History Main / GladiatorSubquest

** The arenas proved to be so popular that the fourth installment on the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, ''VideoGame/RatchetDeadlocked'', was based entirely around arena challenges.

* ''VideoGame/GothicIII'' has several arenas in different towns. ''Gothic I'' also has a small one.

** ''Franchise/MassEffect'': the first game's optional DLC "Pinnacle Station" creates a quasi-arena like station for you to go against hordes of holographic Geth pretty much solely for bragging rights. The DLC itself was poorly received and is the only DLC not included in the ''Legendary Edition'' remaster. Then, the "Citadel" DLC for the third game brings back an expanded version where you can fight enemies from throughout the series.

* Multiple games in the ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore'' series, starting with ''Project Phantasma'' feature the Arena, a ladder where the players take on dozens of other AC pilots. The specific format varies, but most iterations of the arena are one-on-one battles where the players get to select the zone of combat, and success is met with a cash reward and the occasional bonus part as the player ascends through the ranks. Notably the arena is a good way for beginning players to acquire cash as matches have no fee and unlike the main game, players do not have to spend money for repair and ammo expended.

** ''Franchise/MassEffect'': the first game's optional DLC "Pinnacle Station" for the first game creates a quasi-arena like station for you to go against hordes of holographic Geth pretty much solely for bragging rights. The DLC itself was poorly received and is the only DLC not included in the ''Legendary Edition'' remaster. Then, the "Citadel" DLC for the third game brings back an expanded version where you can fight enemies from throughout the series.

* Creator/BioWare ''loves'' this trope, to the point where ''Franchise/MassEffect'', which otherwise seems to be trying to [[{{Troperiffic}} collect tropes]] [[GottaCatchEmAll like Pokemon]], is so far one of the few exceptions.
** Not so much anymore as the optional DLC "Pinnacle Station" for the first game creates a quasi-arena like station for you to go against hordes of holographic Geth pretty much solely for bragging rights. Then, the "Citadel" DLC for the third game brings back an expanded version where you can fight enemies from throughout the series.

If done as a sidequest, expect rules to make this more difficult than standard combat. For example, you might be limited in your choice of gear, or the fight might include only [[DuelBoss One party member at a time]], or some types of attacks (say magic for example) may be forbidden. It might also be the home of the OptionalBoss and where the InfinityPlusOneSword is found. Such restrictions are rarer if this is part of the main story line.

If done as a sidequest, expect rules to make this more difficult than standard combat. For example, you might be limited in your choice of gear, or the fight might include only [[DuelBoss One party member at a time]], or some types of attacks (say magic for example) may be forbidden. It might also be the home of the BonusBoss and where the InfinityPlusOneSword is found. Such restrictions are rarer if this is part of the main story line.

* ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'': Ever since the [[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingCommando second installment]], nearly every game has had one of these where Ratchet can compete in various challenges pitting him in multiple rounds against enemies and bosses, sometimes restricting which weapon he can use, or draining his health, or randomizing which weapon he has, among other things. Generally only the first challenge is required to progress through the story[[note]]With the exceptions of ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingCommando Going Commando]]'''s second arena where there are two crucial items needed to be obtained, and ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankUpYourArsenal Up Your Arsenal]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureToolsOfDestruction Tools of Destruction]]'' where you go back to the arenas later[[/note]], but you can compete in many more for bolts and the occasional weapon and gadget. Some notable points on these include:

** The arenas proved to be so popular that the fourth installment on the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, ''VideoGame/RatchetDeadlocked'', was based entirely around arena challenges.
** ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankRiftApart Rift Apart]]'': Like in ''Size Matters'', the arena battles are exclusive only to Rivet with unique challenges; battling waves of enemies, switching weapons at random, and re-battling bosses.

-->--''VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingMobile''

* Multiple games in the ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore'' series, starting with ''Project Phantasma'' feature the Arena, a ladder where the player take on dozens of other AC pilots. The specific format varies, but most iterations of the arena are one-on-one battles where the players gets to select the zone of combat, and success is met with a cash reward and the ocassional bonus part as the player ascends through the ranks. Notably the arena is a good way for beginning players to acquire cash as matchs have no fee and unlike the main game, players do not have to spend money for repair and ammo expended.

* ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' has Coliseums where you can have one of your units battle. If you win, you get double your entrance fee, if you lose, the unit you sent dies. You have the option of forfeiting the match, but you will get no refund. Slightly different in ''Genealogy of the Holy War'', where units that lose a fight are left alive but with one HP ; the sum of money earned after each fight is preset ; and instead of unlimited, random enemies, each unit can only face seven fixed adversaries.

** In ''VideoGame/{{Morrowind}}'', you'll need to fight a number of battles in the Vivec Arena in order to advance through several factions. In particular, you'll need to do this to achieve guild leader status in the Imperial Legion, House Redoran, and the Mages' Guild.[[note]]There is a peaceful way to become head of the Mages Guild, but it lets the idiotic current head keep his prestigious title. It also prevents you from killing said idiot to loot his powerful and useful amulet -- you can still get it, but only ''after'' the main quest.[[/note]] You'll need to battle Dram Bero's champion in order to gain his support in House Hlaalu as well.
** The Arena in ''VideoGame/{{Oblivion}}'' is also an optional version. Your armor is limited to the one provided. You can however use your choice of helmet, shield and weapons. The Arena was founded by the legendary Redguard hero Gaiden Shinji, who also served as its first Blademaster (which [[MasterSwordsman wasn't just a cosmetic title for him]]).

[[folder: Adventure Game ]]
* The Coliseum from ''VideoGame/QuestForGloryV'' is the sidequest variant, though no special rules apply.
* ''Hillsfar'', an old classic from the Silver Box series, allowed players to fight in the arena. You could always go fight if you felt like it, and you would be sentenced to the Arena if you got caught burglarizing a house. Also, several of the different quest-lines required you to fight in the arena.

[[folder: First Person Shooter ]]

** There are two arena-like segments as sidequests in [[VideoGame/{{Borderlands 1}} the original game]], the Circle of Death and the Circle of Slaughter. A third one (the Circle of Duty) appears in the DLC ''The Secret Armory of General Knoxx''. ''Madd Moxxi's Underdome Riot'' is another DLC focused entirely around this trope.
** ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands 2}}'' has three different gladiator fight arenas, all of them directed by Moxxi. The ''Mister Torgue's Campaign of Carnage'' DLC features a few that need to be fought in order to advance the story, but the second and third tier rounds are optional on all of them.

** ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands 3}}'': There are three in the base game, all run by Mr. Torgue: The Cistern of Slaughter on Promethea (with creature-type enemies), the Slaughter Shaft on Pandora (with Children of the Vault enemies), and Slaughterstar 3000 (with Maliwan enemies).

[[folder: MMORPG ]]

[[folder: Platformer ]]
* Ever since the [[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingCommando second installment]], nearly every ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'' game has had one of these where Ratchet can compete in various challenges pitting him in multiple rounds against enemies and bosses, sometimes restricting which weapon he can use, or draining his health, or randomizing which weapon he has, among other things. Generally only the first challenge is required to progress through the story[[note]]With the exceptions of ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankGoingCommando Going Commando]]'''s second arena where there are two crucial items needed to be obtained, and ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankUpYourArsenal Up Your Arsenal]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankFutureToolsOfDestruction Tools of Destruction]]'' where you go back to the arenas later[[/note]], but you can compete in many more for bolts and the occasional weapon and gadget. Some notable points on these include:

** ''[[VideoGame/RatchetAndClankSizeMatters Size Matters]]'' is unique in that the arena challenges are exclusive to Clank and involve different objectives than what Ratchet usually gets: A destruction derby, scoring Gadgebots in a goal, and guiding Gadgebots to a goal in a ''{{VideoGame/Lemmings}}'' style minigame.

[[folder: Role Playing Game ]]
* The Coliseum in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' is an example of the optional version. A single party member is sent to do battle with [[DuelBoss a single enemy]] with their combat options chosen by AIRoulette. Characters that have been trained in lots of situational or {{Useless Useful Spell}}s tend to do very poorly; characters that are highly customizable (Gogo) or with [[DumbMuscle very limited but powerful options]] (Umaro) tend to fare better.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' has the Gold Saucer Battle Arena, where you have to fight one time and afterward [[SidetrackedByTheGoldSaucer becames optional]]. A single party member (usually [[OneManParty Cloud]], since you CantDropTheHero meaning the rest of the party CantCatchUp) goes through a number of rounds with no opportunity for rest in between, and randomized nerfing effects between rounds.

** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'', you'll need to fight a number of battles in the Vivec Arena in order to advance through several factions. In particular, you'll need to do this to achieve guild leader status in the Imperial Legion, House Redoran, and the Mages' Guild.[[note]]There is a peaceful way to become head of the Mages Guild, but it lets the idiotic current head keep his prestigious title. It also prevents you from killing said idiot to loot his powerful and useful amulet -- you can still get it, but only ''after'' the main quest.[[/note]] You'll need to battle Dram Bero's champion in order to gain his support in House Hlaalu as well.
** The Arena in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'' is also an optional version. Your armor is limited to the one provided. You can however use your choice of helmet, shield and weapons. The Arena was founded by the legendary Redguard hero Gaiden Shinji, who also served as its first Blademaster (which [[MasterSwordsman wasn't just a cosmetic title for him]]).

* The Munari City arena of ''VideoGame/{{Summoner 2}}'' is set up like this. It is part of the main story, but it is possible to return to gain money as a sidequest.

** The Dueling Rings on Taris in ''Star Wars: VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic''. It is a side quest and the fights have to be fought one on one.
*** In ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'', both the Echani on Telos and Mandalorians on Dxun put you through a series of fights [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy to test your worthiness]]. In both cases there are limitations; some fights might be one-on-many, others might limit you to fists or a specific melee weapon, or ban using the Force or items such as grenades. The Echani Handmaiden will also engage you in a series of duels on the ''Ebon Hawk'', although these double as combat training and, if you believe certain characters, ''courtship''.

* [[{{WesternAnimation/Hercules}} The Olympus Coliseum]] from ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI'', and the Underworld from [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII the sequel]].

* One chapter of ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor'' is built around this. Unlike the usual story enforced examples, there are rules to make the fighting more difficult. Following these conditions is needed to go up in rank.

* ''VideoGame/{{Gothic}} III'' has several arenas in different towns. ''Gothic I'' also has a small one.

* ''VideoGame/ResonanceOfFate'' has the Arena located immediately adjacent to the starting town; you can go there in Chapter 1 for training in the game's battle system ([[JustifiedTutorial almost all hunters do it]]), and in subsequent chapters for money and Arena Coins that let you buy some nice gear and ammo. You unlock the higher-tier fights in the coliseum by reaching the appropriate chapter in the storyline, and then beating the lower-tier arena fights three times each. There's 50 ranks...
* ''VideoGame/DungeonSiege II'' and its expansion both feature the Aman'lu Arena, a 10-round contest against an increasingly difficult range of enemies, some of which are also minor bosses the first time you encounter them outside the arena. Not only is it required for OneHundredPercentCompletion, it is also required to get some of the artifacts needed to unlock the EasterEgg filled "[[GuideDangIt Mysterious]] [[OnlySmartPeopleMayPass Mystery]]" [[BrutalBonusLevel area]].

* The ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'' has this as a typical sidequest in most of its games. The earlier games only let you use the main character in the arena, but later games let you use every party member, or even an entire party. This is where cameo characters often like to hang out.

[[folder: Simulation Games ]]

* Fighting in the Solaris 7 gladiator games in ''VideoGame/MechWarrior 2: Mercenaries'' and ''4: Mercenaries'' are extremely popular side-quests. Some players consider ''4:Merc'''s Solaris tournament season the highlight of the game, not only because of its profitability but also because of the AnnouncerChatter from the spectacularly [[LargeHam hammy]] Duncan Fisher.

[[folder: Turn Based Strategy ]]
* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' has Coliseums where you can have one of your units battle. If you win, you get double your entrance fee, if you lose, the unit you sent dies. You have the option of forfeiting the match, but you will get no refund. Slightly different in ''Genealogy of the Holy War'', where units that lose a fight are left alive but with one HP ; the sum of money earned after each fight is preset ; and instead of unlimited, random enemies, each unit can only face seven fixed adversaries.

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]
* Like its videogame adaptations above, ''TabletopGame/{{Battletech}}'' has several official maps and sourcebooks for simulating the famous GladiatorGames of Solaris 7, which are basically ''Series/RobotWars'' writ large and a popular in-universe entertainment franchise. There are also rules for competing in the [[https://www.sarna.net/wiki/Noisiel_Summer_Games Noisiel Summer Games]] if the GM is in the mood for a BaseballEpisode [[RecycledInSpace IN BATTLEMECHS!]]

* The Tolbi Coliseum in ''VideoGame/GoldenSun''. You can only go through it once, and even then only Isaac gets to participate, with the other party members cheering for you (read:cheat by using Psynergy to make the obstacle courses easier, letting you get much better equipment). Strangely, winning is actually not required to progress, only costing an (admittedly useful) item if you lose. In a linked-game sequel, the three defeated gladiators will ambush you, accusing you of cheating until you beat them ([[JerkassHasAPoint likely using Psynergy]]).

->'''Clank:''' Hmmm... I seem to have accidentally unlocked a virtual battle-arena.\\