Overview
Gloomhaven proper is a magnificent, sprawling, 60-hour campaign inside a box that weighs ten kilograms. Jaws of the Lion is its 25-scenario 'starter'. Priced at forty euros instead of a hundred and forty, taught through five progressive tutorial scenarios that use a scenario book you play out of directly, no setup required. It is the single best-designed onboarding in the campaign-game category.
The four included classes (Voidwarden, Red Guard, Demolitionist, Hatchet) are among the best-tuned in the Gloomhaven system: distinct playstyles, none dominant, all with a real personality curve as they level up. The tactical combat is the same as flagship Gloomhaven. Hand management under pressure, initiative on every card, and a permanent fear that if you run out of cards mid-scenario you lose your character for the rest of the run.
Where Jaws of the Lion outshines its parent is in respect for the reader's time. Setup is under five minutes per scenario (versus twenty for flagship). The story is denser and less padded. And when you finish the campaign, if you want more, Frosthaven is waiting with everything you loved and none of the onboarding you no longer need.
