Gloomhaven vs Frosthaven: Which Dungeon Crawler Should You Buy First?
Choosing between Gloomhaven and Frosthaven is like choosing between two masterpieces — you’ll eventually want both, but the 10+ kg box and €100+ price tag means most people start with one.
Quick answer: Buy Gloomhaven first if you’re new to heavy cooperative games. Its mechanics are cleaner, its learning curve is smoother, and it’s cheaper. Buy Frosthaven first only if your group already has experience with complex campaign games and wants the deeper systems from day one.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Gloomhaven | Frosthaven |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~€90-110 | ~€140-170 |
| Scenarios | 95+ | 100+ |
| Characters | 17 (6 starting) | 16 (6 starting) |
| Campaign length | 150-200 hours | 180-250 hours |
| Complexity (BGG) | 3.86/5 | 4.09/5 |
| Weight (box) | ~10 kg | ~12 kg |
| Solo viable | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Excellent |
| Legacy elements | Stickers, sealed boxes | Stickers, sealed boxes |
| Meta-game | City events, prosperity | Outpost building, crafting, seasons |
| BGG Rank | #3 all-time | #5 all-time |
Gameplay: What’s the Same?
Both games share the core Gloomhaven system:
- Card-driven combat — each turn you play two cards, choosing a top action from one and a bottom action from the other. No dice. Pure tactical decision-making.
- Hand management as health — when you run out of cards, you’re exhausted. Every rest cycle permanently loses a card. The clock is always ticking.
- Character progression — unlock new abilities, perks, and items as you level up. Retire characters to unlock new classes.
- Scenario-based campaign — branching story with choices that affect which scenarios you unlock next.
- Cooperative, no DM needed — the monsters run on automated AI cards. Everyone plays together against the system.
If you love one, you’ll love the other. The system is the star.
Where They Differ
Gloomhaven: The Streamlined Classic
- Cleaner between-scenario loop — visit the city, buy items, pick the next scenario. Straightforward.
- Lower rules overhead — the core rules are complex enough. Gloomhaven doesn’t pile on additional systems.
- Better onboarding — the first 5-10 scenarios are designed to teach you the system gradually.
- More available content — expansions (Forgotten Circles, Jaws of the Lion as prequel), digital adaptation on Steam, and a massive community with guides.
- Cheaper — both in purchase price and “cost of regret” if your group doesn’t stick with it.
Best for: First-time players, groups unsure about committing 200+ hours, solo players wanting the purest tactical experience, and anyone on a budget.
Frosthaven: The Complex Evolution
- Outpost management — between scenarios you build and upgrade your settlement. Resources matter, buildings unlock new capabilities, and seasonal events can damage your outpost.
- Crafting system — gather loot during scenarios to craft items. More agency over your equipment progression.
- Seasonal narrative — summer and winter cycles affect available scenarios and outpost events. Creates urgency.
- Harder scenarios — designed for players who mastered Gloomhaven’s tactical puzzle and want more challenge.
- More varied enemies — new AI behaviors, more complex boss encounters, and scenarios with environmental puzzle elements.
Best for: Gloomhaven veterans who want more depth, groups who love base-building and resource management between sessions, and players who felt Gloomhaven’s city events were too passive.
The Solo Player Question
Both games are exceptional solo experiences — arguably better solo than at higher player counts because you control the tactical puzzle completely.
Gloomhaven solo: Control 2 characters. Scenarios take 45-75 minutes. Clean, focused tactical sessions.
Frosthaven solo: Control 2-3 characters. Scenarios take 60-90 minutes, plus outpost management adds 15-20 minutes between scenarios. More decision space but also more bookkeeping.
If your solo time is limited to 60-minute sessions, Gloomhaven fits better. If you enjoy longer, more involved sessions with management layers, Frosthaven rewards that investment.
The Jaws of the Lion Alternative
Don’t overlook Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion. At ~€35-45, it’s a standalone 25-scenario prequel that teaches the system through a brilliant tutorial campaign. If you’re unsure whether this style of game is for you, Jaws of the Lion is the low-risk entry point.
| Entry point | Cost | Time commitment | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaws of the Lion | ~€40 | 40-60 hours | Testing the waters |
| Gloomhaven | ~€100 | 150-200 hours | Full commitment, accessible |
| Frosthaven | ~€150 | 180-250 hours | Experienced groups wanting depth |
Our Verdict
The recommended path: Jaws of the Lion → Gloomhaven → Frosthaven. Each builds on the last.
If you’re skipping straight to a big box: Gloomhaven. It’s tighter, cheaper, better documented, and gives you hundreds of hours before you need to think about Frosthaven. When you retire your final character and the city has reached maximum prosperity, Frosthaven will be waiting — and you’ll appreciate its added complexity because you earned the foundation.
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