Gloomhaven Review: The Game That Needs a Spare Room

[@shelbyligason2196]

So kind of if Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories and D&D had a baby it would be Gloomhaven! I love that this review wasn’t too long or too short. Thank you! This was very helpful!

[@CaptMurphysGhost]

Wanted to say thank you for your time and effort making this review. It was fantastic, and just what I was looking for while trying to decide if Gloomhaven was right for me and my friends. You did a great job. Clear and concise, while hitting on all the relevant inforamtion someone not very familiar with the game would want to know. And entertaining presentation and editing! Keep up the good work.

[@nick13588]

Just discovered this channel and after watching many other reviews which are far longer you managed to inform me way more in only 11 minutes great job and keep up the good work!

[@TabletopDungeon]

Thanks, glad it was useful!

[@sirhamalot8651]

9:00 there are great apps that eliminate the need for enemy stat cards, life tokens, status effects, infusions, enemy decks and initiative and more. Such a big help to focus on building the dungeon and looking at your own cards.

[@jccusell]

What's it called? Is it on android?

[@sirhamalot8651]

@@jccusell Gloomhaven Helper, and yes for Android...and free!

[@romainlesiuk2979]

Great job on the review! I own and love the game, and your title was so on point I had to check the video! Somedays I miss my living room table ;)

[@CampervanCookout]

Just received it, first job seems to be to organise it

[@RageBadgerGaming]

Thanks for your insight on the game! I don't think a lot of other reviewers have touched on the, as you put it, "asymmetry" of the classes and how they're built definitely not part of your normal "fantasy tropes"

[@ShadyNetworker]

Yeah so, Gloomhaven is the bomb. Have been playing it since November 2017, its now July 2019 and I'm still playing it, weekly if I can. The core mechanics are repetative yes, but it's everything else in the box that makes it come to life. Every scenario is different, and just varied enough from the previous to make it interesting. Every class plays totally differently, no Gloomhaven player will have the same experience and there is just enough lore to glue everything together. If you like a crunchy, co-op game in which you get to forge your own way into a set world, get this game.

[@jccusell]

Agreed

[@johnthemighty6189]

It’s October 2020, are you still playing? I want to play this game but it looks intimidating

[@tzera_rhuon]

@@johnthemighty6189 Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion may be a better game to start with, as it's less intimidating and streamlines a lot of the set-up and rules. If you enjoy that then the classes can be brought into Gloomhaven proper.

[@simonwadd4038]

Thank you! We are looking at Table Top Sim version to try. Might help setup issues etc. It feels to me like they've done a modern isometric RPG such as Div OS in board game version. Really shows how the computer managing the numbers in background is helpful! Will try it, but sadly not looking plausible for physical version for us.

[@Gropylol]

actual really well review and channel, keep at it

[@adriang6259]

Great review. I'm seriously considering getting this game. Your review helped.

[@jirachie9772]

Can highly recommend. In my opinion, hands down the best board game ever created. In terms of challenge and depth, there are not many games that come even close & combat system is punishing, but simply a gem. Would also say its not for everyone though. There is an entry barrier and even after that, its a bit of a hassle. Our group tends to play a full weekend at a time, the setup is like 40 minutes or so. Also I'd say you need certain type of people. In my experience, people either love it or hate it.

[@blakej6416]

Great review. I appreciate that you weren't as overly verbose as some reviewers.

[@vernonjennings5921]

Very useful review. Well done and thanks.

[@chaositect1]

I just wish the stickers were vinyl and not permanent. This reduces the replay value of the game.

[@CnDsaint]

I'm bald too bro. Just let go xD I did , you feel better once you shave it all off and trust me woman prefer bald to balding . Good video tho and have a good day

[@TabletopDungeon]

I did that for about a decade! Fancied a change ;)

[@loomick]

It is an RPG though. Not an extensive or involved one, but an RPG nonetheless. The fact that the core gameplay mechanic is a card based combat and action system has no bearing on its RPG status.

[@TabletopDungeon]

Sure, but we're arguing semantics at that point. It's difficult precisely because the game doesn't fit into these neat little labels that we need to classify everything into. There are RPGs elements to it, and you clearly play the role of a character. But the core gameplay is a puzzle game, driven by a hand of cards. If someone were to ask me to recommend a big expansive RPG in a box experience, I wouldn't be comfortable pointing them to Gloomhaven. If someone said "I like RPGs, dungeon crawlers, modern board games, I like something tactile to move around on a board, a bit of everything really, and I want a massive expansive campaign to play through with everything in a single box, but don't want the complexity or creative freedom of something like DnD" - then absolutely, Gloomhaven would be my pick!

[@loomick]

@@TabletopDungeon I completely agree with you there, its not for somebody who wants a hardcore RPG experience at all, but I find it has enough of the typical RPG elements to keep fans of the RPG genre more invested than they would be in a more two dimensional dungeon crawler.

[@davidcowan521]

A good and balanced review. I personally hated the game and sold it. Most reviewers don't explain how insanely complex this game is and how long it takes to setup and play. And then how little fun is involved. This is for hardcore gamers who don't have much work or social commitments and have lots of free space at home. Many people will find Gloomhaven painfully tedious, but you wouldn't get that from most reviews

[@TabletopDungeon]

Overhyped a lot, I'd say. It feels like the game has now entered pop-culture to the point that a lot of people will claim to know of the game, without ever having played it. And if they did play, would probably realise it's not for them.

[@MattCrawley_Music]

I didn’t know Geddy Lee played board games

[@TabletopDungeon]

Damn, I aint that old. Brutal.

[@I34VVI3U5]

Let's all be honest with ourselves: As impressive as Gloomhaven is, it should really have been made as a video game 😛

[@garathminis5108]

Could not agree more. I only tried Jaws of the Lion and frankly did not like most of the chore gameplay. It's restrictive, not really tactical, as you HAVE to move forward as there is a un thematic timer. Plus all the attack decks are a waste of time, it should be a dice roll. The app could do it for me, but I want a board game, on a board and not on a screen. And the grind.....

[@TabletopDungeon]

There is a Gloomhaven digital already, though I haven't tried it. I feel like it would lose a lot of the magic as a video game, and frankly there are much better videogames out there already.

[@Ghgggggvvvv]

Ok

[@syncmonism]

I feel so torn... I really am interested in buying this, but I think I would have a hard time finding people to play it with, and I think I would get a little annoyed with how long it takes to play even if/when I did. I would love to play it with other people, but I don't like buying games which I am unlikely to play. Even if I do end up liking it a lot, I might end up spending too much time playing it rather than doing something more productive (much like I have already done with some videogames over the years). It is currently available for $120 Canadian dollars (including shipping, but not tax, though that's only 5% in some provinces) from multiple retailers in Canada, which really is a good price for such an enormous and highly reviewed game...

[@TabletopDungeon]

That's a great point. If you're not married or your wife doesn't want to game with you, it's hard to get people to play against. Even when I do have gamer friends stay for a few nights, it's hard to launch them into a new campaign or do a little teaser session in the knowledge they may not visit again for a year, so we end up playing something else. :(

[@JC-fp8wy]

It's a fantastic game if you have people to play with regularly. If you don't, it's value is much less. It can be played solo, but that defeats the point of tabletop for me. If you're fine with solo play, then it may still be worth it.

[@syncmonism]

I've started playing the PC version a lot lately after snagging it for free as a part of a promotion, and WOW is it ever a well designed game. It almost feels like it was designed as a single player PC game, because it's not exactly a fast paced game on the PC, and it would only be much, much slower to play with a group of people with the board game version, and the campaign is absolutely gigantic. Totally insanely uber ultra ultra long for a board game. I mean, you (probably) couldn't finish the entire thing in one week, even if all your friends were on vacation and playing it 12 hours a day with you! Of course, there's no need to actually ever finish it in order to enjoy it... but still.

[@felipi85]

Great review!

[@TheLionHeart1189]

Nice review

[@puncrocks]

I don’t own the game, but I found that review extremely helpful in deciding whether to purchase. I’m thinking it’s a yes!

[@nandotemplo]

It's the right choice. It's an amazing game.

[@BFSDean]

Idk. It may be because we bought a 3rd party organizer but setup and tear down is usually a 5-10 min thing for us

[@joyruppert4710]

Yeah same, an organizer really helped. We play with three people once a week and each have our dedicated set up and takedown task by now. Takes around 10min and we only need a medium dining table to play. 20min of setup/takedown in total when you play for 4h isn't that bad.

[@josheh4]

I liked, because I thought this was a good review. :D

[@TabletopDungeon]

Thanks!

[@josheh4]

@@TabletopDungeon Haha, more seriously. I've been considering gloomhaven, and your review has pushed me towards the get side of things. I've seen a few reviews that were great productions, very entertaining, but didn't really give me a feel for things like your review here did. Thanks for the time you put into this, even with all the other reviews already existing.

[@nickcarnevalino7462]

game needs a insert ... i cant wait for my daedalus insert that shipped yesterday (FYI they had a free shipping promo a few weeks back on their facebook page) - a little hard for novice players due to the complexity some of the rules pose , but overall it's a fantastic game. the BEST part for me (and something you didn't really cover) is the legacy part of the game ... the fact that the world can and does change permanently is one of the best parts of the game

[@TabletopDungeon]

Hi Nick, thanks for commenting. You're absolutely right, I've completely glossed over the legacy aspect. For me, it's not such a big part of the game, for a few reasons: - the game is massive anyway, so replayability wouldn't be a concern even if the legacy aspects were quite destructive. - legacy character changes to cards are minimal, and don't really have significant impact on the game. - the storyline branches / world changes aren't permanent. - the stickers on the board don't stop you playing again. I guess I just define the legacy aspect as a "campaign", rather than full-on Pandemic Legacy style of wreck your board, permakill characters, and never be able to play the campaign again... Even with an insert I couldn't get it all back again, so good luck!

[@ReoAard]

Thanks

[@CitizenXFR]

Nice video, only point of disagreement for me, it is not a card game at all. Not RP ok-ish, it still allows for a lot of RP additions if you like to embody your character and know how to read as if in theater for quests etc... But no, not a card game. Very helpful for people who dont know the game and was entertaining PS: shame you missed the framing on the fclose up shot in the early part ;)

[@jamesdavidwyers9110]

My dude looks like Manimarco from the elder scrolls online.

[@TabletopDungeon]

I'mma take that as a compliment

[@sharkpyro93]

so this is basically heroquest on steroids?

[@TabletopDungeon]

Shamefully, I haven't played Heroquest. But I don't think so: Gloomhaven is very focussed around cards and managing your hand.

[@seanwalsh8474]

How does it play as a single player game, is it worth it for a single player game?

[@TabletopDungeon]

I've never actually played it single player, but on a technical level the game scales purely with number of spawns in each scenario. Given the character asymetry, some things would be brutally difficult while others would be too easy. If you're going to play multiple characters (my wife and I did two each for two player), it would be too much paperwork. It could work, but at that point you'd be better off just playing the digital version instead.

[@jeanfoutre3620]

Good

[@floidsoda5470]

Could I do this 1 player cuz all my friends suck and I know they wouldn't want to play this with me, the same happened with DnD I still haven't played it cuz i got no one to play with

[@TabletopDungeon]

In theory, you could, but at that point I'd suggest just playing video games. Digital boardgames often make multiplayer with randoms across the world very easy. Have you tried Tabletop Simulator? Or even digital Gloomhaven?

[@briancline7349]

Wow that outfit of yours really clashes, it’s hard on the eyes... 👀

[@TabletopDungeon]

I was gonna make some snarky comment back, but then I looked at the video and realized you're right :) High on paint fumes, maybe?

[@briancline7349]

Tabletop Dungeon lol perhaps you’re right, I’m normally not one to comment on such things, but that blue camo on your sleeves combined with the Grand Theft Auto themed shirt really did a number on me lol

[@robertgrant721]

Wish I’d seen this before getting this game. We played the first scenario and it’s sat in the shelf ever since :(

[@TabletopDungeon]

Ah, that sucks. What's stopping you from playing more? The amount of management needed /setup and teardown?

[@robertgrant721]

@@TabletopDungeon Simply didn't enjoy the experience. We were looking for an adventure story game and the mechanics left us cold, and the setup time dissuades us from getting it out again.

[@whatshendrix]

You're right that it's not like anything it looks like. It's not even a board game. It looks like a huge box that should've just been a video game, but it's not even that, because Gloomhaven the video game is mediocre at best. Gloomhaven takes the premise of a bland and repetitive hack and slash video game and improves it by making it cost 3 times as much and by adding chores. Loads and loads of extremely tedious chores. But don't worry - those chores add absolutely nothing to the game's depth or decision space! They just prevent you from bringing the game to the table, which is actually a good thing, because that way you don't have to think about how many brilliant games you could've bought for half as much money.

[@TabletopDungeon]

Why don't you tell us what you REALLY think!? ;)

[@whatshendrix]

@@TabletopDungeon A 200 word essay not enough for you? :D

[@andreamilanesi9271]

Tagliati i capelli

[@1981troyboy]

this dude rolls 0/100

[@TabletopDungeon]

I would probably have gone with "this dude rolls a critical failure". D100 aren't used all that often; D20 is much more common. I don't suppose I'm helping my case though.