Gloomhaven on PS5 delivers a tactical RPG experience centered on card-driven combat and strategic decision making in a dark fantasy setting. Players lead parties of mercenaries through scenario-based adventures, managing resources and abilities while facing tough choices that shape outcomes.
Gameplay
The core loop revolves around turn-based tactical battles on hex grids. Each mercenary carries a unique deck of ability cards, and every round requires selecting two cards to play. One card provides its top action while the other supplies its bottom action, creating combinations for movement, attacks, support effects, and special abilities. An attack modifier deck adds variability to damage without relying on dice rolls.
Between scenarios, parties return to the city to spend gold on equipment and items that provide lasting advantages. Characters level up through experience, unlocking new cards and enhancements that permanently improve abilities. Short rests recover discarded cards at the cost of burning one randomly, while long rests allow more control over recovery but consume a full turn. The system rewards careful planning around initiative order, positioning, and resource management as decks shrink over the course of a scenario.
Seventeen mercenaries offer distinct playstyles through their card pools and thematic focuses, encouraging experimentation with party compositions. Enemies follow predictable but varied behaviors that demand adaptation, and environmental elements like traps add further layers to positioning and timing.
Game Modes
Campaign mode follows the full branching narrative of the original tabletop game. Players complete linked scenarios with lasting consequences that affect future events, city developments, and available missions. Progression feels deliberate, with character retirement and new unlocks tied to achievements across the story.
Guildmaster mode serves as a digital-exclusive alternative with a faster pace and altered progression system. It features over 160 missions divided into categories such as travel, jobs, story, and relics, alongside a built-in tutorial that teaches core rules through guided play. Characters and guilds remain separate from the campaign.
A sandbox option unlocks all mercenaries immediately and generates procedural dungeons for open-ended play. Both primary modes support solo control of up to four characters or online co-op with up to three others, including cross-platform support for flexible group sessions.
Content and Progression
The game includes dozens of scenarios with varied objectives beyond simple combat, such as protecting objectives or navigating hazards. Over a thousand abilities across the mercenary roster allow deep customization through card selection and enhancements. Loot and gold earned during missions fund upgrades that carry forward within a given playthrough.
Jaws of the Lion content adds four additional classes along with new missions and enemies that expand the available roster and storylines. Solo-focused scenarios provide tailored challenges for individual mercenaries, each rewarding unique items suited to that class.
Is It Worth Playing?
Gloomhaven suits players who enjoy dense tactical systems and long-form campaigns where every decision matters. The card combat creates satisfying moments of synergy and risk management that reward repeated playthroughs with different parties. Co-op sessions highlight the strengths of coordination, while solo play remains viable through the flexible party control options.
Reception has been positive overall, with praise for the faithful adaptation of the tabletop mechanics and the depth of character variety. Some players note that the deliberate pace and interface elements can feel cumbersome during extended solo sessions. The game maintains an active player base years after its console release, indicating ongoing interest in its systems.
Those seeking a challenging strategy RPG with meaningful progression and replayability through multiple modes will find substantial value here. It appeals most to fans of turn-based tactics who appreciate learning complex but rewarding rulesets over time.
