Played it 2x now that says plenty.

game runs like ♥♥♥♥. crashes nonstop

I loved the original game and reforged cleaned up the UI and graphics. it is a good game. my favorite in this genre for sure.

When I get it, I love it. It is a hard game for me but fun.

Blackthorn Arena: Reforged is a game where you manage a gladiator arena, and honestly, my first impression was pretty bad. The combat felt clunky, chaotic, and unbalanced, leaving a very strong “bad taste.” But... it’s strangely addictive once you get into it.

There’s an overwhelming amount of content. You start recruiting unique gladiators, customizing gear with multiple options, and gradually building the perfect setup to fit your strategy. Initially, I thought, “Is this all the skill tree has to offer?” But as I kept playing, the number of skills kept increasing. And if you grab the DLC, magic gets introduced, and things just spiral into delightful chaos.

The real charm of this game lies in its over-the-top absurdity. It starts out simple: just ordinary gladiators fighting each other. But as you progress, things get hilariously wild:

Ronin warriors from the East show up, wielding Iaido techniques and throwing shurikens like ninjas.
Barbarians from the North storm in, transforming into bears and wreaking havoc.
Even wizards join the fray, declaring, “We want to be gladiators too!” and start spewing fire and ice everywhere.
Then martial artists from the East make an entrance, flipping around with Qinggong techniques and turning the arena into a circus.
Despite its rough start, if you stick with it, this game becomes oddly enjoyable. Its unpredictable twists and ridiculous developments are what make it truly unique.