Gloomhaven Jaws of the Lion delivers a strategy RPG adventure on PC that adapts the popular board game expansion into a digital format focused on tactical combat and campaign progression.
Gameplay
Players control one of four mercenaries in turn-based encounters that emphasize card management and positioning. Each mercenary operates from a unique ability deck and an attack modifier deck that can receive enhancements over time. Combat involves selecting cards for actions while accounting for initiative order and line of sight against opponents. Road events present branching choices that affect the party before scenarios begin. Battle goals add secondary objectives that reward specific behaviors during fights. The core loop centers on preparing for missions, executing precise attacks, and managing resources across linked scenarios that advance an overarching plot.
Game Modes
The title supports solo play for a single mercenary or cooperative sessions with up to four participants. New mercenaries and items integrate directly into the Guildmaster mode as well as the base Gloomhaven campaign structure. Multiplayer co-op requires every participant to own the content for full access. Scenarios unfold in a connected sequence rather than isolated missions, allowing progression through an extended storyline while maintaining the tactical ruleset across both single and group sessions.
The Mercenaries
Four distinct characters anchor the experience. The Red Guard provides frontline durability, the Hatchet focuses on ranged precision, the Demolitionist brings area control through explosives, and the Voidwarden manipulates battlefield conditions in subtle ways. Each brings separate playstyles supported by fully customizable decks that evolve through enhancements. Players select and switch among these options depending on the scenario demands or preferred approach to encounters.
Scenarios and Enemies
Twenty-five scenarios form a continuous narrative that leads into the undercity of Gloomhaven. Ten new enemy types and bosses appear throughout, including Zealots and Chaos Demons that introduce fresh attack patterns and abilities. Twenty-two road events add decision points between missions, while ten new items and twenty-four additional battle goals expand options for survival and performance. The content maintains the grim tone of the setting through these additions without altering the foundational tactical systems.
Is It Worth Playing?
Gloomhaven Jaws of the Lion suits players who value deliberate strategy and character progression in an RPG adventure format. The combination of solo flexibility and cooperative depth allows different group sizes to engage with the same campaign content. Those drawn to card-driven combat, meaningful choices in events, and incremental deck building will find consistent engagement across the new scenarios and mercenaries. The requirement for all co-op players to own the content ensures balanced access in group play. Overall the package expands the existing tactical framework with fresh options that reward repeated sessions and careful planning.
