Frosthaven, the epic board game sequel, is now streamlined for your screen.
Frosthaven is the long-awaited follow-up to Gloomhaven, the popular campaign board game with deep tactical gameplay and a huge story that captivated tabletop fans all over the world. With a mix of card-based dungeon crawler and detailed world building, Snapshot Games have found their own niche.
After years of huge success and a lot of physical box releases, Snapshot Games took a big step forward by bringing Frosthaven to the digital world. They automated the complicated rules and board management that scared many people but excited die-hard players.
This digital version, which was published by Arc Games and released in Early Access on Steam, was meant to keep most of the game’s features while getting rid of the hassles of setup and rulebooks. This move shows that companies are aware of how gaming is changing, with more and more physical and digital games being used together for ease of access and comfort.
The story is based on the famous Frosthaven setting of a grim northern town under attack by orcs and other horrible creatures. Your group of adventurers steps in to take back the town, take care of the resources, and build buildings to make the defenses stronger and the gear better.
The story is told through mission-based scenarios, and each one has different goals beyond simple “kill everything” tasks. For example, you may have to accompany NPCs, defend places, fix structures, and more. This makes the story and gameplay very different.
The world comes to life with the help of detailed storylines, moody artwork on the cards, and voiceovers driven by Forteller, a well-known app that goes with board games. This digital life brings new life to what used to be dry, text-heavy explanations in the actual box.
Frosthaven is a card-based dungeon crawler game that can be played by one to four people, either alone or with other people. You can choose from a wide range of classes, some of which have unique forms or cards with more than one choice, and then you can fight on hex-based maps.
Every round, each player picks two action cards, and the enemy player draws one card for their turn. You have to be careful with the cards they have because you lose the scenario if they run out. Frosthaven also lets you run a town. The resources you get from tasks let you make gear and build structures that improve your adventuring skills.
The rules for the digital version are almost exactly the same as the rules for the physical version—about 99% identical. However, enemy movement, initiative tracking, loot collection, and special scenario rules that would normally slow down play are automated. This makes the game more than twice as fast as playing at a table, especially when you skip setting up and taking down.
Combat is a complex mix of managing cards and deciding where to stand in battle. You can use your two-card actions to move, attack, heal, buff, or use special powers. The enemy AI follows scripted patterns based on the cards they are dealt, so you have to plan ahead and move strategically.
Frosthaven has unique “mini-games” inside missions that require you to do things other than just killing everything. For example, you may have to protect points, accompany allies, or solve puzzle-like goals. Some cards have more than one choice, like a four-choice card, which makes Frosthaven more difficult.
Some classes change forms, and each form has its own pool of cards. This requires knowledge of timing and allocating resources. The pace of battle is carefully controlled so that planning is more important than pressing buttons quickly.
The digital version has an end-of-scenario stats screen that shows how well you did in each part and suggests builds that work best. Frosthaven‘s combat is great because it’s deep and varied. Each task feels new and difficult thanks to the changing scenarios and added class mechanics. The card-based system with initiative timing makes you think about their choices and handle your hands carefully.
Those who can guess what their enemies will do and use buffs wisely will be rewarded. But the complexity can be scary, especially at the beginning. There are too many rules to keep track of in physical games, which slows down sessions and makes it harder to concentrate. This is called “feature creep.” This is where the digital version really shines; it takes care of the boring paperwork so you can focus on strategy.
Some people might find the UI hard to use because they have to click more than once to see stats or things, which could make it take longer to make quick decisions. Also, the lack of physical parts that can be touched might make it less appealing to people who really like board games. Overall, the combat system strikes a good mix between faithful adaptation and quality-of-life improvements. It speeds things up a lot without giving up any strategic depth.
Frosthaven has many ways to move forward. When you finish tasks, you’ll get loot and resources that you can use to improve your gear and grow your town. This will then let you access new crafting recipes and abilities. Your character’s growth is directly linked to this economy, which makes you want to keep playing both the strategic battle and resource management layers.
Even though XP and levels aren’t exactly like experience points in RPGs, the game’s growth system is based on unlocking cards, gear, and town buildings that make your strategy and ability to stay alive better. This makes it fun to keep exploring, crafting, and building, and it makes each task feel like it has a purpose in the bigger picture of your campaign. The digital version automatically keeps track of resources and task results, which makes grinding less frustrating while still giving you a satisfying sense of growth.
Frosthaven looks nice without being too flashy. Animations bring the otherwise static parts of the board game to life: characters attack, foes skitter, and loot sparkles in an inviting way. You can change the speed of Frosthaven to your liking by speeding up animations by up to 5 times. You can either enjoy the details more or rush through routine fights.
The art quality is great, and the story events and cards are beautifully drawn to add personality and make you feel like you’re really there. The clear graphics help newcomers quickly understand what’s going on in the fight. Also, Frosthaven works well on a wide range of hardware, from high-end systems to sets that don’t need much power. This means that a lot of people can play it.
Sound design adds to the mood by adding subtle effects to attacks, movements, and the overall atmosphere of the surroundings. Voiceovers on story parts and card descriptions improve the way stories are told by adding emotional weight and variety.
The music isn’t too loud, but it fits the mood, alternating between dark cave crawler sounds and happier town-building sounds. The sound is well put together and makes you feel more immersed without ever being annoying or repetitive. Frosthaven Digital shows how to make a complicated board game work on a PC. It makes Frosthaven easier for new players to get into by automating complicated rules and game state management. It also speeds up play while keeping the tactical depth and story complexity that fans love.
Frosthaven is fun to play because it combines tactical card battles with strategy and town/resource management. Even though there are some UI quirks, the general experience is better and easier to use than the physical version, especially when playing by yourself or with a small group.
If Frosthaven‘s long rulebook or crowded board have scared you away, this digital version is the perfect way to start an epic game. Frosthaven is fun and challenging, no matter if you’re a seasoned fan or just curious about this type of game.
