Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion Game Review
Gloomhaven, a cooperative dungeon crawler, turned the game upside-down when it was published in 2017. It arrived in a small box that was the same size as a shipping container. With a price tag to match it, it offered a unique marriage of RPG-style character building and tactical combat. It is still a highly-rated board game that can be enjoyed by those who have the time, money and space to enjoy its many charms.Isaac Childres, a designer, has now created a simplified prequel for us all. Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion attempts to cut away the bloat of the original, leaving the core experience intact. As the titular mercenary team, you will guide them through 25 adventures to investigate mysterious disappearances.
Jaws of the Lion is packaged in a smaller box than the original. However, it still weighs the same as a treasure chest and is filled with cardboard gold. The majority of the weight is made up of standees to protect the 16 types of monsters as well as tokens to track stats and scenery. The package includes clear instructions and a storage tray.Four plastic miniatures of the players are included, as well as matching boxes containing their character sheets and cards. There are four additional small boxes that contain hidden surprises you can find during the campaign. These are not “legacy” games that allow you to change parts during play. These stickers and maps are unnecessary, as they can be seen as eye candy and distract from the game.