Gloomhaven: How to Play

This Gloomhaven How to Play article collects the best resources to learn to play Gloomhaven in one spot.

Gloomhaven is a dungeon delving co-op adventure game. The principle innovation that makes the game unique is the card selection each turn that determines actions, movement, turn order, and overall adventure endurance. This mechanism benefits from being fast and fun. Some of the cards co train a lost mechanic for particularly powerful actions that tend to feel dramatic. This game also includes an incredible set of legacy mechanics, where you collect achievements and unlock new classes to play that each feels unique.

To say Gloomhaven is a popular game is a drastic understatement. Board Game Geek has consistently ranked Gloomhaven in the top 10 list of games since it released in 2017. If you haven’t picked it up get your copy as soon as possible. Also pick up the broken token organizer because this game is truly massive.

Learn to Play

Ideally, you picked up the Jaws of the Lion expansion. The first five missions ease your party into the game in a fun and engaging way. Complexity scales through the missions, and you’re introduced to player action cards that only include rules included in the scenario. After These five missions, the game expands into 20 full adventures.

If you do not have Jaws of the Lion, the best resource I’ve found for learning Gloomhaven is Role for Crit’s video. It is the shortest video that is both thorough and complete.