Gloomhaven
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Players: 1-4 | Play Time: 60 to 180 minutes per scenario | Complexity: Heavy | Ages: 14+
Gloomhaven isn't just a board game. It's a commitment. A 10-kilogram box containing 95 scenarios, 17 character classes (6 starting, 11 unlockable), and hundreds of hours of tactical dungeon-crawling wrapped in an evolving campaign. For five years it sat atop BoardGameGeek's rankings as the highest-rated board game of all time, and it's easy to see why. Nothing else delivers this combination of strategic depth, character progression, and sheer content.
But with a Second Edition now available, a standalone prequel in Jaws of the Lion, and the massive sequel Frosthaven on shelves, knowing where to start can be daunting. This guide covers everything you need to know about the Gloomhaven universe and helps you decide which box is right for you.
What Is Gloomhaven?
Gloomhaven is a cooperative campaign game for one to four players, designed by Isaac Childres and published by Cephalofair Games. You and your group play as a band of mercenaries exploring dungeons, battling monsters, and making decisions that shape an ongoing narrative across dozens of sessions.
What sets Gloomhaven apart from other dungeon crawlers is its card-driven combat system. Instead of rolling dice, each character has a unique deck of ability cards. Every round, you secretly choose two cards to play, using the top half of one and the bottom half of the other. One might be an attack, the other movement. The number in the middle determines your initiative, meaning you're constantly balancing power against speed.
Here's the clever part: most cards go to your discard pile after use, but some are lost permanently. Your hand gradually shrinks as the scenario progresses, creating mounting tension. Run out of cards and you're exhausted, removed from the scenario. Managing your stamina while maximising your impact is the core puzzle.
Between scenarios, you'll return to the city of Gloomhaven to buy equipment, level up your character, and choose which mission to tackle next. Characters have personal goals, and once completed, they retire. This unlocks a new character class from a sealed box, keeping the campaign fresh even after dozens of sessions. It's a legacy-style experience where stickers permanently mark the board and sealed envelopes reveal new content as you progress.
Who Is It For?
Gloomhaven is built for groups who can commit. The campaign spans 95 scenarios and realistically takes 100 to 200 hours to complete. If you have a regular gaming group who meets weekly or fortnightly and wants a long-term project, this is one of the most rewarding experiences in modern board gaming.
The sweet spot is 2 to 3 players. At four players, scenarios can drag and downtime between turns increases. Solo play works surprisingly well, with many players controlling two characters. The game scales difficulty based on player count, so all configurations are viable.
A few honest caveats: setup and teardown are significant. Each scenario requires assembling map tiles, placing monsters, and organising decks. Many players invest in organisers or companion apps to streamline this. The rules are complex, though internally consistent once learned. And the physical footprint is enormous. You'll need a large table and ideally somewhere to leave it set up between sessions.
If you're not sure whether your group can handle the commitment, start with Jaws of the Lion instead. It's designed as an entry point and lets you test the waters before diving into the full experience.
The Gloomhaven Universe: Which Game Should You Buy?
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion — The Best Starting Point
What it includes: 4 character classes, 25 scenarios, integrated tutorial, scenario book (no map tiles needed)
If you've never played Gloomhaven before, start here. Jaws of the Lion strips away much of the complexity while keeping everything that makes the system great. Instead of assembling map tiles, scenarios play directly from a spiral-bound book. The first five scenarios gradually introduce rules, so you're learning as you play rather than reading a dense rulebook.
Despite being "Gloomhaven lite," this is still a substantial game. The 25 scenarios will take 25 to 50 hours to complete, and the four characters are fully compatible with the main game if you want to continue their adventures. It's also significantly cheaper and smaller than the full box.
For casual groups, families with older teens, or anyone unsure about the commitment, Jaws of the Lion is the right choice. If you love it, you'll know whether to invest in the bigger games.
Gloomhaven (Second Edition) — The Definitive Version
What it includes: 18 character classes, 101 scenarios, full campaign with legacy elements, improved components and balance
Released in 2025, the Second Edition takes everything Cephalofair learned from Frosthaven and applies it to the original game. Scenarios have been rebalanced (including the notoriously brutal "Oozing Grove"), character classes have been overhauled, the story has been rewritten for better flow, and quality-of-life improvements are everywhere.
If you're buying Gloomhaven for the first time and know you want the full experience, get the Second Edition. The improvements are substantial enough that even players who completed the original campaign are finding it worth revisiting. There's also a new faction reputation system and 14 completely new scenarios.
The original first edition is still available at lower prices if you're on a budget, but the Second Edition is the better product.
Frosthaven — The Sequel for Veterans
What it includes: 16 new character classes, 100+ scenarios, outpost building mechanics, new setting
Frosthaven is not an expansion. It's a standalone sequel set in a frozen northern outpost, with entirely new characters, monsters, and mechanics. The biggest addition is the outpost phase, where you manage and upgrade your settlement between adventures.
This is the most refined version of the Gloomhaven system. Rules are clearer, scenarios are better designed, and the story is more coherent. However, it's also more complex. The outpost management adds another layer of decision-making that some players love and others find tedious.
Buy Frosthaven if you've finished Gloomhaven or Jaws of the Lion and want more. It's not the right starting point for newcomers, but it's arguably the best game in the series for experienced players.
Forgotten Circles — Post-Campaign Expansion
What it adds: 1 new character class (the Diviner), 20 scenarios, new monsters and items
Forgotten Circles continues the story after the main Gloomhaven campaign. You must complete scenario 51 of the base game before playing, and one player must use the new Diviner class throughout.
This expansion has mixed reception. The Diviner introduces interesting mechanics involving manipulating the monster ability deck, but the scenarios can be frustrating and the difficulty spikes significantly. It's really only for dedicated groups who've finished the main campaign and want more story content.
Our Recommended Path
New to Gloomhaven? Start with Jaws of the Lion
Ready for the full experience? Get Gloomhaven Second Edition
Finished Gloomhaven and want more? Move to Frosthaven
Completed the main campaign and want closure? Consider Forgotten Circles
Gloomhaven vs Frosthaven: Which Should You Choose?
This is one of the most common questions we hear, and the answer depends on your experience level and what you want from the game.
Gloomhaven (Second Edition) is the better starting point. The starting characters are more straightforward to learn, the campaign eases you into the mechanics gradually, and the city of Gloomhaven itself provides a familiar fantasy hub. The Second Edition also incorporates many of the quality-of-life improvements that were first introduced in Frosthaven, so you're not missing out on refined rules.
Frosthaven is designed for players who already understand the system. The starting classes are more complex, with mechanics that reward experienced players who can plan multiple turns ahead. The outpost management phase adds strategic depth between scenarios, but it also adds more administration. Some groups love the extra layer of decision-making; others find it slows down the pacing.
The setting also differs significantly. Gloomhaven takes place in and around a bustling mercenary city with varied environments including forests, caves, and ruins. Frosthaven is set in a harsh frozen outpost where survival itself is part of the challenge, with seasonal effects that impact gameplay.
If you want the most refined combat and don't mind complexity, Frosthaven is arguably the better game. If you want a more accessible entry point with room to grow, start with Gloomhaven Second Edition.
Companion Apps and Accessories
Gloomhaven's biggest practical challenge is managing all the components. Each scenario requires tracking monster health, abilities, and initiative across multiple enemy types while also managing your own character. Fortunately, the community has developed excellent tools to help.
Helper Apps
The original Gloomhaven Helper app is no longer available, but two excellent replacements exist. X-Haven Assistant (available on iOS and Android) handles monster tracking, initiative order, and ability cards on a single screen. Gloomhaven Secretariat is a web-based alternative that offers similar functionality plus campaign tracking. Both support all games in the Gloomhaven family and can sync across multiple devices, so each player can follow along on their phone.
These apps are genuinely transformative. They reduce setup time, eliminate the need to shuffle monster ability decks manually, and prevent the table clutter that comes with tracking a dozen different enemy types. If you're playing the physical game, a helper app is strongly recommended.
Narrative Audio
Forteller Games offers professional audio narration for all Gloomhaven titles. Their app provides voiced scenario text, atmospheric music, and sound effects performed by a cast of voice actors. It's entirely optional, but groups who enjoy immersion find it enhances the experience significantly. Audio packs are available for Gloomhaven First Edition, Second Edition, Jaws of the Lion, Frosthaven, and Forgotten Circles.
Storage Solutions
The default box insert is functional but not ideal for quick setup. Many players invest in aftermarket organisers from companies like Folded Space, which offer labelled trays for every monster type and component. A good organiser can cut setup time in half. If you're planning a long campaign, the investment pays for itself in convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play Gloomhaven solo?
Yes. Solo play requires controlling at least two characters (the game doesn't scale below two), but many players find this works well. You have perfect information about both characters' plans, which allows for satisfying tactical combinations. Most solo players recommend starting with two characters rather than three or four to keep the mental overhead manageable.
How long does a campaign take to finish?
A typical campaign runs 95 scenarios for the original Gloomhaven (101 for Second Edition), but you won't play all of them in a single campaign due to branching paths. Expect 60 to 80 scenarios over 100 to 200 hours of play. Most groups playing weekly take one to two years to complete a campaign.
Is Gloomhaven good with two players?
Two players (one character each) is considered by many to be the ideal way to play. Turns are faster, coordination is easier, and you avoid the downtime that can occur with larger groups. The game scales enemy counts based on party size, so the difficulty remains balanced. Some character combinations work better than others at two players, so avoid pairing two support-focused classes.
Do I need to play Gloomhaven before Frosthaven?
No. Frosthaven is a standalone game with its own story and characters. However, the mechanics assume some familiarity with the system, so newcomers will have an easier time starting with Jaws of the Lion or Gloomhaven.
Can I use Gloomhaven characters in Frosthaven?
Yes. Characters and items from Gloomhaven are compatible with Frosthaven, though you'll want to check the crossover rules for balance adjustments.
Component Quality
Gloomhaven's box is intimidating for good reason. Inside you'll find hundreds of monster standees, dozens of map tiles, nearly 500 ability cards, 18 miniatures (one for each character class), and countless tokens. The production quality is solid throughout, with thick cardboard and clear iconography.
The Second Edition improves on the original with better graphic design, updated artwork, and a redesigned box insert that actually helps with organisation. The miniatures are decent tabletop quality, though painting enthusiasts often upgrade to third-party sculpts.
The main criticism is practical rather than quality-based: there's just so much stuff. Many players purchase aftermarket organisers or use apps like Gloomhaven Helper to manage monster stats and abilities digitally. These aren't necessary, but they significantly reduce setup time and table clutter.
Final Verdict
Gloomhaven earned its reputation as one of the greatest board games ever designed. The card-driven combat is elegant and endlessly replayable. The character progression is deeply satisfying. The campaign structure gives your decisions weight. And the sheer volume of content means you'll be discovering new things after your hundredth hour.
But it's not for everyone. The time commitment is real. The complexity is significant. And if your group can only meet occasionally, momentum is hard to maintain. Consider your gaming situation honestly before buying.
For those who can commit, there's nothing quite like it. Start with Jaws of the Lion to test the waters, then dive into the Second Edition when you're ready for the full adventure. The city of Gloomhaven awaits.
Ready to begin your adventure? Pick up Gloomhaven and start your campaign today.
Quick Reference
| Product | What It Is | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Jaws of the Lion | Standalone introductory game, 4 classes, 25 scenarios | Best Starting Point |
| Gloomhaven (Second Edition) | Full campaign, 18 classes, 101 scenarios, rebalanced | The Definitive Experience |
| Gloomhaven (First Edition) | Original version, still excellent but unbalanced in places | Budget Option |
| Frosthaven | Standalone sequel, 16 classes, outpost mechanics | For Veterans |
| Forgotten Circles | Expansion requiring completed campaign, 20 scenarios | For Completionists |