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Colosseum: The Grand Spectacle box art

Colosseum: The Grand Spectacle

Game ID: GID0458387
Game Info
Year
2025
Players
1-5
Age
10+
Playtime
75 min
Collection
Ratings
Creator Score
Mechanic profile
Not enough video data yet
Vibe profile
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Description

A re-implementation of Wolfgang Kramer and Markus Lubke's Colosseum in which Roman impresarios bid for performers, expand their arenas and stage ever grander spectacles to draw the largest crowds; adds a solo mode and refreshed components

Description

A re-implementation of Wolfgang Kramer and Markus Lubke's Colosseum in which Roman impresarios bid for performers, expand their arenas and stage ever grander spectacles to draw the largest crowds; adds a solo mode and refreshed components

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All mentions
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 3
This page: 3
Sentiment: pos 2 · mix 0 · neu 0 · neg 0
Mentions per page
Showing 1–3 of 3
Video OELIXEr2CZ8 Rahdo Runs Through Review at 0:02 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85283 · mention_pk 218283
Rahdo Runs Through - Colosseum: The Grand Spectacle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:02 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Interesting bidding and trading mechanics that meld well.
  • Works well at higher player counts (4-5), but still solid at 3.
  • Randomness of performers and auction tiles keeps gameplay fresh and unpredictable.
  • Economy starts tight but ramps up significantly in later rounds.
  • Players can catch up, making for exciting finishes.
  • Upgraded artwork and components.
Cons
  • Can be math-intensive if players optimize heavily.
  • Prototype dice had a manufacturing error making them muddy.
  • Considered a table hog.
Thematic elements
  • Impresarios putting on grand spectacles
  • Ancient Rome
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • auction/bidding — This is going to be a uh an auction game and a bit of a trading game as well.
  • Dice Rolling — Dice are rolled to determine movement of nobles.
  • Set Collection — Players collect performers to fulfill requirements for spectacles.
  • Trading — This is going to be a uh an auction game and a bit of a trading game as well.
  • Worker Placement — Players place nobles on gate spaces to gain points.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • I want to jump right in. So, like I said, we started off with a bit of a a starting setup of our entertainers.
  • If you like the original and just wanted the upgraded uh components and all that, well, they have in the box the ability to play with the original rule set as well.
  • The dynamics the interplay between more people. I think it's just going to be a little bit more interesting because as it is well it's always very easy to say like okay you have you want this I have this we can work it out and maybe the other player will say no don't but maybe doesn't have anything to offer but if you have all five well it's like well I need this I could probably get it from you I could get it from you I could get it from uh you know, or I could I could not and then you might have a bidding war and that becomes just a little bit more interesting
  • So, while I think that this game is better at a higher player count, I still really like it at three.
  • And then you get to the spectacle and someonehow has 50 points and you're at like 35 and you're like, how do you even do that?
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Jwj3xPNUzhM Gaming Rules! Other at 0:58 sentiment: positive
video_pk 85160 · mention_pk 217688
Gaming Rules! - Colosseum: The Grand Spectacle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 0:58 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
  • Fantastic game
  • Gorgeous artwork and components
  • Streamlined and smooth gameplay
  • Engaging and well-implemented negotiation/trading mechanic
  • New players found it to be a breath of fresh air and enjoyed it
Cons
  • The previous Tasty Minstal Games version's art style didn't appeal to the host.
Thematic elements
  • Running a coliseum and putting on shows to gain followers and entice the emperor and senators.
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Set Collection — Players collect resources to put on shows to attract spectators and the emperor.
  • Trading — Players can trade resources like horses and shrubbery, potentially with added coins, in an open information environment.
  • Worker Placement — Players place workers (implied by the theme of managing the coliseum).
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • I'm actually going to be doing a little bit of rulebook work for Wizards of the Coast, which is quite exciting, but it meant I had to go back and play Magic the Gathering, which still has exactly the same problems as it did back then.
  • It's my number one favorite game and I don't get a chance to play it. So, I'm doing a solo playthrough of Mage Knight on Thursday the 3rd of July, which is my actual birthday.
  • And then on Friday, we are having a Games Workshop themed day. We are playing a fourplayer game of Forbidden Stars in the afternoon. And then to end the week, we are doing the thing which I said would never happen. I'm going to be playing Talisman.
  • Nanolith. It's a cyberpunk themed cooperative narrative driven adventure game, I think, from what I know about it.
  • The funny story about this is Dirt and Dust is being published by Albi. Albby are a Czech publisher, and they they've done a number of other games in the past. Last year, they did Tea Garden for one of them. And guess who works in the marketing department at Albi? It's Peta himself.
  • Now, it's a Euro game. So, don't let the fact that it's Dungeons and Dragons put you off. It is a Euro style game. It is very much a Euro style game, but it has the D and D Baldersgate theme.
  • I'm super excited about next week. You can't imagine just my my joy at at taking a week off work and getting to play games which I really want to play.
  • The patron support is fantastic. But if you want to support me, you are you are more than welcome.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video IzKL3aEFXFs Board Games UnLocked Top List at 1:21:35 sentiment: other
video_pk 83689 · mention_pk 211439
Board Games UnLocked - Colosseum: The Grand Spectacle video thumbnail
Click to watch at 1:21:35 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
Very Excited
Pros
  • Outstanding art, an improvement on previous versions.
  • Streamlined gameplay, reduced from five rounds to four.
  • Includes optional rules for playing the original version.
  • Awesome looking components.
  • Introduction of characters and temple building adds new elements.
  • Played well in its original form, and the streamlining should improve it.
Cons
  • The art style, while improved, still has elements reminiscent of the original artist's distinctive (and sometimes polarizing) style.
Thematic elements
  • Putting on shows and spectacles in the Colosseum
  • Ancient Rome
Comparison games
  • Colosseum (original)
  • Merchants of Venus
  • Empresario: a Coliseum card game
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
  • Area Majority — Players compete to have the highest scoring show to win.
  • Card Play — Card play is used to influence shows and gain advantages.
  • Character Play — Includes characters with unique abilities.
  • Set Collection — Players collect resources and performers to create shows.
  • Temple Building — Players can build their own little temples within the coliseum.
  • Variable Round Count — Reduced from five rounds to four rounds for a tighter game.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
  • So, like every year, we go over the games that we are most excited for in next year, whether or not we know if they're going to be good.
  • 2026 is shaping up to be an awesome year.
  • From my understanding, one engaging narrative with impactful choices leading to multiple paths throughout various missions and p personal journeys.
  • So, it's like that could be either really really cool or incredibly cringey.
  • Throughout the journey, the decision you make will permanently shape your character's personality and the relationship with other individuals, opening and closing possible paths along the way.
  • That alone differentiates this from a bunch of like other games of this type because no other game really has like a a relationship meter or a whatever.
  • So I think this could be really cool.
  • It's a fairly simplistic game.
  • Um, and you're going through and you know, you build your convoy and you're just doing it's it's it's one of those it's kind of hard to explain like you're like I said, you're trying to race.
  • But you know, this is a fun one and it's it's I'm excited to see how streamlined they make it, you know, uh, and see how much faster it makes the games go.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
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