Lead your band of mercenaries in the land of Gloomhaven, work with unsavoury individuals, shape the fate of the region, fight your way through horrific places and get rich or die trying in this ruthless Tactical-RPG.
Players control a party of 2-4 mercenaries, each with unique abilities and skill cards. On every turn, players must strategically select two ability cards from their hand - one to use the top half and one to use the bottom half. This forces players to plan ahead and make tough decisions, as card usage is limited. The combat takes place on a hex-grid battlefield, requiring players to position their characters effectively to take advantage of the environment and set up devastating combos. Players praise this combat system as highly strategic and rewarding of careful planning.
As players progress, they can permanently unlock new ability cards for their characters, allowing them to expand their repertoire of skills and tactics. Characters also level up, granting them access to new abilities, stat increases, and perk enhancements that further customize their playstyle. This continuous character progression and deck-building creates a deeply rewarding sense of growth and mastery over one's chosen mercenary.
The game is renowned for its challenging and unforgiving difficulty. Players frequently find themselves narrowly surviving encounters, with one wrong move or unlucky dice roll leading to defeat. This high level of challenge forces players to approach each scenario with great care and precision, as failure often means restarting the entire mission. While some may find this frustrating, many players appreciate the sense of accomplishment that comes from overcoming these tough obstacles.
The game shines as a cooperative experience, with players needing to work together to coordinate their abilities and overcome the challenges. The varied character classes and skill sets encourage players to utilize each other's strengths, creating a satisfying team dynamic. Communication and tactical planning are key, as players must make difficult decisions that impact the entire party.
The digital adaptation features a branching narrative, with players' choices during missions and events having meaningful consequences on the storyline and the state of the game world. This sense of agency and impact on the overall campaign is praised by players, as it creates a greater sense of investment and ownership over the experience.