31.0 hours played
Written 18 days ago
Gloomhaven, developed by Flaming Fowl Studios and based on the acclaimed board game by Isaac Childres, is a masterclass in turn-based tactical RPG design that blends deep strategic combat, meaningful progression, and a rich fantasy world into one of the most ambitious digital adaptations in the genre. More than just a board game port, Gloomhaven takes the core elements that made the physical version so beloved and transforms them into a robust video game experience, offering hundreds of hours of content, a sprawling world to explore, and a complex but rewarding gameplay loop that emphasizes smart planning and careful decision-making over raw power.
Set in a dark, morally gray fantasy world teeming with danger, Gloomhaven places players in control of a band of mercenaries seeking gold, reputation, and personal glory. The narrative is driven by a branching campaign full of morally ambiguous choices and unexpected outcomes. Each mission you undertake feeds into a larger world map that changes based on your actions, unlocking new paths, story beats, and locations. The tone is consistently grounded—less about saving the world and more about surviving brutal odds for the right price—an approach that feels refreshingly mature compared to traditional high-fantasy tropes.
What truly sets Gloomhaven apart is its combat system. Every character has a unique deck of cards representing abilities, attacks, and movement options. These cards serve both as your combat actions and your stamina, creating a natural tension between using powerful abilities and managing your longevity in the dungeon. When a character runs out of cards, they are exhausted, so the game becomes a careful balancing act of tactical efficiency, synergy, and long-term survival. Each scenario demands creative thinking, as enemies have varied behaviors and abilities, and environments are filled with hazards, traps, and interactive elements that require careful navigation. It’s a system that emphasizes planning over randomness and rewards players who take the time to understand their characters and enemies deeply.
There are 17 playable classes, each with a completely different playstyle and mechanics, from stealthy assassins and supportive healers to elemental summoners and tanky brutes. The game encourages replayability by introducing new mercenaries gradually, requiring players to retire older ones and begin again with fresh abilities, changing up your team composition and strategy every few hours. This retirement system ties into the overarching campaign progression, creating a sense of legacy that mirrors the tabletop experience and adds emotional weight to your mercenary's journey.
The digital adaptation improves on several areas of the physical game, most notably in terms of quality of life. Tedious setup, stat tracking, and enemy AI management are handled seamlessly, allowing players to focus on the strategic core of the gameplay. The interface is clean and information-rich, although the complexity of the system may still overwhelm newcomers. Fortunately, the game offers a well-structured tutorial and scalable difficulty to ease players in. The visuals are dark and atmospheric, with a grounded art style that suits the world’s gritty tone. Environments are detailed and varied, and the character animations—while not flashy—are functional and convey the impact of each action well. The soundtrack is haunting and subdued, complementing the tension of each scenario without being intrusive.
Beyond the main campaign, Gloomhaven offers a Guildmaster mode, a more flexible sandbox-style progression path with dozens of handcrafted missions, unique storylines, and different character unlock conditions. This mode is ideal for players who prefer a more modular, objective-based experience without the full commitment to the narrative campaign. Multiplayer is also well-implemented, with online co-op that lets friends team up for dungeon runs together, echoing the social nature of the board game.
That said, Gloomhaven is not without its challenges. The learning curve is steep, and the game demands careful attention to detail. One wrong card play can spell disaster for your entire party, and success often relies on synergy and forethought more than brute force. The pace can be slow, especially in longer missions, and those expecting a more traditional RPG with loot-based progression and frequent combat may find the deliberate pacing and card-based mechanics less engaging. Technical performance is generally solid, though occasional bugs and UI quirks can slightly interrupt the flow.
In conclusion, Gloomhaven is a deep, complex, and immensely satisfying tactical RPG that rewards careful planning, long-term thinking, and mastery of its systems. It offers a near-endless supply of content and strategic variety, making it one of the most content-rich and thoughtfully designed turn-based games available. Whether you’re a fan of the original board game or a newcomer to the world of tactical RPGs, Gloomhaven is a must-play experience for anyone craving a dark, challenging, and richly rewarding adventure. It’s not just a game—it’s a campaign you live through, one mercenary contract at a time.
Rating: 7/10
