Head to head
Chess or Gloomhaven
To help you decide
Why you'd pick each one
Chess
- Brings sudden death ending and square grid, which the other one doesn't have.
- Works with younger players: 6+ against 14+.
Gloomhaven
- Better rated on BoardGameGeek: 8.5 vs 7.2.
- Handles up to 4 players.
- Plays solo.
- Brings hand management and multi-use cards, which the other one doesn't have.
The numbers, side by side
| Data point | Chess | Gloomhaven |
|---|---|---|
| BGG rating | 7.2 | 8.5 Better rated |
| Ratings | 41,025 | 67,697 |
| Players | 2 | 1–4 |
| Playing time | 0 min | 60–120 min |
| Complexity | 3.6 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Age | 6+ | 14+ |
| Year | 1475 | 2017 |
Only the rating gets a winner mark. A shorter or lighter game isn't a better one: it depends on what you're after.
Ratings and catalogue data are attributed to BoardGameGeek.