Where to Start

There are a lot of 'Haven games -- what should you play, and in what order? And how does your own personal experience, player count, or preferences influence it all? Let's break it down.

We recommend that most groups start with Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion (JOTL). There's several reasons for this worth considering. First off, JOTL is just a smaller game than its bigger siblings. And while we think you're going to love it, if you don't then it was a smaller investment to see what you think of the Gloomhaven system.

Second, the game comes with a full "learn to play" tutorial system that walks you through the first five scenarios of the campaign, teaching you all the important rules in steps as you go. No other game (to this date) has that level of tutorial.

Third, it's a bit of a smaller physical footprint -- the game is played on a map booklet instead of setting up tiles and laying out terrain pieces as you do in the bigger games. This means it's just quicker and easier to play, another big plus for a game you're trying to see what you think of.

And finally, it's highly recommended! This game has long been in the top 15 on Board Game Geek's list of every board game of all time, with an average rating of 8.3 out of 10. On Amazon it has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 on over 5,000 reviews. It's a well-regarded game for a reason!

If you play Jaws of the Lion and enjoy it, then we would strongly recommend moving on to Gloomhaven next. Specifically the newest edition, nicknamed 2nd Edition. This game is just a much bigger, deeper experience than the smaller JOTL. With 101 scenarios compared to 25, 18 playable classes compared to 4, and the addition of elements such as personal quests, retirement, reputation, enhancements, a puzzle book, and so much more -- this just gives you the full 'Haven experience. Gloomhaven was long rated the #1 board game of all time on Boardgamegeek, and the new 2025 2nd edition improves on many aspects of the original to create the best playing experience possible.

You can often find First Edition Gloomhaven online for cheaper than 2nd Edition - it has a darker box with more bright red tones - which is fine if that's in your budget. But 2nd Edition is completely rebalanced and a way better play experience overall. It encompasses everything the Cephalofair team learned with First Edition Gloomhaven and Jaws of the Lion and is a tighter play experience in every way. We're not just saying this - checkout out the numerous Reddit comments about this.

If you finish Gloomhaven and want the biggest, deepest, most complex experience we offer, Frosthaven would come next. With almost 140 scenarios, Frosthaven goes in depth on story and substance, with you fighting to survive in the frigid north while building up the outpost of Frosthaven through a variety of town-building mechanics. This game is intended for 'Haven veterans, and is not only the biggest, but the most difficult game Cephalofair has made to date.

If giant games aren't up your alley but you're still interested in testing out the Gloomhaven system on your own, Buttons and Bugs is a great place to start. This tiny solo game can be played on an airplane tray as you travel and is extremely affordable to pick up. While it has some small mechanical differences with the core 'Haven games, it mostly replicates the system in a tiny solo format. If you enjoy playing solo games or working on puzzles by yourself, Buttons and Bugs (and its expansion, Pub Crawlers) are a great option.