Frosthaven vs Gloomhaven: Which Epic Strategy Game Should You Buy?

Quick answer

Choose Gloomhaven if you want the original, more straightforward campaign and a lower entry cost. Choose Frosthaven if you want a bigger, more involved epic strategy board game and don't mind a longer setup and a higher price. If you already own Gloomhaven 1st Edition, the Class Upgrade Pack gives you the 2nd Edition classes without rebuying the whole game.

Frosthaven vs Gloomhaven is the comparison that decides a lot of board game budgets. Both are cooperative, campaign-driven dungeon crawlers from Cephalofair, but they ask for different amounts of table time, storage space, and money. This guide breaks down the real trade-offs using the store's catalog facts so you can pick the one that fits your group.

We will look at campaign scope, setup and storage, cost, and the upgrade path for existing Gloomhaven owners. You will also see how inserts and small add-on packs change the experience. By the end, you should know which box to buy first and what to add later.

Campaign scope and commitment

Gloomhaven is the original campaign that put Cephalofair on the map. It is a long, choice-heavy cooperative game, and the 1st Edition is the version most people already know. Frosthaven is the follow-up set in the northern outpost, and the catalog describes it as a full campaign experience that asks you to lead allies and manage a settlement. If your group meets weekly and wants a campaign that lasts months, both deliver.

The practical difference is how much you want to manage outside the dungeon. Frosthaven adds outpost decisions and more between-scenario bookkeeping. Gloomhaven 1st Edition keeps the focus tighter on the scenario loop. Neither is short. If you cannot commit to a recurring group, a smaller add-on like a mercenary pack is a better first step than either core box.

• Pick Gloomhaven if your group wants the classic campaign with fewer between-scenario systems.
• Pick Frosthaven if your group enjoys settlement management and a longer, more layered campaign.

Setup, storage, and table footprint

Both games have a lot of cards, tokens, and tiles, and setup time is the most common reason a campaign stalls. The catalog offers two official storage solutions for Frosthaven: the Frosthaven: Laserox Wooden Game Insert and the Frosthaven: Folded Space Game Insert. The Laserox insert is the Monster Box version with a big 5-level box for monsters, while the Folded Space insert is full-color foam core designed to keep the box as light as possible and let trays be used during play.

That is a real trade-off. The Laserox wooden insert sorts and stores everything with reduced setup and cleanup, but wood adds weight. The Folded Space foam core insert keeps the box lighter and its trays double as in-game organizers. Gloomhaven 1st Edition does not have a matching insert in this catalog, so if storage matters most, Frosthaven is the easier box to tame.

• Measure your shelf before buying either insert; both keep the original box footprint.
• If you transport your game, the lighter Folded Space insert is the friendlier choice.

Cost and the upgrade path

Gloomhaven 1st Edition is the lower-cost entry, and the catalog's Gloomhaven (1st Edition): Class Upgrade Pack to 2nd Edition is priced at USD 50.00 with a comparison price of USD 100.00. That pack contains all Gloomhaven 2nd Edition Class Envelopes with new artwork and graphic design, and it can also bring those updated mercenaries to Jaws of the Lion and Frosthaven. It includes 18 Class Envelopes, each with updated ability cards, an advance modifier deck, character mats, and character tokens.

Frosthaven is the bigger up-front purchase, and the two inserts add cost on top. If you already own Gloomhaven 1st Edition and want the newest class versions without rebuying the core game, the upgrade pack is the efficient move. If you are starting fresh and want the newest campaign, put your budget toward Frosthaven and add an insert when setup fatigue sets in.

• Existing Gloomhaven 1st Edition owners: the Class Upgrade Pack is cheaper than a new core box.
• New buyers: budget for the core game first, then an insert as a later upgrade.

Small add-ons that change the table

Mercenary packs let you add a single character without committing to a full campaign box. Anaphi: Fallen Lion - Mercenary Pack is a vermling mercenary from the Jaws of the Lion crew who now works the city sewers, using augments and summoning pests to aid your party. Satha: Mayor of Frosthaven - Mercenary Pack is the leader of the northern outpost, built to command allies, build confidence, and stand between your friends and defeat.

These are useful if you want to test a new playstyle or refresh a campaign you already own. They are not a substitute for a core box. If you are still deciding between Frosthaven and Gloomhaven, buy the core game first and treat mercenary packs as later rewards for finishing a scenario arc.

• Anaphi suits players who like summoned allies and augment-style support.
• Satha suits players who want a leadership role and party protection.

Trade-offs at a glance

• Gloomhaven 1st Edition: lower cost, classic campaign: The original campaign is the cheaper entry point and has a tighter scenario loop, but it lacks the newer outpost systems and does not have a matching official insert in this catalog. Best if you want the classic experience and plan to add the Class Upgrade Pack later.
• Frosthaven: bigger campaign, more setup: Frosthaven offers a larger, more layered campaign, but it asks for more table time and storage. The Laserox and Folded Space inserts exist specifically to cut setup and cleanup. Best if your group meets regularly and you are willing to invest in storage.
• Inserts: weight vs. convenience: The Laserox wooden insert is the Monster Box version with a 5-level monster box and reduced setup, while the Folded Space foam core insert keeps the box light and its trays work during play. Choose wood for maximum sorting, foam core for lighter transport and in-game trays.
• Mercenary packs: small add-on, not a core box: Anaphi and Satha add one character each with distinct support and leadership styles, but neither replaces a full campaign box. Buy a core game first; add mercenary packs to refresh a campaign you already own.

Catalog facts that matter

• Gloomhaven (1st Edition): Class Upgrade Pack to 2nd Edition: Contains all Gloomhaven 2nd Edition Class Envelopes with updated artwork and graphic design, including 18 Class Envelopes with updated ability cards, advance modifier deck, character mats, and character tokens; usable in Gloomhaven 1E, Jaws of the Lion, and Frosthaven. Gloomhaven 1st Edition owners can get the newest class versions without buying a whole new core box, and the classes also work in Frosthaven.
• Frosthaven: Laserox Wooden Game Insert: The Frostbox wooden insert from Laserox and Cephalofair sorts and stores cards and tokens for reduced setup and cleanup, and this is the Monster Box version that stores monsters in a big, 5-level box. If Frosthaven's setup is what keeps it off the table, this insert directly targets that problem, at the cost of added weight.
• Frosthaven: Folded Space Game Insert: Official full-color foam core insert compatible with Frosthaven by Folded Space, designed for efficient storage and improved gameplay while keeping the box as light as possible; trays can be used during the game. A lighter storage option that also speeds setup and clear-away, which matters if you move the game or have limited shelf strength.
• Anaphi: Fallen Lion - Mercenary Pack: A vermling mercenary from the Jaws of the Lion crew now carving her own path through the city sewers, ready to aid you and your allies with augments and by summoning Gloomhaven's most unsavory pests. A low-cost way to add a support-style character to an existing campaign without buying a new core box.

Which should you buy?

Best for

• Players who want the original Gloomhaven campaign at a lower entry cost.
• Existing Gloomhaven 1st Edition owners who want 2nd Edition classes via the Class Upgrade Pack.
• Groups that prefer a tighter scenario loop with less between-scenario management.

Not for

• Groups that cannot commit to a recurring campaign; try a mercenary pack instead.
• Players who want the newest, largest campaign and settlement systems; choose Frosthaven.
• Buyers who want a light, quick setup game out of the box; both need storage help.

Frosthaven and Gloomhaven are both epic strategy board games, but they reward different groups. Pick Gloomhaven for the classic campaign and a lower entry cost, or Frosthaven for a bigger, more layered experience. If you already own Gloomhaven 1st Edition, the Class Upgrade Pack is the smartest next purchase, and an insert will keep either box on the table.