- BGG rating
- 8.3
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion – Removable Sticker Set and Map
- 1–4 players
- 30–120 min
- 2021
- BGG rank
- BGG #12
- BGG rating
- 8.4
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
2020
Rules assistance for Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–4 players
- 30–120 min
- 14+
- Complexity 3.6/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion is a board game released in 2020 for 1–4 players, 30–120 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Isaac Childres and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Player Elimination.
Expansions
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About the game
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion is a standalone game that takes place before the events of Gloomhaven. The game includes four new characters — Valrath Red Guard (tank, crowd control), Inox Hatchet (ranged damage), Human Voidwarden (support, mind control), and Quatryl Demolitionist (melee damage, obstacle manipulation) — that can also be used in the original Gloomhaven game. The game also includes 16 monster types (including seven new standard monsters and three new bosses) and a new campaign with 25 scenarios that invites the heroes to investigate a case of mysterious disappearances within the city. Is it the work of Vermlings, or is something far more sinister going on? Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion is aimed at a more casual audience to get people into the gameplay more quickly. All of the hard-to-organize cardboard map tiles have been removed, and instead players will play on the scenario book itself, which features new artwork unique to each scenario. The last barrier to entry — i.e., learning the game — has also been lowered through a simplified rule set and a five-scenario tutorial that will ease new players into the experience.
Mechanics
- Variable Player Powers
- Hand Management
- Player Elimination
- Simultaneous Action Selection
- Grid Movement
- Role Playing
- Cooperative Game
- Hexagon Grid
- Communication Limits
- Solo / Solitaire Game
- Line of Sight
- Scenario / Mission / Campaign Game
- Action Queue
- Deck Construction
- Campaign / Battle Card Driven
- Critical Hits and Failures
- Multi-Use Cards
- Once-Per-Game Abilities
- Legacy Game
- Narrative Choice / Paragraph
- Action Retrieval
- Movement Points
- Multiple Maps
Designers
Publishers
- Arclight Games
- Galápagos Jogos
- Hobby World
- Gémklub
- Siam Board Games
- CoolPlay
- Korea Boardgames
- Geekach LLC
- Albi
- Meanbook Games
- Lord of Boards
- Cephalofair Games
- Feuerland Spiele
- Albi Polska
Questions and answers
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion supports 1–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion is 30–120 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion for ages 14 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion has a complexity rating of 3.6 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion belongs to these categories: Fantasy, Fighting, and Exploration. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Player Elimination. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion are: Isaac Childres. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.