Gloomhaven: A Comprehensive Digital Review

Overview

Gloomhaven’s digital adaptation, developed by Flaming Fowl Studios and published by Asmodee Digital, successfully translates Isaac Childres’ massive tactical dungeon-crawling board game into an accessible yet faithful digital experience. Released after an extended Early Access period, the game captures the strategic depth and campaign progression that made the physical version a tabletop phenomenon.

Core Gameplay Elements

Combat System

The heart of Gloomhaven is its card-based combat system, which the digital version implements excellently. Each character brings a unique deck of ability cards to scenarios, with players selecting a hand limit at the beginning of each mission. On every turn, players choose two cards from their hand, using the top action of one and the bottom action of the other. This creates constant strategic tension, as cards are lost either through powerful one-time abilities or through natural attrition as the scenario progresses.

The initiative system – where turn order is determined by the initiative value on one of your chosen cards – creates another layer of tactical planning. Deciding whether to go early or late in a round based on enemy positions and ally actions remains deeply satisfying.

Character Progression

The digital adaptation faithfully reproduces the physical game’s character progression systems. As characters complete scenarios, they gain experience, unlock new ability cards, enhance existing abilities, and purchase equipment. The permanent retirement system that introduces new character classes is also implemented, creating a constantly evolving gameplay experience throughout the campaign.

Campaign Structure

The digital version includes the complete campaign from the physical game, featuring over 95 scenarios across a branching narrative structure. The campaign includes the “legacy” elements of the board game, with new content, locations, and characters unlocking through play. The story is presented through text interludes and illustrated scenes that adequately convey the dark fantasy setting.

Digital Advantages

Where the digital version truly shines is in its quality-of-life improvements:

• Automated setup and rules management eliminates the physical game’s lengthy setup times
• AI handling of enemy actions removes the cognitive load of managing monster decks
• Calculations for damage, effects, and elemental infusions happen automatically
• Tutorials and tooltips make learning the complex system more accessible

Visual and Audio Design

Graphics

The digital adaptation features detailed 3D environments and character models that bring the world of Gloomhaven to life. The art direction remains faithful to the board game’s aesthetic while adding atmospheric lighting, particle effects, and fluid animations. While not cutting-edge by video game standards, the visuals effectively communicate all necessary gameplay information while creating an immersive atmosphere.

Sound Design

 

The game’s audio design includes ambient environmental sounds, satisfying combat effects, and a moody orchestral soundtrack that enhances the fantasy setting. Voice acting is minimal, limited primarily to the narrator during story segments, but serves its purpose adequately.

Technical Performance

On most modern systems, Gloomhaven runs smoothly with few technical issues. Loading times between scenarios can be somewhat lengthy, but in-scenario performance is generally solid. The user interface, while initially overwhelming with information, becomes intuitive with practice and effectively communicates the game’s complex systems.

Game Modes

Campaign Mode

The main campaign offers dozens of hours of content with a branching structure that encourages multiple playthroughs to see all available scenarios. The digital implementation effectively tracks campaign progress, available scenarios, global achievements, and party reputation.

Guildmaster Mode

This digital-exclusive mode offers standalone scenarios with modified progression systems, providing a more pick-up-and-play experience compared to the campaign. It serves as both an extended tutorial and an alternative way to experience the game’s tactical combat without the narrative investment.

Multiplayer

The online multiplayer component allows for cooperative play with up to four players, matching the board game experience. While functional, finding stable matches with like-minded players can be challenging without a pre-formed group, and the addition of voice chat through external programs is often necessary for effective coordination.

Final Assessment

Strengths

• Faithfully translates the complex tactical gameplay of the physical board game
• Eliminates tedious setup and rule-tracking of the tabletop version
• Complete campaign implementation with all characters and scenarios
• Excellent UI tooltips and information presentation
• Significant value compared to the physical game’s cost

Weaknesses

• Learning curve remains steep despite digital assistance
• Some scenarios can feel repetitive in structure
• Multiplayer infrastructure could be more robust
• Narrative presentation is functional but not particularly engaging
• AI occasionally makes puzzling tactical decisions

Conclusion

Gloomhaven’s digital adaptation represents one of the most successful translations of a complex board game to the digital medium. It preserves the deep strategic gameplay that fans love while removing the physical overhead that makes the board game daunting to many potential players. While it may not win over those fundamentally uninterested in tactical turn-based combat, it offers an excellent entry point for curious newcomers and a convenient alternative for veterans of the physical game.

For fans of tactical RPGs, particularly those with an emphasis on resource management and strategic planning, Gloomhaven’s digital version is an essential experience that delivers dozens (if not hundreds) of hours of challenging, satisfying gameplay.

Final Score: 9/10

Campaign Mode

The main campaign offers dozens of hours of content with a branching structure that encourages multiple playthroughs to see all available scenarios. The digital implementation effectively tracks campaign progress, available scenarios, global achievements, and party reputation.

Guildmaster Mode

This digital-exclusive mode offers standalone scenarios with modified progression systems, providing a more pick-up-and-play experience compared to the campaign. It serves as both an extended tutorial and an alternative way to experience the game’s tactical combat without the narrative investment.

Multiplayer

The online multiplayer component allows for cooperative play with up to four players, matching the board game experience. While functional, finding stable matches with like-minded players can be challenging without a pre-formed group, and the addition of voice chat through external programs is often necessary for effective coordination.

Final Assessment

Strengths

• Faithfully translates the complex tactical gameplay of the physical board game
• Eliminates tedious setup and rule-tracking of the tabletop version
• Complete campaign implementation with all characters and scenarios
• Excellent UI tooltips and information presentation
• Significant value compared to the physical game’s cost

Weaknesses

• Learning curve remains steep despite digital assistance
• Some scenarios can feel repetitive in structure
• Multiplayer infrastructure could be more robust
• Narrative presentation is functional but not particularly engaging
• AI occasionally makes puzzling tactical decisions

Conclusion

Gloomhaven’s digital adaptation represents one of the most successful translations of a complex board game to the digital medium. It preserves the deep strategic gameplay that fans love while removing the physical overhead that makes the board game daunting to many potential players. While it may not win over those fundamentally uninterested in tactical turn-based combat, it offers an excellent entry point for curious newcomers and a convenient alternative for veterans of the physical game.

For fans of tactical RPGs, particularly those with an emphasis on resource management and strategic planning, Gloomhaven’s digital version is an essential experience that delivers dozens (if not hundreds) of hours of challenging, satisfying gameplay.

Final Score: 9/10

Frosthaven Review

Julian Gollop, the creator of X-Com, and his studio Snapshot Games are developing the digital version of Frosthaven, a sequel to the board game Gloomhaven. The game will debut as an early access title, with a closed beta starting on March 27th, 2025 (next week from the article’s publication date).

The game hasn’t been officially released, so I can only provide an analysis based on the information in your article and my knowledge of similar games up to my October 2024 knowledge cutoff. A complete, hands-on review isn’t possible at this time.

What We Know So Far

Development Background

• Developed by Snapshot Games, led by Julian Gollop (creator of X-Com)
• Taking over from Flaming Fowl Studios who developed the digital Gloomhaven
• Using some of the original Gloomhaven source code as a foundation
• Game Director is Hristo Petkov

Visual and Design Elements

• Features a “frosty aesthetic” with colorful, detailed, and “slickly animated” characters and monsters
• Enhanced outpost upgrading mechanics compared to the tabletop version
• UI similar but not identical to the digital Gloomhaven adaptation
• Maintains the claustrophobic battlegrounds characteristic of Gloomhaven

Game Structure

• Will be a standalone game (not requiring the original digital Gloomhaven)
• Unlike the tabletop version, it appears characters from Gloomhaven won’t be playable
• Will launch in Early Access with a closed beta starting March 27, 2025
• Legacy-style progression system (unlocking content through multiple play sessions)

Potential Advantages Over Tabletop

• Significantly less complex setup and teardown process
• No physical organization of numerous game pieces
• Digital unlocking of content is more streamlined
• Likely more affordable than the physical board game
• Easier to get a group together online

Preliminary Assessment

Promising Factors

• Snapshot Games’ experience with tactical games (Phoenix Point, Chaos Reborn)
• Julian Gollop’s tactical game design expertise
• Building on the already successful Gloomhaven digital adaptation
• Streamlining the complex legacy aspects of the board game

Questions Remaining

• How faithfully will it adapt the board game’s mechanics?
• Will it include all content from the physical Frosthaven?
• How extensive will the Early Access period be?
• Pricing structure and potential DLC plans
• Online multiplayer capabilities and features

 

Industry Context

• The handover from Flaming Fowl to Snapshot may be connected to Embracer Group’s corporate restructuring and its relationship with Asmodee
• Part of a growing trend of successful adaptations of complex board games to digital formats

Conclusion

Frosthaven’s digital adaptation shows significant promise based on the development team’s pedigree and the success of the previous Gloomhaven adaptation. The involvement of Julian Gollop suggests a strong understanding of tactical game design principles.

For players intimidated by the physical scale and complexity of the board game, this digital version could offer a more accessible entry point into the Frosthaven experience. However, a complete assessment will only be possible once the game enters Early Access and reviewers can experience the gameplay firsthand.

If you’re interested in trying it yourself, you can sign up for the closed beta starting March 27th or wishlist it on Steam to stay updated on its development progress.

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