Choose Bloodgrounds
Choose Bloodgrounds if you want the Custom Volume Controls and Playable without Timed Input side of the pairing. Bloodgrounds launched in 2026.
Bloodgrounds vs Arena Monarchy
Bloodgrounds and Arena Monarchy both land in Strategy, Indie, RPG on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Strategy, Indie, RPG on Steam. Arena Monarchy (2025) is 1 year older than Bloodgrounds (2026). Arena Monarchy is currently ~75% cheaper on Steam than Bloodgrounds (4.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Arena Monarchy
Choose Arena Monarchy if you want an Early Access experience. On Steam, it's currently about 75% cheaper on the Steam Store. Arena Monarchy launched in 2025.
Both Bloodgrounds and Arena Monarchy sit in Strategy, Indie, and RPG on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Bloodgrounds |  Arena Monarchy | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026 | 2025 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, RPG | Strategy, Indie, RPG, Early Access |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 19.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 80.6% positive (227 reviews) | 6 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Exordium Games | Kevin Zhang |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie, RPG on Steam.
- Arena Monarchy (2025) is 1 year older than Bloodgrounds (2026).
- Arena Monarchy is currently ~75% cheaper on Steam than Bloodgrounds (4.99 USD vs. 19.99 USD).
- Bloodgrounds is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Arena Monarchy has no Deck rating yet.
Bloodgrounds vs Arena Monarchy — FAQ
- Should I play Bloodgrounds or Arena Monarchy first?
- If you want chronology, Arena Monarchy (2025) came out before Bloodgrounds (2026). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Bloodgrounds and Arena Monarchy similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie, RPG on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Does Bloodgrounds run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Bloodgrounds is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Arena Monarchy doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.