Gloomhaven is one of those games that sounds exciting until you see the enormous box, lengthy rulebook and all the pieces inside. It is a major commitment, especially if no one in your group has played it before.

Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion offers a much easier way into the world of Gloomhaven. It is a standalone campaign with a smaller box, fewer scenarios and a tutorial that teaches the rules as you play.

It is more approachable than the original game, but that does not mean it is a light or simple board game. There is still plenty to learn, plan and keep track of. The difference is that Jaws of the Lion does a much better job of introducing everything gradually.

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Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion Quick Facts

• Players: 1–4
• Recommended age: 14 and older
• Playtime: Approximately 1–2 hours per scenario
• Complexity: Medium
• Genre: Cooperative campaign game and tactical dungeon crawler
• Game mechanics: Hand management, card-driven combat, action selection, variable player powers and character progression
• Themes: Fantasy, mercenaries, dungeon exploration and tactical combat
• Campaign: 25 branching scenarios
• Setup time: Low, especially compared to the original Gloomhaven

What Is Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion?

How Does Jaws of the Lion Play?

Each character has a hand of ability cards. At the beginning of a round, you choose two cards. You use the top action from one and the bottom action from the other.

Those cards cover just about everything your character can do, including moving, attacking, healing and using special abilities. They also help decide when your character acts during the round.

The catch is that some cards are lost as the scenario continues. Use too many of your strongest abilities early, and your character may run out of cards before the fight is over.

It takes a little time to get used to, but deciding when to use or save a card is a big part of the game.

The First Five Scenarios Teach You How to Play

The first five scenarios act as the tutorial. Instead of handing you every rule at once, the game starts small and adds something new with each scenario.

The early character cards even include extra instructions explaining what the different symbols and actions mean. By the end of the fifth scenario, the training wheels are off and you are ready to continue the campaign.

This is one of the biggest reasons to start here instead of jumping directly into the original Gloomhaven. You learn the game by playing it instead of trying to memorize a giant rulebook first.

Four Playable Characters

Jaws of the Lion includes four characters, and each one has a different role and play style.

Valrath Red Guard

The Red Guard is the closest thing the group has to a traditional tank. He can protect the group, fight at close range and manipulate enemy positions with his hooks and chains.

Inox Hatchet

Hatchet specializes in ranged attacks. His signature ability involves throwing his favorite hatchet at an enemy and then recovering it so it can be used again.

He is one of the more straightforward characters and a good choice for someone who enjoys dealing damage without standing directly next to every enemy.

Quatryl Demolitionist

The Demolitionist is built around destroying obstacles and using the environment during combat. She can hit hard and move around the battlefield, but her smaller hand size means card management is especially important.

Human Voidwarden

The Voidwarden is a support and control character. She can assist other party members, manipulate enemies and sometimes force enemies to attack one another.

Her abilities can be powerful, but they may require more planning than some of the other characters.

A Scenario Book Replaces the Map Tiles

If you like the Gloomhaven system but would rather let a computer handle the setup, rules and enemy movement, read our Gloomhaven: Digital Edition review.

Is Jaws of the Lion Easier Than Gloomhaven?

Jaws of the Lion is easier to learn and set up than Gloomhaven, but I would not call it an easy game.

The tutorial helps a lot, but the combat can still be challenging. Your group has to plan together, manage its cards and be willing to change strategies when something is not working.

Think of it as a more manageable version of Gloomhaven, not a light family game. It also has a full campaign of its own, so you never have to move on to the original game unless you want to.

Who Should Buy Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion?

This game may be a good choice if:

• You want to try Gloomhaven without starting with the enormous original game.
• Your group enjoys cooperative games that require planning.
• You like campaigns with character progression.
• You want a game that will last for more than a few game nights.

It may not be the best choice if:

• You prefer short, casual games.
• You dislike managing cards and tokens.
• Your group cannot commit to an ongoing campaign.
• You want something that can be taught and finished in one sitting.

Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion Pros and Cons

Pros

• Excellent five-scenario tutorial
• Much easier to learn than the original Gloomhaven
• Scenario book reduces setup time
• Four characters with very different abilities
• Substantial campaign in a smaller box
• Can be played without owning another Gloomhaven game
• Supports solo play, although one person will need to manage more than one character
• Offers a lot of playtime for the price

Cons

• Still more complicated than a typical entry-level board game
• Scenarios can take two hours or longer when players are learning
• Requires a group willing to commit to a campaign
• Contains plenty of cards, tokens and components to organize
• Players who dislike hand management may find the combat frustrating

Do You Need the Removable Sticker Set?

The campaign includes stickers that are placed on the city map as new locations become available. A removable sticker set is helpful if you do not want to make permanent changes to the original components.

It is worth considering if you might reset the campaign, sell the game later or pass it on to someone else. You can still play without it, so skip this extra if permanent changes do not bother you.

Is a Jaws of the Lion Organizer Necessary?

An organizer is another optional upgrade. The game already includes storage for its components, so you can play without purchasing anything extra.

A separate organizer can still be helpful if you want individual trays for player components or would like to reduce the amount of sorting required before and after each game.

We used a Broken Token organizer, but that one has become harder to find. The Smonex organizer below is a similar option made specifically for Jaws of the Lion.

Is Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion Worth It?

If the original Gloomhaven looks interesting but also completely overwhelming, start with Jaws of the Lion.

You still get the tactical combat, character upgrades and ongoing campaign, but the tutorial and scenario book make everything easier to learn and set up. It is still a commitment, and it is not the game I would pull out for a quick, casual game night. But it is a much less intimidating way to find out whether Gloomhaven is right for you.

You may finish the campaign and decide you are ready for the enormous original game. You may also decide that Jaws of the Lion gave you enough of the Gloomhaven experience. Either way, it works as a complete game on its own.

If this still sounds like more than you want to take on, start with one of these easy board games for beginners instead.

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