Frosthaven | Shelfside Review
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- čas přidán 16. 07. 2024
- After finishing the campaign, Shelfside brings a complete Frosthaven review! 70 something scenarios deep, with all classes, envelopes, puzzles, and secrets unlocked, this video analyzes every single component and gameplay improvement over the Gloomhaven board game, plus the upgraded card play and campaign narrative! Scenarios have deeper stories thanks to the section book, the rulebook is incredibly comprehensive, and the unboxing plus organization is vastly superior! This 35 pound box brings a whole lot of cardboard for a tabletop; let's see why everything's better, and the negatives about the new content!
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Our Website!
www.shelfside.co/
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Table of Contents:
Intro/Overview - (0:00)
Component Pros - (5:33)
Gameplay Pros - (19:07)
Campaign Pros - (40:51)
Component Cons - (1:02:42)
Gameplay Cons - (1:16:28)
Campaign Cons - (1:25:27)
Recommender Score - (1:31:09)
Ashton's Score - (1:39:42)
Daniel's Score - (1:49:40)
Shelfside Social Media:
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Links to our other stuff:
Ashton's Channel: / ashtonwu
Daniel's Channel: / doyduh2
Stuff Used:
Monster Hunter Tri OST - Tundra Battle
Makkon - Winterglade
#boardgames #tabletop #review - Hry
Holy crap!! This dude talked, in depth and non-stop at a very quick rate, about this game for nearly two hours. Also the editing was flawless. I can not imagine the hours it took to accomplish this.
I’ve seen everything there is to be offered in the space of board game reviews and reviewers and I have to say this is next level stuff.
I am so impressed.
This review is fucking legendary, might be the best board game review of all damn time 😭
Couldn't have said it better myself! Just awesome!
You produced a feature film length review of a board game. No one will ever be able to take that from you. Well done.
Finally a reviewer that plays the whole game before review!
Not true I didn't play all 138 scenarios clearly I half assed it
-Daniel
those first 2 minutes... omg incredible.
also, recently i've noticed that sometimes youtube isn't reading the time stamps from the show notes and therefore not creating chapter breaks, and that seems to be the case on this one (for me at least). i've found ot fix it i have to go into the show notes, change something, and save, and then they'll appear again :)
Thanks! This video in general was making youtube studio implode lol, might take a while for the timestamps to show up considering how long it took for cards, subtitles, and end screen to show up, plus the checks and processing was something else haha
Edit: wow nvm ur right literally just changing a word in the description instantly updates it wtf
-Daniel
@@Shelfside that must be it, since they're there now.
absolutely incredible achievement this video. maybe me think i'm still in the right when i tell folks you're my favourite boardgame channel in all of youtube :)
@@rahdo Wow, that is incredible praise from Rahdo himself. You guys should high five yourselves!!
Fantastic review, keep up the good work! I've still got far too many GH scenarios to warrant a purchase of FH though 🥶
You guys keep knocking it out of the park with the quality of reviews. This game is the epitome of "too much" for me, but if they do "Jaws of the Lion" for this then that's an instabuy.
I recall hearing Isaac in an interview say he was interested in doing a Frosthaven Jaws of the Lion-like game, so there's hope!
-Daniel
next up 2 hour KDM review
this was brillaint as usual!
Even if I had no interest in Frosthaven, the scale and passion of your review would prompt me to buy it. Well done.
You guys deserve 10x at minimum the subscribers you have. I've been here since the start, and your quality has improved with every video.
This video is going to be one to remember. Its absolutely flawless, and you presented the talking points in such a clear, cohesive manner, all while being exceptional to listen to. A few jokes to keep things silly really go a long way as well.
I always push people to your channel, and have said for as long as Ive been a subscriber and especially with this format, that you guys are the absolute best there is in the board game space. Thank you so much!
Wow, thanks for the praise!
-Daniel
This might be the best board game review I've ever seen. And as somebody who has played gloomhaven but hasn't started Frost Haven yet, you have single-handedly made me realize that there might actually be a reason to purchase gloomhaven 2.0 and play it at some point in the future.
That intro friggin SLAPS you guys jfc.
Man, this review is premium!! Can't believe how much time this would take to put together!! Thanks so much!!!
This is the highest quality review of any game ever. Unbelievable to keep up that pace for nearly 2hrs! Loved the mid-video haircut.
Outstanding!
Easily one of your top five videos of 2023 and we’re barely halfway through the year.
Daniel’ s best video ever. Sharp, clear and precise voice overs. Styling like a MF on the live shots with his tasteful turtleneck and jacket of many talents.
That was one beast of a writing job and you guys hit it all spot on.
More Ashton, please.
I’m glad you played the whole thing and loved every moment. For me, playing at 4, the combat scenarios were just sooo long. We played for what must have been 70 hours at least, and finally unlocked the upgrade building, just to find out the cost to upgrade cards was super high. They needed more easy-to-play characters, because when I finally got to retire my first character (retirement goal was related to killing certain enemies that we just didn’t encounter), the available characters were just so unappealing. My brain is already burning from figuring out how the enemies will move, keeping track of statuses, spawning new enemies… like it just wasn’t fun anymore.
I was super excited for the town building, but the progression was so slow. Meeting up every other weekend to play meant we never remembered the story. The puzzle book didn’t work for us very well.
I want to love this game. This review makes me want to get back into it. When I first started it, I rated it a 9/10. It has since dropped to 6/10. Maybe I’ll get back to it someday.
If anyone is like me and wants a less complex combat, check out Kinfire Chronicles (which was a huge breath of fresh air for me after getting burnt out on FH) or the Divinity Original Sin board game (loving that one so far! The skills feel just like the video game!)
Such a sick video. Ultra well done editing and composition, and that intro? Phenomenal.
Finally a real review of Frosthaven. (cough SUSD cough) Although a bit biased (you were too quick to instantly justify every single con listed making it a con-but-cmon though I do get it), you clearly played most of this gargantuan sized game and provided a thorough description of what’s changed/improved/ left as is. Very high quality and respectful to the audience / game designer.
That is why I’m subbed, truly well done!
Yeah I'm definitely a biased superfan, but I also truly believe that all the cons don't super matter in the grand scheme of the game. After 200+ hours maybe only 5 hours were being hampered by some con, and when looking at it that way, they seem really insubstantial. Plus, some of them didn't even affect me and I just reported on them from research like when people mess up their starting decks from transfering to a different insert without reading the standard organization guide.
-Daniel
What a stunning review.. Usually I watch those videos at 1.5 speed but you are packing so much info in such an incredible pace that I could not do that. I am only at the beginning of the campaign and I am so much looking forward for everything what there is to come.. if I just could play more often than 2 scenarios per month..
This is the best video about Frosthaven, period. Love your long format reviews. They are so clear, and you think about things that many people would overlook but do indeed have functional impacts.
Hoooooly crap!!!! I've been waiting/expecting this but I was NOT expecting it to be a feature film length adventure. Hats off to you guys for consistently putting out the best game reviews in this yt game!! (And yes, I literally had to pause to write a comment halfway through bc I know I'll forget by the end of this).
Your love for the game is so palpable this is a pure joy to watch, probably one of the best bg review of all time!
This is a model example of what a good review and reviewer is like. It's been my happy privilege to watch these two hours, and I want to thank you for the undoubted massive hard work and concentration that it must have taken to do. Also, as a Brit, thanks very much for the British queuing joke. In return, have a thumbs up and a new subscriber.
Glad you enjoyed it!
The length, the production quality.. this is peak game reviewing. Congratulations and thank you for making my day :D
Amazing work! This is exactly the type of compare/contrast review I was looking for 👑
You all are the best. Love how much work you put into your videos. I hope you never stop.
As someone who doesn't really play a lot of boardgames (more of a wargamer when I'm not painting minis) I appreciate all the "but we're gonna show those of you who don't care and just wanna know" tangents that this review included
I cannot believe that you spoke that fast for 2 hours and yet didn’t ramble. You said so much. This was such an amazing and comprehensive review. Seriously, well done!
Excellent review, take a bow Daniel! Also, Pranav’s energy is infectious. We need more of him in future reviews.
Okay, that intro was INSANE. Such quality production and effects.
woaw... you have just set a new standard for board game review. Thanks so much!
41:21 KÄÄRIJÄ sighted! Torilla tavataan!
Amazing vid, so fun.
I do love me some Pina Coladas
-Daniel
@@Shelfside🍹🤑
Considering the amount of mad work you put in these vids, you are allowed to go "it's crazy, it's party".
Fantastic! Informative, and just so much fun to watch. Thanks for putting such effort into this.
Thank you for the video. This is hands down the BEST boardgame review video I've ever seen. You have a new fan. I'm inspired. The review is concise and information, and the production value is incredible. I do wonder, how much time was spent making this video?
While waiting for that lingering thought, I will recommend this video to all my board game friends.
Wow, thanks! It took 3 months to play, and 3 months to produce!
-Daniel
Hands down the best FH review / walkthrough I have come across. Great work.
Wow🤯...this was the best Review i've ever saw. You went through all the Details! Crazy! This ist the New Standard!👍🏼
I think we can all appreciate the intro to this video :D Love it!
Just incredible. So in depth. So fair. I practically agreed with everything you said but you said it more eloquently than I ever could. Loved how you described each class like it’s own mini game. I couldn’t agree more and is the true brilliance of this game.
Best done review ever 💪🏻
You guys sets the bar very high 🙌🏻
Playing JOTL dual scenarios, one with Red and Hatch (Scenario 4 but also just fudged through 22 from an encounter card) and one with Demo and Void (Scenario 7/8). Planning to merge them after finishing Red Hatch’s level 5 boss to play four-handed solo. Absolutely loving this game so wanted to check this out and I’m very pleased with this review. Might get it if there’s ever a second edition or Claws of the Bear 😂
I do agree about the attack modifier cards, it cuts the nose to spite the face by forgoing dice with that mechanic with I end up mostly disliking. Even after upgrades, advantage and disadvantage STILL randomize it
Talk about upgrades with that intro. Holy cow guys keep it up!
Those armor-looking clothes must cost you a lot... Those are some iconic fashion pieces, incredible!!
As an extremely tall and skinny guy, I'm basically forced to get avant garde/high end clothes because they're the only things that fit me if I want slim fitting clothes lmao
-Daniel
@@Shelfside Hail to the True Kings of Board Game CZcamsrs for their remarkable care for their viewers!
Incredible review. Watched the entire thing, loved every single minute.
Makes me want to go pull out my copy of Frosthaven.
Best intro yet??? Nice work Shelfside!!
Sheflside just keeps upping its production and reviews and are a class act. I really appreciate the in-depth review videos instead of those that are 10 minutes which doesn't tell me whether I will like the game or not. The humor is on point, and they said up front - yeah, they're bias, their names are in the box; however, you can understand where they're coming from. P.S. @1:15:00 is such a brilliant idea!
I love the film breakdowns and would love more... So long as I don't have to relive more Niners vs Packers beat downs 😢
What a great review. Thanks guys! Keep it up.
It would be interesting to hear a review on this game from someone who has played neither Gloomhaven or Jaws of the Lion (if such a type of person exists).
... and as I listen further into the video, apparently such a person does exist.
as someone who owns JotL, but haven’t played it yet, i would feel like i would lose myself and the group trying to figure out the rules mid scenario
That intro. Jaw dropped. AMAZING! Well done 👏👏
Well if you need another Jaw, Jaws of the Lion is 25 bucks on amazon right now
-Daniel
SUPERB REVIEW !!!! EXCELLENCE LEVEL = INSANE!
I don't know what is more crazy/surprising/impressive. That you can put out a 2-hour board game review... or that this board game actually warrants a 2-hour review without any fluff.
Thanks for putting in so much effort. It really shows though, such a great review! Please do more big box campaigns in the future, I would love to see ATO!
That's my next review! Planning for a late August Release!
-Daniel
@@Shelfside Awesome! Can't wait :D
Longest review ever!!!! But soooo good. Thanks for all the hard work.
The intro alone let me subscribe. Thanks alot for the entertainment and education on the “haven” series!
Got to say, this channel is underated. You guys are the best boardgame reviewers
I think this is awesome… but holy crap how does one even have time or coordination with friends to DO this?!
A joy to watch, incredible review! I want it!!!!
A new standard for boardgame reviews, bravo dude.
Never seen this channel before, but wow is this review well done. Great production value and great knowledge of the game.
Much appreciated!
Incredible and entertaining review, great work! I really liked Pranav's personal review section as a perspective of someone less familiar to the 'haven franchise. I think that perspective hasn't really been as well communicated/considered in other Frosthaven reviews so far.
On another note, I wonder if Celophair would ever make a version that relied on the companion app in order to reduce the box size / cost. A bit like the retail v deluxe boxes you see in crowdfunding projects.
I feel like Jaws is already a bargain sale. I feel like status conditions and damage are the most fiddly physical pieces
As a fellow Blinkblade & Prism player, let Pranav know he was spot on with his description and passion for those two classes, as they were the most fun I had during Frosthaven. Prism in particular was just a manic, AP-riddled mess of a character that required simultaneous planning and improvisation that it felt extremely gratifying being able to do even the bare minimum with them. Besides that, an excellent review that mirrors a lot of my own thoughts (though I'm much more disappointed than you with the puzzle book). Must've been a monster of a video to draft and stitch together, considering the breadth of content here. Well done!
I got mine in the beginning of the year, we have been playing it every week none stop and are barely through it haha! great game and review!
Just amazing. Great work!
This intro hits a new production high, well done!😂
Incredible review! Thank you! 😮
Ummm this was fking incredible. As someone who hasn't played gloomhaven, I'm very intrigued by frosthaven and this review helped me out a lot. Gonna dive in one day.
Excellent and fun review! Subscribed!
The Greatest intro to date!
Really impressive. Great production value, but notable for the well-considered commentary.
(Someday, I'd love to hear your spoiler-riddled review!)
Just wanted to also say congratulations on this video. It makes me want to play gloomhaven!
Excellent excellent constructive pointing of problems and great fun preview. As Gloomheaven player I can just agree.
the best board game review ever. brilliant!
Really appreciate the in-depth reviews you guys do of these larger campaign games. If there’s interest on your part I would love a review of Etherfields - particularly the second wave of content. You know if you don’t mind playing 80 hours of a $400 game and compiling a massive review for little old me. 😂
Excellent review! It feels weird that I have like three cameos in it, lol
Dude thanks for all the work you do for the community by managing and commenting on all these resources! You're a lifesaver!
-Daniel
I 54 got words for you.
AH MAZING review Shelfside! This video made me want to buy this game instantly even though i was pretty sure gloomhaven was a bit much to handle for me but this streamlined version with these cool new characters and cool new everything! Makes me want to try it out . keep up the great vids 👍
Great review, makes me motivated to go pick it up
Super Great video! the game stands under my gaming table for two months now. I need to get it going someday soon 😃.
Amazing intro. I can't imagine how long it took to make. Well done gang.
great review and video! thanks!
What an absolutely amazing review. I’m definitely going to buy Frosthaven before long I just haven’t pulled the trigger yet.
I can’t wait though so I may end up getting it sooner rather than later haha
As I am perpetually behind where I want to be in my tabletop gaming, I'm really stoked to know there's a good reason to wait for a 2nd printing. Thank god.
Generally how it seems to be with kickstarter games is that 1st printing is cheaper but more jank, and 2nd gets to errata stuff but is more expensive, but honestly I prefer a more expensive polished game lol
-Daniel
When does the 2nd print hit retail? @@Shelfside
I used the base insert but did get the wooden Lazor Ox. I just used the tuckboxes and trays on top for the monsters. So much better than bags. Also the accordion folder is a must for this set up. I have an almost whole wooden organizer I am not using.
OMG what an awesome freaking INTRO!!!
We have huge hopes for discounts for it in a few years, especially with the fact that is the exact time we need to beat the Gloomhaven.
Intro reminded me of one of my favourite channels: Inside the Box
This channel CONTINUES to be underrated!!!
Thanks for the review! Glad to be one of the first watchers of this feature film.
I remember that you play tested Coral but no scenarios. Did you do any play testing on Gloomhaven 2e?
8:23 Ashton levels of plastic baggie reverence
27:20 Geminate shift form dance
42:03 Starter Classes paint job pan-over
1:40:00 Pranav praising the puzzle book as an escape room designer is 10/10 high praise. I also like how he, as an outsider, was able to praise the early scenario plotline, which did in fact see a lot of polish from cultural consultants.
I did Kelp and Coral! Gloomhaven 2nd Ed I just learned existed a few hours ago lmao
-Daniel
@@Shelfside While I am here, what is your perk order tier list for Geminate? Specifically, when did you go for the double check perk, Unstable Equilibrium?
@Alex Hong Geminate is really hard to evaluate like that since it's such a flexible class thus really playstyle dependant. I personally replaced the -2 first, then went for rolling +1 regenerates because it's a roundabout way of "removing" negatives with a bigger upside cause regenerate>convert an element. Then I ignored scenario effects before getting rid of all the negatives (purely because of where we were in the story), and then replace 2 +0's with rolling pierce to thin out the deck, before I finally got the double check perk.
Honestly, I didn't find it super useful, I know plenty of people online swear by it being a massive game changer, but I found it kind of situational because the way I played geminate was to just be flex slot in the team. Meaning that I didn't go crazy on losses all the time unless it was needed, and even when I did go crazy on losses, the ones I really cared about recovering were higher level cards anyways. I know the perk is an excellent mistake fixer because you can easily balance your two hands plus freely use loses with good other halves knowing you can just get them back, but maybe I just played the class really well because I usually sequenced my form shifts to stay perfectly balanced pretty much all the time while retaining the really important cards like good movements and initiatives. I ended up only really finding the double check perk useful like every other scenario, which isn't often enough for me and I wish I went and just further improved the deck or took the prevent self negative condition perk.
-Daniel
Yeah, that puzzle book was something else. I loved so many of the puzzles and the physicality of the stuff that was incorporated. I think that so many puzzles tend to be all on one sheet of paper, but the **Spoilers** incorporation of the rest of the components really brought it over the top for me. If I designed something half as good, I'd be over the moon!
A beast of a review!! Thank you for sharing your thoughts both of you. I’ve recently started JOTL with my two brothers and we are genuinely enjoying it so much. Makes me think that if and when we finish it I would love to dive into the big buddy. 🙂🙂 11/10 review for real! 🙂🙂
Glad I could help!
Thank you for the review
2 hour review video!! I have no intention of buying Frosthaven. JOTL gave me everything I could have wanted to know it just wasn’t a game for me. But I can’t wait to watch this!
Grizzled detective enters the game room. "Looks like the victims head was smashed in using this giant Frosthaven box. Do we have any video evidence of someone crazy enough to admit that this is their murder weapon of choice?" I step in and play them the video start at the 19 minute mark.
Darn unlike Gloomhaven the box isn't red to hide the blood
-Daniel
Ok but that intro was damn epic, fantastic wow
Love your videos, entire Shelfside team 😊 a little disappointed that Ashton didn't play Frosthaven or offer any thoughts on any improvements he may have found being that he wasn't a big fan of Gloomhaven.
I love Gloomhaven and finished the campaign (holy heck it took forever) and jaws of the lion is a pleasant experience, not quite done.
I want to get frosthaven and I've seen this video a couple times now. The printing errors I do think would be annoying as I don't want to have to "proof read" the game or fact check everything, but I also want to own a first printing for being-a-fan sake lol. Daniel this is such an amazing in depth review and this and your gloomhaven video have brought me lots of entertainment lol. Pranav your thoughts were great as well and I love your hard-core love for the classes you enjoyed.
Thank you for your videos entertaining boardgame geeks like me! Feels like I'm Watching friends play games lol. 👍
I would watch any movie made by you guys. That intro though!!!
Being new to campaign-boardgaming, half way through Jaws of The Lion and loving it, I was still on the fence as to whether or not I should pick up Gloomhaven's 2nd ed and/or Frosthaven's June 20th reprint due to the massive price alone. This review has thrown me hard into the "gunna back Frosthaven 2nd Pr" camp :D
Thank you, and fck you 😘
The price is a funny thing because I've heard a commentator joke that they've actually saved money getting into these games since they don't buy other board games nearly as much lmao
-Daniel
fantastic job
Missed seeing your presence on the channel, but after looking at the time of this monstrosity of a video, I can see why it has been a while. Enjoying the video so far, but I'll have to get back to you next week when I finish it 🤣
This review is epic like the game itself, I'm 40m into the video and enough weeks have gone by that the haircut changed! Man. There's no boring bits in here
Isaac’s design chops are once again proven to be absolutely insane
That's right, Isaac!
Amazing review! Hats off to you guys, I can only imagine the sheer level of work that went into it. Thank you.
Oathsworn next?😅
Naw it's Aeons Trespass time for me next
-Daniel
@@Shelfside that would be a wicked one too. I'll keep hope, one day!
@@Shelfside I heard some blackmailing duck say Aeons Trespass is clearly trash and unplayable 🤔
If I remember correctly for scenario 45, you have to use the boat for the scenario that opens up 45, and then thematically in scenario 45 you’re exiting your boat and climbing up a rock face, which is why climbing gear is required and not the boat.
I actually have a FAQ entry handling this, lol
Basically... It doesn't have to be YOUR boat
And suddenly all the other boats in my town have mysteriously vanished from suspicious seemingly internal sabotage but uh... well how about that those dang lurkers are really something else huh
-Daniel