Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion

Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion delivers a streamlined tactical dungeon-crawling experience where every decision carries weight. Players control mercenaries with unique hand-managed card decks, carefully selecting two cards each turn that determine both movement and combat actions. The tension builds as you balance offensive power against defensive positioning, knowing that burned cards permanently reduce your stamina until rest. Combat feels like a puzzle—manipulating initiative order, coordinating elemental effects, and optimizing damage output against increasingly clever AI-controlled monsters. The campaign structure creates mounting investment as characters level up, unlock new abilities, and face evolving challenges across interconnected scenarios. Success requires tactical planning, resource management, and adapting strategies when carefully laid plans crumble. The game evokes satisfaction through optimization and clever combos, punctuated by nail-biting moments when victory hangs on a single card play.