Campaign dungeon-crawling at its finest — the best Gloomhaven products ranked for every group size.
Gloomhaven is widely considered the greatest dungeon-crawling board game ever made, and its family of expansions and standalone games extends that experience across hundreds of additional hours. Whether you're a solo player, a veteran campaign group, or a newcomer trying to enter the universe without dropping $150 on the base box, there's a Gloomhaven product for you. This guide ranks them by accessibility, value, and campaign quality.
Standalone | 1-4 players
The best entry point into the Gloomhaven universe. Jaws of the Lion is a fully standalone game with a streamlined tutorial system built into the first five scenarios. It offers 25 scenarios, 4 unique character classes, and costs a fraction of the original Gloomhaven box. Ideal for new players and smaller apartments. Plays exactly like Gloomhaven but learns in 30 minutes.
Standalone / Companion | 1-4 players
The spiritual successor to Gloomhaven, set in the frozen north. Frosthaven is larger in scope than the original — 138 scenarios, 17 new character classes, crafting, outpost building, and seasonal events. It's both a standalone game and a partial continuation of Gloomhaven's story. The most ambitious dungeon-crawler ever made. Worth every penny for committed campaign groups.
Expansion | 1-4 players
The first major Gloomhaven expansion, adding 20 new scenarios, the Aesther Diviner character class, and a new puzzle-solving mechanic with circular overlay tiles. Forgotten Circles is a direct continuation of the main Gloomhaven campaign and requires completion of certain base game scenarios. Best played after finishing Gloomhaven, not before.
Expansion | 1 player
Seventeen solo scenarios, one for each Gloomhaven character class, each designed specifically for single-player campaigns. These scenarios are brutally tuned to test individual class mechanics and are among the hardest content in the Gloomhaven line. Essential for solo players who have completed the main campaign and want a challenge.
Standalone | 1 player
A solo-only micro-Gloomhaven released in 2022. Buttons & Bugs shrinks the dungeon-crawling experience to a pocket-sized format with 20 scenarios playable in 15-30 minutes each. Uses a card-based enemy AI and abstracted map tiles. Not a replacement for the full game but an excellent travel companion and palate cleanser between campaign sessions.
New players: Start with Jaws of the Lion — it's the fastest path into the Gloomhaven experience. Completed Gloomhaven? Buy Frosthaven next, it's the true sequel. Solo players: Jaws of the Lion + Solo Scenarios is a perfect one-two punch. Forgotten Circles should only be purchased after you have significant base game experience.