Has a tactical RPG ever been this frigid?

Introduction

There are few board games that have received the level of critical acclaim and commercial success as Frosthaven’s predecessor. Now, its digital adaptation is looking to continue the legacy. The tabletop version of this game, an epic in its own right, has been masterfully translated to the digital space, bringing its immense depth and complexity to a new audience. Stepping into this world is a daunting proposition, as the ruleset is dense and unforgiving, but the rewards for those who persevere are immense. To be fair, it’s the same with anything that’s worth its salt – they’re a good investment generally, and the same applies here. The sheer amount of content available is staggering, promising an adventure that will almost certainly consume a ridiculous number of hours from you. The game is a true test of strategic thinking and resource management, forcing you to make difficult decisions at every turn. But with a new setting, new characters, and a whole new suite of mechanics, will this digital adaptation of a celebrated board game be a new milestone in the genre or will it simply be a cold shadow of its tabletop inspiration? Read on to find out!

The Northern Campaign

Frosthaven is a cooperative tactical combat RPG. The core of the game is its campaign, which is a sprawling and interconnected series of quests. The story takes place in a dark fantasy world, where you and your party of mercenaries are on an adventure to help fortify a remote outpost in the frozen north. There are over one hundred scenarios to play through, and the campaign is designed to be a persistent and changing world based on your decisions. As you progress, you will unlock new locations, gain experience, and discover new items. The game’s narrative is more nuanced and well-structured than its predecessor, with a clear quest progression.

The Fiddly Bits

The core gameplay is a faithful digital rendition of the board game’s signature card-driven combat. Each character has a unique deck of ability cards. On a turn, you must choose two cards, playing the top action from one and the bottom action from the other. The initiative value of these chosen actions determines the turn order, forcing a high level of forward planning and party synergy. The PC version expertly automates much of the upkeep that is cumbersome in the physical game, such as enemy movement, health tracking, and the drawing and shuffling of the crucial Attack Modifier Decks. This automation significantly reduces setup time and table management, allowing players to focus entirely on the tactical decision-making. The game also introduces the essential Outpost management phase, where you construct and upgrade various buildings, craft new equipment from resources, and manage seasonal events to unlock new game features and mechanics. The user interface is also highly functional, offering clear visual feedback and tooltips to explain complex effects and conditions.

A Team of Mercenaries

The digital adaptation is designed to be played either alone, with one player controlling multiple characters, or with up to four players in online cooperative multiplayer. The online co-op experience is seamless, allowing friends to tackle the demanding campaign together without the physical constraints of the board game. The cooperative element is crucial, as Frosthaven’s difficulty demands careful communication and coordination of card plays and character positioning. The PC version is an excellent way to experience the campaign with friends regardless of geographic location, and its streamlined digital nature removes the barrier to entry for setting up long-term cooperative sessions. In other words, Frosthaven is designed to be played solo but flourishes when played with others, of which there is a seamless transition!

The Icy Visage

The visual presentation of Frosthaven on PC is simply stunning. The world is brought to life with a detailed art style, high-quality models, and expressive animations for both the mercenary classes and the array of new enemies and formidable bosses you encounter. Seeing the hex-based battle maps and character actions animated on screen greatly enhances the immersion compared to the static components of the tabletop version. Despite containing a huge amount of information, the user interface is rather refined. It presents this wealth of information—from card actions to initiative order—in a clean and intuitive manner that is well-suited for PC play. The audio design complements the dark fantasy setting, with an atmospheric score and sound effects that add weight and presence to the challenging combat encounters. Frosthaven is a beautiful game all-round, which looks and sounds utterly amazing.

The Replay Factor

Let’s get this straight – Frosthaven offers a huge amount of replay value. With six starting character classes and more to unlock as the campaign progresses, the variety of party compositions and tactical approaches is vast, to say the least. The campaign’s branching storyline and numerous choice-driven events ensure that no two playthroughs will be exactly alike. Furthermore, the inclusion of a comprehensive tutorial (it’s very good) and a range of difficulty modes, including the less punishing ‘Story’ mode for narrative focus and a harder-than-board-game difficulty for veterans, encourages multiple campaigns (yes, even simultaneous ones!). The deep, tactical combat system is intrinsically replayable, as mastering the synergies between the unique character classes is an ongoing process of discovery, and it’s also simply great fun to experiment and see what works for you!

Conclusion

It’s safe to say Frosthaven is a truly superb digital port. It pays proper respect to the tabletop roots, while the PC platform has been used brilliantly to enhance the gameplay. By automating the Frosthaven’s most laborious aspects and presenting the complex mechanics with a great user interface, it successfully lowers the barrier to entry without compromising the punishing depth and strategic satisfaction of the core gameplay. Given the sheer size of Frosthaven, it is very easy to become confused and overwhelmed early on, especially for newcomers to the series. However, while it is a complex beast that still demands significant investment to master, the payoff is a rich, engrossing, and vast tactical RPG adventure. The faithful rendition of the card-driven combat, the persistent Outpost management, along with stunning audiovisuals, and the seamless online co-op make this a must-play for fans of tactical strategy and the larger “Haven” universe.

Grade: 9/10 – Outstanding