What is Invictvs?
Imagine a deckbuilder where the stakes are life and death in a brutal Roman arena. You're a slave fighting for freedom, stacking lethal combat styles and gear to survive a meat-grinder of a roguelite. It's gritty, punishing, and honestly a total trip.
Gameplay
You're a gladiator slave in a world where losing means death. The core loop isn't your typical 'play a card' affair; you're mixing four different fighting styles with skill trees and gear to build a combat engine. It's got that Monster Train energy where you're stacking synergies to become an absolute beast in the arena. Once you find the right techniques, you'll carve through enemies, but getting there is a grind.
Meta-progression is solid here. You aren't starting from zero every run, so you actually feel your gladiator growing stronger over time. This keeps the variety high because you'll want to swap fighting styles just to see how the synergies shift. It's a gritty, visceral experience that rewards clever builds over blind luck.
Since this is a solo dev project by buno15, it's got some rough edges. The UI is clunky and the early-game balance is skewed. You'll hit walls where you can't tell if you're playing wrong or if the game is just being mean. At $4.99, it's a steal for the depth provided, but don't expect a polished AAA experience. It's a punishing loop that doesn't hold your hand, making it feel way more intimate and oppressive than something like Slay the Spire.
Key Features
- Four distinct fighting styles
- Interconnected skill trees and gear
- Permadeath gladiator slave stakes
- Synergy-based combat techniques
Video Review
Screenshots
Verdict
7.5/10. Grab this if you want a gritty, punishing deckbuilder that rewards experimentation. Skip it if you can't stomach clunky UIs or a steep learning curve that doesn't sugarcoat your failures.
View on Steam →* Price at time of publication (checked 07.09.2026). Prices may vary by region and are subject to change. This is an editorial review, not a commercial offer.