Head to head
Gloomhaven vs The Big Book of Madness
Which one is for you? Community verdicts, player-count fit, and taste contrasts, side by side.
Pick Gloomhaven if you want…
- Dramatic moments that feel like a movie
- A story you build over the course of play
- A longer, meatier session (about 115 min)
- The safer pick (100% positive vs 0%)
Pick The Big Book of Madness if you want…
- Short-horizon optimization and clever combos
- Two teams pulling against each other
- Shorter sessions (about 45 min vs 115)
Quick facts
| Gloomhaven | The Big Book of Madness | |
|---|---|---|
| Players | 1–4 | 2–4 |
| Play time | 90–115 min | 30–45 min |
| Complexity | — | Medium |
| Age | 12+ | 10+ |
| Year | — | 2015 |
Common questions
Is The Big Book of Madness better than Gloomhaven?
Gloomhaven sits at 100% positive over 1 verdicts; The Big Book of Madness at 0% over 1. Gloomhaven rates higher with the community, but the right pick depends on your table and taste.
Which plays faster, Gloomhaven or The Big Book of Madness?
The Big Book of Madness runs up to about 45 minutes; Gloomhaven up to about 115. For a weeknight slot, The Big Book of Madness is the quicker table.