Spartacus: A Game of Blood & Treachery

Spartacus is one of the best negotiation games ever made. It is set in the world of the TV series — Roman houses competing for influence, gladiators fighting in the arena, schemes being hatched and betrayed across the city — and it captures that atmosphere with unusual fidelity.

It is also one of the most ruthless games I run. If you are the kind of person who enjoys making a deal and then not honouring it, you will feel completely at home.

How it works

Each player controls a Roman house with an Influence rating, a treasury of gold, and a stable of gladiators and slaves. The game has three phases each round:

Intrigue — Players scheme against each other, playing cards that attack rivals, protect themselves, or set up future advantages. Most cards require allies to activate, which means making deals. Whether those deals survive the round is another matter.

Market — Houses bid at auction for gladiators, slaves, equipment, and other assets. Gold is finite. Priorities conflict. Alliances form around shared enemies.

Arena — Two gladiators fight, bets are placed, and the outcome is resolved with dice modified by equipment and crowd favour. The winning house gains Influence. Someone’s gladiator dies.

The player whose Influence reaches the threshold first wins — but the leader becomes a target for everyone else, which means the game actively resists runaway leaders.

Why the negotiation is so good

You cannot win Spartacus alone. You need allies to play intrigue cards. You need deals to avoid being destroyed while weak. You need other players to focus their attacks elsewhere.

But every player is ultimately competing for the same thing, which means every alliance is temporary. The game creates genuine political drama — the kind where you remember specific betrayals long after the session ends.

Important note

Spartacus is based on a mature TV series and the game reflects that tone. The content is appropriate for adults. I do not run this one for groups with anyone under 17.

Best for

Groups of adults who want something with more edge and strategic depth. Works best with 4 players. Requires genuine engagement — this is not a passive game.