Frosthaven

Like Gloomhaven, the board game Frosthaven is being adapted for digital platforms. This time, however, it is being developed by Snapshot Games, led by X-COM creator Julian Gollop.

Frosthaven by Isaac Childres (Cephalofair Games) ranks 22nd in the Board Game Geek rankings, while his previous game, Gloomhaven (2017), ranks 4th. Like Gloomhaven, Frosthaven is being adapted into a video game, and will be judged not only on how well the board game's complexity is transferred to the screen, but also against the digital adaptation of Gloomhaven, which spent almost two years in Early Access (Early Access: October 2021; Release: September 2023).

This dark fantasy tactical RPG serves as a spiritual successor to Gloomhaven. It can be played in single-player mode or in co-op online multiplayer mode. There are six starting character classes, including the Banner Spear, Boneshaper, Drifter, Geminate, Blinkblade and Deathwalker. Each class has its own unique set of abilities and playstyles to master. Like Gloomhaven, this game uses a turn-based combat system involving cards, each of which is divided into two parts: an action at the top and an action at the bottom. However, players can only select and execute one of these actions per card, whether it be movement, an action, or a combat skill. There are also opportunities for powerful combos, as well as defensive and party buffs. Many of the mechanics could be explained and clarified more clearly in the current version, especially since battles can be quite challenging. Mastering the mechanics requires careful planning and strategic decision-making.

Players must balance risk and reward, striving for the best synergies between the classes in their party. Outside of combat, it is important to handle resources carefully in order to progress through the campaign and manage the Outpost by constructing and upgrading various buildings, unlocking new game features and mechanics. However, city management does seem time-consuming.

Despite being in Early Access, Frosthaven still feels unfinished. The introduction could be more straightforward and accessible, and many UI/UX elements seem unfinished or complicated. The developers have a lot of work to do in this area, although the design of the game world and characters is well executed. On a positive note, there are numerous difficulty levels and speed options in the campaign, including the ability to speed up battles.

Frosthaven started on 31 July 2025 on PC in Early Access (Steam and Epic Games Store - with Nvidia GeForce Now support) for €38.99. The Early Access release features over 35 quests across Acts 1 and 2, with more than 130 planned for the campaign as development continues. Available content includes single-player and online co-op multiplayer modes, eight characters (including six starting characters and two unlockable characters), and more than 100 choice-driven events, with quests and events featuring voice-over narration from Forteller Games. Early Access is expected to last approximately one year, but this may change depending on player feedback. Further content is planned for release in game updates at approximately three-monthly intervals.

"(...) The time will come for everyone to jump into Frosthaven in Early Access and see for themselves how we brought the beloved board game to life in the video game world. [The] launch will be such a major and incredible moment for all of us at Snapshot Games - and we'd like to thank Isaac and the Cephalofair Games for working with us to bring their game to the digital realm every step of the way, along with our fantastic community, friends and colleagues for the incredible support to get us to this point. But things don’t stop here, tomorrow’s Early Access launch will be just the beginning of Frosthaven's adventure and we look forward to players joining us every step of the way in the game's Early Access period and beyond!" - Julian Gollop, CEO of Snapshot Games

Frosthaven is being developed by Snapshot Games, a video game development studio founded in Sofia, Bulgaria in 2013 by Julian Gollop (designer of the original X-COM games) and David Kaye (a serial entrepreneur in the games industry). The studio has previously released Phoenix Point (2020) and Chaos Reborn (2015). They are currently also working on the action-strategy game Chip 'n' Clawz vs. the Brainioids. In 2020, Snapshot joined the Embracer Group. Initially part of Saber Interactive, Snapshot is no longer part of Saber following the demerger. Incidentally, the predecessor, Gloomhaven, was developed by Flaming Fowl Studios and Saber Interactive, and published by Twin Sails Interactive.

Frosthaven's publisher is Arc Games, which is a publisher of premium and live service games in North America, Europe and Asia. Arc Games is known for its work on the Remnant series, Hyper Light Breaker, Fellowship, Have a Nice Death, Frosthaven, the Torchlight series, Star Trek Online and Neverwinter. Originally founded in 2008 as the North American subsidiary of the Chinese publisher Perfect World Entertainment, the company was acquired by Embracer in February 2022 as part of Gearbox Publishing. Following the Embracer restructuring at Perfect World Entertainment and Gearbox Publishing in April 2024, it was later rebranded as Arc Games. Arc Games is headquartered in Redwood City, California, with global offices in Amsterdam and Shanghai. Arc Games is still part of the Embracer Group, Gearbox is now part of 2K Games.

The original board game was created by Cephalofair Games, a board game company founded by Isaac Childres and responsible for Gloomhaven and Frosthaven. Childres is also serving as a consultant on the digital project. Asmodee is acting as the distribution partner for the physical board games.

"I am so excited for fans to experience this massive game digitally. It is marvelous to see the world realized in such beautiful detail." - Isaac Childres, Game Designer/CEO of Cephalofair Games

"It's an absolute pleasure to be working with Snapshot and Arc on this project. Building on the strong legacy of Gloomhaven, Frosthaven is an amazing implementation of the tabletop original that will appeal to longstanding fans of the IP and newcomers alike." Christian Dunn, Interactive Licensing Manager for Asmodee

Conclusion

Following in the footsteps of Gloomhaven, Frosthaven's move into Early Access is a good idea. The foundations are solid and the ambitions are high, but there is still much to be done.