it off in favor of alternative soundtracks. While the soundtrack contributes to an elegant implementation, it can become monotonous over time. Overall, the music adds to the game's charm but may not hold up for extended play sessions.
- “The gameplay is rock solid (albeit totally mechanical) and the effects, sound, music, and UI give this game a really pleasant presentation.”
- “The idea is so simple, the implementation is extremely elegant (down to details like the automated camera, the music, the asynchronous multiplayer), the possibilities are immense.”
- “+ excellent mood music”
- “The soundtrack gets old real quick.”
- “The music is a repetitive battle tune, which thankfully we can just turn off.”
- “If you turn the soundtrack off and play some synthwave in the background, I'd give this little gem an 8/10 for what it is.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and uninspired, often leading to a frustrating experience, especially in the single-player campaign where trial-and-error can feel slow and unfulfilling. Many reviews highlight the repetitive nature of resource management and the grind for cosmetics, with some suggesting that purchasing optimization packs is a more appealing alternative. Overall, while some appreciate the challenge, others feel that the programming and debugging elements can be overly complex and tedious for those without a technical background.
- “These tedious improvements feel dull and uninspired, and they are most of the gameplay after about an hour or so.”
- “The slower pacing of trial-and-error design can feel tedious for those accustomed to more immediate payoffs.”
- “When playing the single-player campaign, the design phase is incredibly tedious.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players appreciating the absence of aggressive microtransactions while others express disappointment over in-game purchases. Although there are options for customization through purchases, many reviewers feel these do not significantly impact gameplay, and the overall sentiment is that the game is not a cash grab or pay-to-win scenario.
- “There are no microtransactions!”
- “On the DLC and the points, I haven't seen how they affect the game because I avoid microtransactions and prefer to support developers with the upfront purchases, but the game itself is an interesting one with scope for lots of creativity in approaches you can try.”
- “The game itself is decent-ish, but why it needs microtransactions is entirely beyond me.”
- “But seeing as there are in-game purchases, I was disappointed and rushed my first review/statement.”
- “Microtransactions seem a bit over-aggressive, but we're talking about changing the color of some robots; certainly nothing that I feel heavily impacts the experience very much.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its entertaining battles and unique concepts, with players enjoying the amusing moments that arise from AI behavior and unexpected situations, such as forgetting commands after extensive planning. Overall, the game delivers a blend of fun and humor that enhances the gameplay experience.
- “Quite a funny concept that I haven't seen before.”
- “Really fun and sometimes funny to watch the AI you created fight other people's and see how they react to different situations.”
- “It has funny little moments too, especially when you've just spent the whole past hour planning the perfect killing machines and then they stand still looking at the resources because you've forgotten the pick-up command.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it lacking and boring quickly, others appreciate the reliable asynchronous multiplayer that offers endless opportunities for refinement and testing, alongside a visually appealing experience that enhances replay value.
- “The asynchronous multiplayer seems reliable, with minimal waiting time for a match, and provides endless replayability so I can refine and test my bot AI.”
- “The game gets boring fast with little replayability.”
- “A very aesthetically pleasing game with a lot of replay value.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report significant stability issues, including a confusing programming setup, buggy tutorials, and frustrating UI glitches in the customization screen. Additionally, instances of freezes and crashes further detract from the overall experience.
- “The programming setup is pretty confusing, and with the tutorial being both buggy and not effectively teaching what needs to be understood, it makes trying to figure out how to make the gladiabot function all the more challenging.”
- “A number of UI glitches in the customization screen became too frustrating to overlook.”
- “Frequent freezes and crashes.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The atmosphere is generally immersive due to well-designed AI, but some players find it hindered by artificial limitations and repetitive level design, which can lead to boredom. The tron-esque aesthetic, while appealing to some, may lack variety and depth for others.
- “The algorithm design of the AI is impressive and creates a very immersive atmosphere.”
- “The levels have a unique tron-esque virtual atmosphere that captivates the player.”
- “Every level looks nearly identical to the last one, creating a monotonous tron-esque virtual atmosphere that I tend to get bored of quickly.”
- “The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, lacking any unique elements to draw me in.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the overall ambiance is flat and fails to evoke any real sense of immersion.”