Frosthaven
Frosthaven, a cooperative campaign-driven fantasy board game designed for 1-4 players, serves as a sequel to the immensely popular Gloomhaven. In this icy outpost, players embark on epic quests, confront menacing foes, and build a persistent world filled with intrigue and danger.
Playtime
Year
9.99
BGG Score
BGG Rank
99
Mechanics
Mechanics
Designers
Designers
OVERVIEW
The Good
Expansive Campaign: Frosthaven offers an expansive campaign with a rich narrative, introducing players to a new, frosty frontier with its own set of challenges and mysteries. The interconnected scenarios and evolving storyline provide a deep and immersive gaming experience.
Unique Characters and Abilities: The game features a diverse roster of character classes, each with distinctive abilities and playstyles. The strategic depth in character progression and the ability to tailor characters to personal preferences ensure a high level of replayability.
Innovative Legacy System: Frosthaven incorporates a legacy system, allowing players to shape the game world through their choices and actions. As the story unfolds, the world dynamically changes, creating a personalized experience that extends beyond individual play sessions.
The Bad
Steep Learning Curve: Like its predecessor, Frosthaven has a complex set of rules and mechanics, leading to a steep learning curve. New players may need time to grasp the intricacies of character abilities, enemy behaviors, and campaign progression.
Lengthy Play Sessions: The nature of campaign-driven games often results in longer play sessions. Frosthaven's scenarios can be time-consuming, which may not suit players looking for shorter, more casual gaming experiences.
Component Overload: Frosthaven boasts an abundance of components, from character sheets to enemy standees and map tiles. While this contributes to the game's depth, it can be overwhelming, particularly for players who prefer more streamlined setups.
Diagnosis
10/10 Board Game Doctors Recommend
FURTHER READING
If you're ready to embark on a frosty odyssey filled with epic battles and strategic decision-making, Frosthaven stands as a worthy successor to Gloomhaven's legacy. The game not only raises the bar for campaign-driven adventures but also introduces a unique legacy system that lets players leave an indelible mark on the game world.
Frosthaven makes you feel like every decision matters, and every victory or defeat contributes to a grand narrative that unfolds over countless sessions. If you're seeking a deep and immersive gaming experience that evolves with your choices, Frosthaven beckons you to explore its icy realms and forge your legend.
What may be a drawback to some, there is an incredible amount of added complexity to this campaing, crafting, building, etc. I admit it seemed quite daunting to me, as well, but (so far) seems to be hitting the mark.
(Note: this review is based off an incomplete campaign and for 3 players)
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