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Gloomhaven

Review · Adventure · PC

Gloomhaven

Reviewed: 30 Apr 2026

PC

Flaming Fowl Studios · 2019

Ludograph rating

B

Good

58 /100

Automated review

Gloomhaven is a tactical RPG that builds problem solving, strategic thinking, and critical thinking with complex mechanics and challenging dungeons.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 42 · R 8
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

42

Risk (RIS)

8

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

13+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.76
B2Social-emotional
0.07
B3Motor
0.10

Gloomhaven offers a deep and engaging tactical RPG experience, fostering problem-solving, strategic thinking, and critical thinking through its complex mechanics and challenging, randomly generated dungeons. Players can customize their team and adapt to diverse combat scenarios, promoting learning and transfer of skills. The game's focus on strategic decision-making and party management provides a rich cognitive workout.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.17
R2Monetization
0.00
R3Social risk
0.00

While Gloomhaven is largely free of manipulative monetization and social risks, its rogue-like nature involves frequent dying and challenging encounters, which could lead to frustration. The fantasy violence against 'malicious beasts' and 'demons' and elements of 'fear/horror' might be intense for some players, though it's not explicitly rated.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.67
R4.2Sexual Content
0.00
R4.3Language
0.00
R4.4Substance References
0.00
R4.5Fear / Horror
0.33

Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.

Regulatory design checks · DSA — Assessed: meets criteria·GDPR-K — Assessed: meets criteria·ODDS — Assessed: meets criteria

  • DSA:What Ludograph checks: whether the game's design gives minors the transparency the EU Digital Services Act expects: plain terms, honest defaults, and clear reporting routes.: Estimated from review data. No dark pattern or child-targeting concerns found.
  • GDPR-K:What Ludograph checks: whether age assurance and consent flows are designed for under-16s, in the spirit of GDPR Article 8.: Estimated from review data. No privacy or child-targeting concerns found.
  • ODDS:What Ludograph checks: whether paid random-reward drop rates are disclosed, as required in China, Japan and South Korea.: Estimated from review data. No paid random-reward mechanics found, so drop-rate disclosure requirements do not apply.

These reflect Ludograph's assessment of the game's design practices against each framework's criteria, not a legal compliance determination.

Avg playtime~4 hReviewedApr 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Gloomhaven safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Gloomhaven a rating of 58/100, recommended for ages 13 and up. It offers solid benefits but needs parental guidance on the risks.

What age is Gloomhaven appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 13+ for Gloomhaven, based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play Gloomhaven?

Our session recommendation for Gloomhaven is up to 120 minutes per day. It is derived from the game's own structure (natural stopping points, compulsion-loop design, monetization pressure, and social dynamics), not from a universal screen-time dose.

Session recommendations are design-based heuristics. Evidence linking specific daily durations to child outcomes is limited, and context matters as much as time; treat this as a starting point for household rules, not a clinical threshold.

What are the main risks of Gloomhaven?

While Gloomhaven is largely free of manipulative monetization and social risks, its rogue-like nature involves frequent dying and challenging encounters, which could lead to frustration. The fantasy violence against 'malicious beasts' and 'demons' and elements of 'fear/horror' might be intense for some players, though it's not explicitly rated.