Frosthaven Preview – Another digital haven is on the horizon

by

Among board game aficionados and crowdfunding supporters, it’s unlikely that many are unfamiliar with the games Frosthaven or Gloomhaven. These colossal legacy board games have significantly influenced the concept of board game publishing due to their success on Kickstarter. Now, Frosthaven is transitioning from the world of physical games to your computer screens, thanks to a new digital version being developed by Snapshot Games. RPGSite had an early look at and played a test build prior to the beta launch next week, and what we experienced was noteworthy and left us eager.

In essence, Frosthaven is a comprehensive board game developed by Isaac Childres and Cephalofair Games, following on from his previous title Gloomhaven set in the same world. It’s essentially a continuation with many shared elements. The game offers 17 distinct characters for players to pick, each with unique talents and ability cards. These characters embark on quests, delve into the frozen north, and collect resources that can be used to construct and fortify an outpost. The campaign is made up of over a hundred diverse scenarios where your choices influence the outcomes and future possibilities. In summary, Frosthaven is a vast board game, and its digital rendition promises to be equally expansive.

Frosthaven represents the second digital conversion of a game by Cephalofair, following Gloomhaven in 2021. Unlike Gloomhaven, which was developed by another studio, this time around it’s Arc Games handling the project (they acquired the source code from the previous developers of Gloomhaven). In a conversation with Hristo Petkov, the game’s Director, and Rossen Cholakov, its Lead Game Designer, they emphasized their goal is not only to create an enjoyable and accurate adaptation but also to work closely with Isaac Childres to perfect the digital aspects of Gloomhaven and enhance what was lacking. Having played Gloomhaven before, I can confidently say that based on current developments, the team seems to be excelling in their endeavors.

For three years now, the digital version of Frosthaven has been under development, and one of the team’s primary objectives is to enhance clarity and simplify the presentation of information for players – quite a challenge in a game with numerous systems and mechanics. One approach they have taken to achieve this goal is by implementing a feature that allows users to obtain essential data about any item they are currently hovering over, such as cards, enemies, terrain, etc., simply by pressing one button. This feature is user-friendly, efficient, and most importantly, it provides immediate access to information which can be closed once the required details have been gathered.















Regarding the visual aspect, despite the demo being a pre-release version, the graphics were captivating, boasting vibrant and intricate enemy and character models, as well as dynamic-looking battlefield landscapes. However, what truly caught my attention was Frosthaven’s outpost map and its structures, which showcased an almost artistic style reminiscent of paintings. The development and expansion of your outpost is a key element that sets Frosthaven apart from its predecessor. It’s heartening to see the effort and thoughtfulness put into this seemingly stationary screen.

Snapshot Games is leveraging their team’s knowledge in strategy games to create an enhanced version of Frosthaven, aiming to captivate not only board game enthusiasts but also tactical video game fans and even those who admire Baldur’s Gate 3. The improved visuals, outpost-building mechanics, and faster gameplay have made this game feel more like a tactical experience compared to its predecessor, which felt more like a digital board game. However, rest assured that the strategic card-based gameplay and challenging decision-making that you’ve grown to appreciate still remain. The team is aiming to broaden their appeal, but it remains to be seen if they will succeed. For seasoned Frosthaven players, this new edition has been likened to a “read the book, now watch the movie” situation. Some scenarios have been slightly modified and adjusted, with platforming scenarios taking months to adapt, so there will be fresh content for experienced players to explore.

Out of curiosity, I wondered if the team behind Haven games was considering mod support and enabling players to craft custom quests. Hristo and Rossen confirmed they will, but with a caveat: while modding will be accessible once the game is fully released, they’re still determining the scope of the tools they’ll offer. For now, they don’t aim for it to be extensive due to time limitations during development. Yet, they didn’t exclude the prospect of expanding it through future updates or patches. Additionally, they are examining the potential of offering the original Gloomhaven characters as DLC post-release, which could enrich the games’ world by delving deeper into each character’s lore.

Experiencing the joy of getting friends together for a game of Frosthaven is quite an accomplishment, and these digital adaptations make it even easier for players to explore these colossal worlds – always a good thing! At present, the game is approximately 80% finished, with plans to enter early access later in the year. Excitingly, potential groups of players won’t have to wait much longer to give it a try, as Snapshot Games announced today that an open beta will commence on March 27 and run until April 24. I can hardly contain my excitement to jump back in, spend more time with the game, and uncover the secrets buried within the Frost!

  

Read More

2025-03-21 02:26