Frosthaven
" Deep tactical RPG strategy with rich co-op and base building, but plagued by bugs and UI issues "
Frosthaven Review
Frosthaven, currently in early access, is a faithful and ambitious digital adaptation of the complex Frosthaven board game, favored by veterans of its predecessor Gloomhaven. Players praise its deep tactical gameplay, unique character classes, and improved RPG elements, including base management and crafting. The game's visuals and art are well-received, though some character models appear cartoonish to certain players. The interface offers quality-of-life improvements like animation speed-up and auto-equipping items, but many users find the UI confusing and lacking in tooltips, especially for newcomers unfamiliar with the board game.
However, numerous bugs and stability issues, particularly in multiplayer, hinder the current experience. Desynchronization, crashes, and long load times are frequently reported. The game's complexity and steep learning curve can frustrate new players, compounded by unclear card icons and inconsistent mechanics. Despite these flaws, dedicated fans find the early access content engaging and look forward to ongoing polish and content completion.
Highlights
Players highly praise Frosthaven's deep and tactical gameplay mechanics, with each character class offering unique and rewarding playstyles. The RPG elements, including base building and resource management, add meaningful progression. The game's graphics and art style are considered excellent, enhancing immersion. The storyline and scenario design offer creative and engaging challenges, with voice acting adding to the atmosphere. Improvements over Gloomhaven, such as faster animations and better inventory management, are appreciated. Multiplayer co-op play, when stable, is enjoyed for its cooperative strategy and camaraderie.
Criticisms
Common criticisms focus on numerous bugs and technical issues, especially multiplayer desynchronization, crashes, and long load times. The UI is often described as confusing and lacking helpful tooltips, making it difficult for new and even veteran players to understand card effects and game mechanics. Some players find the card iconography inconsistent and harder to parse compared to Gloomhaven. The game's difficulty settings can be misleading, and onboarding for newcomers is insufficient. Additionally, some character designs and writing receive mixed feedback, with calls for improved clarity and polish. Optimization and performance issues also detract from the experience.
Pros
- • Deep tactical gameplay with unique and rewarding character classes.
- • Engaging RPG elements including base building and resource management.
- • Excellent graphics and art style enhancing immersion.
- • Creative and challenging scenario design with story integration.
- • Quality-of-life improvements like animation speed-up and auto-equip.
- • Faithful and ambitious adaptation of the Frosthaven board game.
- • Voice acting adds atmosphere and narrative depth.
Cons
- • Numerous bugs causing crashes and multiplayer desynchronization.
- • Confusing UI with lack of tooltips and unclear card icons.
- • Steep learning curve and poor onboarding for new players.
- • Inconsistent and hard-to-parse card mechanics and symbols.
- • Misleading difficulty modes and unbalanced challenge spread.
- • Long load times and high resource usage affecting performance.
- • Some character designs and writing feel unpolished or unclear.
Rating Criteria
From the creative mind of Isaac Childres, the highly acclaimed board game moves to the digital realm in the video game adaptation of FROSTHAVEN! The dark fantasy tactical RPG features deep mechanics and challenging yet satisfying gameplay both in Single Player and Co-Op Online Multiplayer.