For board game enthusiasts, there is a delicate balance between a game that drags on for too long and one that is truly engaging. Many board games feature complex rules or intricate gameplay, making it feel as though you are either engaged in a chess match or trying to navigate a minefield. Frosthaven, the 2017 sequel to Gloomhaven, has always been one of those board games that manages to be a top pick amongst friends, and now, developer Snapshot Games Inc. has developed a video game version.
The transition from cardstock and plastic to a graphics engine was faithfully replicated, and fans of the classic will find the same joy in playing with their friends, both locally and online. However, there are still a few nuances that those unfamiliar with Frosthaven might find confusing or complicated.
Hard to Play, Hard to Master
The gameplay of Frosthaven resembles that of a deckbuilder in that each of the four potential allies you can have in play moves and attacks based on two selected cards from a pool. On each ally’s turn, you can choose one movement card and one attack card, allowing for a variety of strategies. However, I found the user interface for the attack and movement cards somewhat challenging to navigate, as it relied heavily on in-game jargon. While the attacks and movements themselves were visually impressive, I often encountered situations where I selected moves that I couldn’t use during that turn.
I acknowledge that my difficulties might be due to my lack of familiarity with the original board game. However, even after going through the tutorial, I still encountered some challenges. That said, I did have fun. Every time I defeated an enemy or completed a mission, I felt a great sense of accomplishment and was able to use my losses to better understand different, more unconventional ways to succeed.
Missions aren’t the only kind of gameplay available in Frosthaven; there is also what’s in between each mission. This is where the gameplay changes up again, asking you to build, maintain, and defend your outpost from enemies. This was personally my favorite part of the game, as I feel that it was far more accessible and simpler to understand for those looking to simply play the experience without prior knowledge of the board game.
Needs Some More ‘Oomph’
I was certainly impressed with the visual style of Frosthaven and the execution of the varying moves that can be selected, but there are a few things that needed some more polish before it goes out to the masses. More specifically, I felt that the tutorial, jargon, and general explainer of the gameplay systems should be more polished and straightforward. As it stands right now, it’s a bit difficult to follow and, as a result, makes it easy to get frustrated against mobs of enemies.
Whenever you land a major hit or make a precise move on the board, it brings a great sense of satisfaction. Defeating enemies with carefully chosen attacks gives me the same feeling as when I play a physical board game and manually remove pieces from the board. I hope that developer Snapshot Games Inc. will enhance what they’ve already showcased in the demo and possibly simplify some of the language for those of us who want to introduce our friends to the wonderful world of board games.
Frosthaven’s demo is available to play on PC via Steam.
