You are in charge of one of the Empire's monster-breeding houses. Your role is to create hybrids intended to bring wealth and fame to their owner through combat in the arena. You have access to a wide array of magical artifacts and potions to transform newborn creatures into formidable fighting beasts. Adult monsters gain experience in the arena, developing inherited abilities or learning new ones.

All mammal, reptile, and insect species found within the Empire possess at least one valuable trait. You can launch expeditions in search of new species, though these come with significant risk and financial cost. Crossbred offspring inherit their parents’ physical characteristics and special abilities at random. Their valuable traits can be enhanced with special feed, potions, blood infusions, rune stones, magic scrolls and organ implantation. However, excessive intervention can lead to abomination illness, reducing the creature’s lifespan and rendering it temporarily unfit for combat.

Combat in the arena is not always to the death. Non-lethal fights, of course, also pay less. You can hire warriors, archers, and mages to fight alongside your monsters. Each arena is unique and provides certain advantages and disadvantages that must be taken into account. Specialization and the right equipment offer a significant edge in combat.

You can hire a blacksmith or an alchemist, so you're not limited to the offerings of local merchants and annual fairs. You can expand your base by constructing new buildings or upgrading existing ones. If you run into financial trouble, you can take out a loan—but the high interest rates could drive you into bankruptcy. You can also undertake quests in hopes of special rewards, though your choices might lead you down a darker path.