Gloomhaven is king of the hill over at BoardGameGeek (it's the number one ranked game of ALL the games), but then along comes the little sibling. Will the upstart show up their older relation? Or can they cannot compete with the bigger version?
For those who don't know anything about Gloomhaven, it was created by Isaac Childres and it is BIG. Twenty-two pounds of miniatures (18-ish), scenarios (100-ish), boards (a bunch) enemy standees (like a zillion), and every token and card imaginable (immeasurable). It's a cooperative campaign-style game with some legacy elements (stickers added and whatnot) taking place in a fantasy world created by Childres. You choose one of the starting characters and level up as you progress through the campaign, making choices that affect what happens to your party and what your character becomes. There's a whole lot more, but you can read about that in my review of the original game here.
in 2020, Childres made some kind of deal with Target to bring a scaled down version of Gloomhaven to the shelves, something that more than just hardcore gamers could get into it. Jaws of the Lion was born and contains around 25 scenarios, 4 characters, but still a buttload of enemies to battle and cards to acquire. How does Gloomhaven: Lite compare with the original? Let's find out together.
TOTAL PLAYS: 15 solo
COMPONENTS
The art is beautiful and enchanting, the miniatures are gorgeously sculpted, and all of the bits and chits are pretty standard but hold up nicely. I have somewhat mixed emotions about the coiled map book. On the negative side, not having the map pieces and all the terrain pieces makes it somewhat less thematic and engaging (not to mention that coil sticking up in the middle of the map). That being said, it makes setup extremely quick. Way quicker than the original. To me, that's worth it. Not many dungeon crawlers can set up a map this quickly. 5/5
RULES
The rules have definitely been stripped down here and, for the most part, I think that's a good thing. There are a few things that I miss from the original game (most importantly being able to summon minions), but overall it makes the game quicker to pick up. What Childres and his team have really done a great job is creating a tutorial. The first five missions slowly introduce you to the different rules, adding a little bit at a time, so that by the time you're released after those five missions, you are ready to fly! It was a great review for someone like me who has played some of the original game, but I know that it was a great help to my friends for whom this was their first foray to Gloomhaven. Being a relatively big and heavy game still, there are a lot of rules that you will need to double check the rule books for to clarify. There were a few things, especially regarding terrain, where I had to head back to the tutorial missions to find the answer and it wasn't very easy to track down. 4/5
GAMEPLAY
The basics of the game remain the same as the original and, for that, I am grateful. Your character starts off at level one with a hand of cards. During the game you play two of these cards that have a top and a bottom action to them as well as an initiative number. On your turn you decide which top and bottom action to use and smash all who oppose you! Or a variety of other missions and objectives. When you use your cards, they go in your discard pile and you need to rest to get them back. Your most powerful cards, however, get lost for good from the fight! You need to decide on the best time to use your most powerful attacks and abilities! From the way I'm rambling, can you tell I love the system? I think the card system is unique, strategic, and enjoyable. Adding new cards to your deck as you level up give you a good sense of customizability. 5/5
REPLAYABILITY
With two other characters that I haven't played yet, guaranteed I'll play through this campaign a second time with them. After two playthroughs, though, will there be enough for more? Probably not solo, but for sure with other players. Can I complain that much about getting 50-100 plays in with the same game? There is so much here that it's a blast to play the game and to replay the campaign as well because there is so much that can be different each time. Sure, compared to Gloomhaven or Frosthaven, there isn't nearly enough content, but to some people that might be overwhelming. In my books, there is lots of replay here. 5/5
FUN
Yes.
Oh, wait, you probably wanted more than that, hmm? I really love playing this game. Every scenario is a challenge and a puzzle to solve, with just enough chance involved that it keeps you on your toes. Different scenarios might work better with specific cards or equipment so you find yourself making changes after a loss. I love that. Characters are unique and play very different - my current campaign is with the Red Guard and the Demolitionist, and I use them completely differently. The only reason I play other games is because I like trying other games too. This is one I'll be hanging onto for a long time. 9/10
TOTAL SCORE: 28/30
In an attempt to get more casual gamers involved, this game has been paired down from the original to make it easier to get in to. What an accomplishment. Children has managed to trim down the fat that hardcore gamers appreciate (that they can still get in the regular game and the upcoming sequel, Frosthaven) while still maintaining the soul of Gloomhaven and the beauty of the card play and character development. For solo play, this makes the game much more accessible and easier to get to the table. Yay for me!
If you want more information on my review system, check out the full description here.
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