Boarf Games Like Gloomhaven

Gloomhaven burst onto the scene in 2017 and was met with critical and commercial acclaim. Inspired by Fantasy IP’s like Final Fantasy, Diablo, and Dungeons & Dragons, the game saw a two-year development cycle before going live on Kickstarter. After a second campaign two years later it raised around $4 million from over 40,000 backers. The game was quickly praised for its ‘masterful design’, dubbed the ‘ultimate tabletop dungeon crawler’, and recognized as one of the best fantasy board games available. Having sold over 200,000 copies and winning multiple awards since its release, needless to say, the game has proven to be a true success.

Gloomhaven is a dark, fantasy-themed, campaign-based tactical skirmish game. Players act as one of many characters, each with their own unique skills and abilities, and navigate their way through many different dungeons and treacherous locations in a legacy-style campaign. Played on hex tiles representing dungeons and cellars, cards are used to dictate every action a player takes from moving to attacking, casting spells, and healing allies. From session to session players will be able to upgrade and purchase new items as they embark on a massive 95-scenario epic with branching storylines and unlock more playable characters as they progress. Gloomhaven is a great game that offers dozens of hours of gameplay and a significant amount of replay value. Note that it requires the base game to play.

For those that enjoy games with depth they can play over multiple sessions and see real progression in, this is definitely one for you. If you’re after similar games, below are a selection that are similarly themed or have various gameplay mechanics in common. Check out the best games like Gloomhaven.

What Makes Gloomhaven So Special?

Gloomhaven is a highly-regarded legacy board game that has captured the hearts of many gamers. So, what makes it so special? For starters, its unique blend of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat mechanics sets it apart from other games in the genre. The game’s modular board, which changes with each playthrough, ensures that no two games are ever the same. Additionally, the game’s legacy elements, such as the campaign book and the ability to unlock new characters and abilities, add a layer of depth and replayability that is hard to find in other games.

But what really sets Gloomhaven apart is its immersive storyline and atmospheric setting. The game’s fantasy world is richly detailed, with a complex history and lore that is slowly revealed over the course of the campaign. The game’s characters are also well-developed and nuanced, with their own motivations and backstories that add depth to the game’s narrative.

Overall, Gloomhaven is a game that offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a fan of strategy, exploration, or storytelling, Gloomhaven is sure to deliver.

Frosthaven

By: Cephalofair Games     Players: 1-4     Time: 90-180 Minutes     Ages: 14+

The eagerly sought after sequel to Gloomhaven, Frosthaven takes everything that made the original great and ramps things up significantly. Released in 2022, it’s proven to be just as if not more popular than it’s predecessor, offering a new but familiar experience.

Set in a small outpost in the far north, players act as one of several mercenaries with the responsibility of trying to bring the settlement back from the edge of destruction. Facing off against all manner of monsters and struggling to survive the harsh elements, players will encounter plenty of sinister forces in their adventures. Featuring over a dozen characters to play as, plenty of new races and enemies, and a 100-scenario campaign, Frosthaven is an even more robust and thorough game than Gloomhaven that rewards but challenges players. Bringing with it familiar game mechanics as well as some new features like seasonal events, Frosthaven is great for those who are fans of fantasy-themed board games, and especially those who enjoy lengthy games with RPG-like progression where they can see their characters evolve.  

Heroquest

By: Avalon Hill    Players: 2-5    Time: 90 minutes     Ages: 14+

A classic dungeon crawler, Heroquest set the precedence for similar games that followed and certainly was major inspiration for the games that came after. A Dungeons and Dragons like game that’s accessible for both casual and hardcore gamers.

Heroquest is similar to Gloomhaven in many ways but scales things down significantly and is a lot less intimidating for most players. It can be considered a ‘Gloomhaven Lite’ that simplifies the complexities of the original Gloomhaven, making it more accessible to new players. Featuring around a dozen different adventures, one player acts as a ‘dungeon master’ like figure, while the rest of the players pick a hero to play as. Each adventure has a specific board layout the DM must follow. They’ll set the board up at the start of the game and reveal more of it as players explore each room, encountering monsters, traps, and treasure. Players act as one of four unique heroes, each of which possessing different abilities and fighting styles.

As they complete the objectives of each adventure they’ll gain experience points and level up becoming more powerful. Between adventures, they’ll be able to use the coins and treasure they found to purchase items and weapons for their next outing. Retaining a lot of what makes Gloomhaven appealing, Heroquest plays in a similar way but is significantly less rule-heavy and more manageable for newer gamers. Although it doesn’t offer quite as many adventures, there are plenty of expansions that compensate for this, each offering new board tiles, quests, and monsters.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – The Adventure Game

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – The Adventure Game is a cooperative board game set in the world of Skyrim. Players take on the roles of brave adventurers, exploring the frozen wilderness, battling fearsome dragons, and uncovering ancient secrets. The game features a modular board, which changes with each playthrough, ensuring that no two games are ever the same.

The game’s mechanics are designed to evoke the feeling of exploring a vast, open world. Players can choose to explore different regions of the board, each with its own unique challenges and rewards. The game also features a dynamic combat system, which allows players to use a variety of abilities and strategies to defeat their enemies.

One of the standout features of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – The Adventure Game is its use of legacy elements. Players can unlock new characters, abilities, and equipment as they progress through the game, adding a layer of depth and replayability to the game.

Overall, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – The Adventure Game is a great option for fans of the Elder Scrolls series, or anyone looking for a cooperative game with a strong focus on exploration and combat.

The Elder Scrolls V : Skyrim – The Adventure Game

By: Modiphius Entertainment    Players: 1-4     Time: 60-120 minutes     Ages: 14+

For fans of the video game, Skyrim – The Adventure Game, offers an almost identical experience that can’t be passed up. A robust, Fantasy game that offers plenty of replay value and dozens of hours of gameplay. 

A co-operative adventure game, players take on the role of heroes setting out on epic quests, working together to defeat their enemies and exploring the vast expanse of the region of Skyrim. Players can create characters from one of several races and will be able to customise them with unique abilities and spells, as well as upgrade their equipment as they go further into the game. Split into two campaigns with three chapters each, the decisions players make even from their first turn will have a distinct on how the story unfolds, which makes every playthrough different and unique.  Each player will have their own storyline to play through players will find themselves interacting with each other throughout and even join up with each other in the final battle at the end of each chapter. Featuring lots of familiar faces, monsters, locations, and races, Skyrim is not only a love letter to fans of the video game, but offers a rewarding and fun experience for fans of campaign driven board games too. 

Mice and Mystics

By: Plaid Hat Games     Players: 1-4     Time: 60-90 minutes     Ages: 7+

A light-hearted dungeon-crawler that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Mice and Mystics is a fun game that takes aspects of games like Gloomhaven but targets them at a much younger audience.

In Mice and Mystics, players take on the role of one of several humans who have been turned into mice, each with their own roles, abilities, and skills. The game is divided into eleven missions or ‘chapters’ that are all played out through the aid of a storybook, which also serves as the game board. This book gives a prelude and flavour text to each mission in order to help set the scene and create more of an immersive experience. It also dictates how to set up the tiles and enemies at the start of each game, as well as the players ultimate objectives. Players start the game with equipment and one ability card, but they’ll be able to find more items throughout missions to make themselves more of a threat to their enemies, and more abilities will be unlocked to make them more powerful.

Each mission can be played individually or as part of a long-term campaign, where character will retain their abilities, items, and stat increases. Gameplay is kept simple with easy-to-learn rules and the game focuses on cooperation rather than competition. During battle, an initiative tracker is used to keep track of players’ and monsters turns, and it comes down to everyone to work together and strategise to come up with the optimum plan for the following round. Packed with charming aesthetics, on the surface it may look like a game predominantly aimed at kids, but it’s a highly enjoyable experience for all, especially casual gamers. Mice and Mystics is pretty fun for players who enjoy cooperative gameplay and charming aesthetics.

Nemesis

Published by: Awaken Realms    Ages: 12+    Players: 1-5    Time: up to 3 hours

For those who want a meaty experience like Gloomhaven but prefer Sci-Fi to fantasy. This survival horror game offers a tense cinematic experience full of bells and whistles set in the cold reaches of space, where of course, nobody can hear you scream!

Nemesis is a semi-cooperative game in which players take on the role of a ships crew member and must complete certain objectives and escape their run-down ship to win the game. Some objectives will benefit the crew as a whole whilst others will benefit the player who specifically chose that goal. Sometimes goals will conflict with each other and the game can end up as a bit of a free-for-all as players try to destroy one of the ship’s engines whilst others try to repair it. Whichever objective is selected, players must find their way around the ship and use cards to perform actions as well as their character-specific skills to aid them in completing their mission as quickly and quietly as possible. Too much noise will disturb the hostile organisms hiding within the ship that act as the primary antagonists in the game.

Players will find items as they explore to help them dispatch the intruders but certain players are more naturally equipped to deal with the otherworldly threat (you would want to be playing as the soldier over the scientist any day when cornered by xenomorph-esque creature three times your size!). Along with the game’s incredible models and components, Nemesis delivers a thrilling, tense, and atmospheric experience that can’t be beat. Nemesis offers a ‘whole thing’ experience with its incredible models, components, and thrilling gameplay. Needless to say, fans of the “Alien” movies will get the most out of it, but everyone should enjoy the game regardless as each playthrough offers boundless levels of exploration and things to do and each character class provides a unique gameplay experience.

All of the above games are excellent in their own right but share lots of similarities and are great alternatives to Gloomhave. If you’ve played any games that you think should have made the list we’d love to hear about them.

Cooperative Games for Your Gaming Group

Are you looking for a new game to play with your gaming group? Look no further! Cooperative games are a great way to bring people together, promoting teamwork and communication as you work towards a common goal.

One of the best cooperative games out there is Pandemic Legacy. This game challenges players to work together to stop the spread of diseases and save the world. With its modular board and dynamic gameplay, Pandemic Legacy is a game that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Another great option is Gloomhaven. This game is a cooperative campaign-based game that challenges players to explore a fantasy world, battle monsters, and make decisions that impact the game world and their characters.

If you’re looking for something a bit more light-hearted, you might enjoy Forbidden Island/Forbidden Desert. These games are cooperative games that challenge players to work together to retrieve four treasures from an island/desert before it sinks/gets buried in sand.

Overall, cooperative games are a great way to bring people together and have fun. Whether you’re a fan of strategy, exploration, or puzzle-solving, there’s a cooperative game out there for you.

Legacy Games with a Strong Focus on Storytelling

Legacy games are a type of game that changes and evolves over time, with each playthrough building on the last. One of the key features of legacy games is their focus on storytelling. These games often feature complex, branching narratives that are shaped by the players’ decisions.

One of the best legacy games with a strong focus on storytelling is Gloomhaven. This game features a complex, branching narrative that is shaped by the players’ decisions. The game’s campaign book is filled with choices and consequences, allowing players to shape the game world and their characters in meaningful ways.

Another great option is Pandemic Legacy. This game features a dynamic narrative that changes and evolves over time, with each playthrough building on the last. The game’s storyline is shaped by the players’ decisions, and the game features a number of branching paths and multiple endings.

If you’re looking for something a bit more light-hearted, you might enjoy The Rise of Queensdale. This game is a legacy game that challenges players to build and manage their own city, making decisions that impact the game world and their characters.

Overall, legacy games with a strong focus on storytelling are a great way to experience a game that changes and evolves over time. Whether you’re a fan of strategy, exploration, or puzzle-solving, there’s a legacy game out there for you.

Discover Your New Favorite Game

Are you looking for a new game to add to your collection? Look no further! With so many great games out there, it can be hard to know where to start. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

One of the best ways to discover new games is to read reviews and watch gameplay videos. Websites like Board Game Geek and YouTube are great resources for learning more about different games and seeing what other players think of them.

Another great way to discover new games is to attend gaming conventions and events. These events are a great way to meet other gamers and learn more about different games. Many conventions also feature demos and playtesting opportunities, allowing you to try out games before you buy them.

Finally, you might consider asking for recommendations from friends or fellow gamers. They may have played games that you haven’t tried yet, and can give you a sense of what to expect.

Overall, discovering new games is a fun and exciting process. Whether you’re a fan of strategy, exploration, or puzzle-solving, there’s a game out there for you. So why not start exploring today?

FAQ: Games Like Gloomhaven