Head to head
Wallenstein or Gloomhaven
To help you decide
Why you'd pick each one
Wallenstein
- Less well known, if you want something off the beaten track.
- Easier to teach and to get to the table: 3.3 vs 3.9 in weight.
- Fills a long session, if you have the whole evening.
- Handles up to 5 players.
- Brings action points and variable phase order, which the other one doesn't have.
- Works with younger players: 12+ against 14+.
Gloomhaven
- Better rated on BoardGameGeek: 8.5 vs 7.5.
- Far more played: 67,697 ratings against 3,710.
- Meatier, if you want something to chew on.
- Plays in 90 minutes against 150.
- Plays solo.
- Brings hand management and multi-use cards, which the other one doesn't have.
The numbers, side by side
| Data point | Wallenstein | Gloomhaven |
|---|---|---|
| BGG rating | 7.5 | 8.5 Better rated |
| Ratings | 3,710 | 67,697 |
| Players | 3–5 | 1–4 |
| Playing time | 150 min | 60–120 min |
| Complexity | 3.3 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Age | 12+ | 14+ |
| Year | 2002 | 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.