Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Deep strategy
How it plays
How does it play?
Chains to Champions is a gladiator themed board game that consists of three phases.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Grid Movement
Move pieces between adjacent spaces on a regular grid.
Open Drafting
Select cards or items from a shared face-up display.
Dice Rolling
Roll dice to introduce uncertainty into actions, production, movement, or resolution.
Hand Management
Time and sequence a limited hand of cards to preserve future options.
Read the full game description
Chains to Champions is a gladiator themed board game that consists of three phases. In phase one you purchase a gladiator at an auction, in phase two you equip your gladiator with weapons, helmets, armor, and training, and then in phase three all players fight to the death in the Arena. The last man standing wins! From the back of the box: "Hurry, hurry! The auction is about to begin! There are many gladiators from which to choose. If you choose wisely, you could end up with riches beyond your wildest dreams. If you choose poorly, your gladiator may end up splattered on the sand of the arena. However, the strength behind the swing of his sword isn’t the only thing it takes to make your gladiator a champion. You’ll have access to the finest training and weapons that Rome has to offer before your gladiator is tossed into the arena for a merciless fight to arena in chains, but only one will emerge a champion. Chains to Champions combines mathematical probability with human ingenuity to create a strategy game that is unique each time you play."