Frosthaven leaves Early Access today, October 15, 2026, and the full 1.0 build is on Steam and the Epic Games Store for $39.99. It is the digital version of Isaac Childres’ huge tabletop campaign, built by Snapshot Games (the studio led by XCOM creator Julian Gollop) and published by Arc Games. If you have been waiting for the finished version before spending money, here is what actually changes and who it suits.
The Short Version
This is a slow, card-driven tactical RPG. You do not roll dice or draw random decks of attacks. You pick two cards each turn, and what you play now decides what you can do later, because spent cards leave your hand and exhaustion is a real threat. It rewards planning and punishes autopilot. If that sounds like homework, it probably is. If it sounds like the good part of tactics games, read on.
What 1.0 Adds
The Early Access build has been out since July 2025 and sits at mostly positive on Steam. The 1.0 release finishes the job and adds a few things aimed at newcomers:
- The complete story campaign from the board game, including the final chapter that was missing before.
- All 17 playable classes, with the last hero arriving at launch.
- “Road to Frosthaven,” a digital-only introduction that eases you into the rules. It also works as a standalone demo.
- A full in-game codex, so you do not need to keep notes on lore, creatures and biomes.
- Customizable house rules, improved online co-op, and a new opening cinematic.
What You’ll Actually Do
Between missions you build and defend an outpost, then head into scenarios where each hero’s cards, positioning and enemy behavior all interact. Combat is deliberate. A single bad turn can cost you a scenario, and the game expects you to retry with a different plan. Co-op online is supported, which suits the format well since the board game was always best with a group arguing over the next move.
How It Compares to Gloomhaven
The official line is that Frosthaven is a spiritual successor to Gloomhaven. It keeps the card-based combat but layers in the outpost and a larger cast of classes. If you finished Gloomhaven and wanted more, this is the obvious next step. If you bounced off it because the rules felt dense, the new onboarding helps, but the underlying system is still demanding.
What to Know Before You Buy
A few honest downsides. It is a big time commitment, and the campaign is long. The learning curve is steeper than most turn-based games on Steam, even with the new intro. Scenarios can feel slow if you prefer fast, flashy combat. And since 1.0 only just landed, expect some patches in the first weeks as a wider audience finds bugs the Early Access crowd did not. If you are on the fence, play the Road to Frosthaven demo first.
PC Requirements
Minimum is an Intel i5 7600 or AMD 2600, 8 GB RAM, a GTX 960 or RX 570, and 50 GB of storage. Recommended is an Intel 12500 or AMD 5700X, 16 GB RAM, and an RTX 3060 or RX 6600. Both run on Windows 10 or 11 64-bit with DirectX 11.
Who Should Play This
Fans of Gloomhaven, tabletop RPG players, and anyone who likes puzzle-like tactics where every card matters. Skip it if you want quick sessions or a casual pace.
Price & Where to Get It
$39.99 on Steam and the Epic Games Store, PC only. Check the Steam page for the demo before you commit.
