Cooperative dungeon crawl design has gone through one of the most dramatic quality jumps in tabletop gaming over the past decade. Where the genre used to live mostly in Descent 2nd Edition and Dungeons & Dragons board games with light coop, the modern era has produced Gloomhaven (deck-based combat that rewards card management), Frosthaven (crafting and survival on top), Descent: Legends of the Dark (full app-driven narrative), Massive Darkness 2 (light combat with miniature thrill), and Aeon's End (deckbuilder reframe). These five cover the spectrum of what cooperative dungeon crawling looks like in 2026.
Quick comparison
| Game | Players | Campaign length | Combat style | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gloomhaven | 1 to 4 | 95 scenarios | Card-based, deck exhaustion | Long campaign committed group |
| Frosthaven | 1 to 4 | 100+ scenarios | Card-based plus crafting | Gloomhaven veterans |
| Descent: Legends of the Dark | 1 to 4 | 16 quests app-driven | App-driven, dice combat | Cinematic narrative coop |
| Massive Darkness 2 | 1 to 6 | 18 quests | Dice combat with mob waves | Quick miniature dungeon crawl |
| Aeon's End | 1 to 4 | Scenario-based | Cooperative deckbuilder | Deckbuilder fans, lighter footprint |
Gloomhaven, Best Card-Based Dungeon Crawl
Gloomhaven is the dungeon crawl that hobby gamers reach for when they want the deepest card-driven combat system available. Each character holds a hand of two-action cards (a top action and a bottom action), chooses one per turn, and exhausts their deck through hand size and modifier deck draws. Scenarios end when a character's deck runs out or all enemies are defeated. The system creates a constant tension between strong actions now and weaker actions later.
The campaign spans 95 scenarios with a branching city map and 17 unlockable classes. Class retirement adds new mechanics through the campaign, which keeps the system fresh through 100+ hours of play. Setup per scenario runs 20 to 30 minutes; the box weighs over 20 pounds. For groups not sure about the full commitment, Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion at $40 is the starter (25 scenarios, built-in tutorial). Buttons & Bugs is the solo-only quick-play version.
Best for: stable groups committed to a multi-year campaign with the deepest combat system in the genre.
Frosthaven, Best Survival Dungeon Crawl
Frosthaven is the direct sequel to Gloomhaven, set in a frozen outpost on the edge of civilization. The combat system carries over (cards, deck exhaustion, modifier draws), but Frosthaven adds outpost management, building construction, crafting, seasonal events, and resource gathering between scenarios. The result is a heavier game than Gloomhaven with more between-scenario decisions and a survival theme that runs through everything.
The campaign covers 100+ scenarios over what most groups describe as 18 to 24 months of weekly play. New character classes are different from Gloomhaven and lean toward more interesting asymmetry (the Boneshaper, the Drifter, the Geminate). Crafting adds a real economy to the campaign that did not exist in Gloomhaven. Drawbacks: setup runs 30 to 40 minutes per scenario because of the outpost layer, and the campaign book and rules complexity sit above Gloomhaven's. Groups should finish at least one Gloomhaven box before tackling Frosthaven.
Best for: groups that finished Gloomhaven or Jaws of the Lion and want the next campaign with more depth.
Descent: Legends of the Dark, Best App-Driven Dungeon Crawl
Descent: Legends of the Dark is Fantasy Flight's app-driven dungeon crawl, with 3D plastic terrain that snaps together to create dungeon rooms, a free companion app that handles enemy AI and narrative, and a campaign of 16 quests. The app removes the rulebook lookups and enemy decision-making that slow most dungeon crawls, which means the table spends more time on the story and combat and less on bookkeeping. The narrative is delivered through the app with dialogue, branching choices, and atmospheric soundscape.
For groups that want a cinematic dungeon crawl, this is the best option. Scenarios run 90 to 120 minutes including setup. The 3D terrain is impressive on the table and the app delivers a real sense of progression through the campaign. Drawbacks: the app dependency is a long-term concern (if Fantasy Flight stops supporting the app, the game becomes hard to play), and the cost is substantial at around $175 for the base box. The Stewards of the Secret expansion adds a second campaign. As of 2026, the app is well-maintained.
Best for: groups that want narrative-driven dungeon crawling with minimal rulebook overhead.
Massive Darkness 2, Best Quick Miniature Dungeon Crawl
Massive Darkness 2 is the dungeon crawl for groups that want hero progression and miniature combat without committing to a Gloomhaven-scale campaign. CMON's design uses dice-based combat, mob-based enemy waves (multiple goblins or orcs activate as a group), and a class system where heroes level up across an 18-quest campaign. The miniatures are the visual centerpiece, with over 70 plastic figures in the base box.
For a quick dungeon crawl session, Massive Darkness 2 hits the table faster than Gloomhaven or Frosthaven. Setup runs 10 to 15 minutes. Sessions run 90 to 120 minutes. The combat system is lighter and more swingy than Gloomhaven's card-based combat, which some groups will prefer for the dice-rolling adrenaline. The campaign is shorter (18 quests versus 95), which fits casual weekly groups better. Drawbacks: combat depth is lower than Gloomhaven, and the dice swing can feel unfair on a bad night.
Best for: groups that want the miniature dungeon crawl feel without the campaign-length commitment of Gloomhaven.
Aeon's End, Best Coop Deckbuilder Dungeon Crawl
Aeon's End reframes the dungeon crawl as a cooperative deckbuilder. Players are mages defending the last human city from increasingly powerful nemeses, with a clever 'no shuffling' deck rule (your discard pile flips face-down to become your new draw pile in order). The rule makes deck composition more strategic because card order is preserved. The nemesis system delivers boss-level enemies with escalating attack patterns and area-control board states.
For a coop dungeon crawl with a smaller footprint, Aeon's End fits the role well. Sessions run 60 to 90 minutes. Setup runs 5 minutes. The base game ships with 4 nemeses and 4 mages, and the expansion line (War Eternal, Outcasts, Legacy) extends the system significantly. Aeon's End Legacy is the most accessible entry for new players because it teaches the system through a 13-scenario campaign with progressive complexity. War Eternal is the most polished standalone.
Best for: groups that want a coop dungeon crawl with a deckbuilder core and a smaller table footprint.
How to pick the right coop dungeon crawl
A few factors guide the choice.
Campaign commitment. Gloomhaven and Frosthaven need stable weekly play across a year or more. Descent: Legends of the Dark covers 16 quests over a few months. Massive Darkness 2 fits 18 quests in a casual cadence. Aeon's End scenarios are pickup-friendly. Match the campaign length to the realistic group schedule.
Setup time tolerance. Aeon's End sets up in 5 minutes. Massive Darkness 2 in 10 to 15. Descent: Legends in 20 to 25. Gloomhaven in 20 to 30. Frosthaven in 30 to 40. Longer setup pays off in deeper systems but hurts casual sessions.
Combat preference. Gloomhaven and Frosthaven reward card management and planning. Descent and Massive Darkness 2 reward dice rolling with strategic positioning. Aeon's End rewards deck composition. Pick the combat texture the group prefers.
Budget. Aeon's End ($40 base) is cheapest. Jaws of the Lion ($40) is the Gloomhaven starter. Massive Darkness 2 ($120) sits middle. Gloomhaven ($140) and Frosthaven ($250) sit at the top. Descent: Legends of the Dark runs around $175.
For more cooperative picks, see our best cooperative board games of all time guide and the best cooperative boardgames comparison. Our full evaluation approach is documented in our methodology.
A coop dungeon crawl shelf in 2026 has clear use cases. Gloomhaven is the campaign behemoth, Frosthaven is the harder sequel for veterans, Descent: Legends delivers cinematic app-driven play, Massive Darkness 2 covers the quick miniature slot, and Aeon's End fits the deckbuilder fans. Match the box to the group's commitment and the dungeon crawl will earn its shelf space for years.
Frequently asked questions
What separates a cooperative dungeon crawl from a regular adventure board game?
Three traits define the format. First, scenarios take place in a defined dungeon or interior space with rooms, corridors, and monsters that activate by trigger or timer. Second, the action economy is per-character with class-specific abilities and equipment. Third, progression happens between scenarios through loot, leveling, or unlocked content. Games like Spirit Island or Pandemic are coops but not dungeon crawls because they happen on an abstracted map and lack the room-by-room exploration loop. The games on this list all share the dungeon-crawl DNA.
Is Gloomhaven or Frosthaven the better starter?
Neither, actually. The recommended starter is Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion at $40, which delivers the Gloomhaven combat system in a 25-scenario starter campaign with a built-in tutorial and a flat-book board format that skips the complex setup of the bigger boxes. Most groups finish Jaws in 3 to 4 months. From there, the choice between full Gloomhaven (95 scenarios) and Frosthaven (the sequel with 100+ scenarios and crafting) depends on whether the group prefers classic fantasy or wintry survival themes. Both are massive year-plus commitments.
Does Descent: Legends of the Dark really need the app?
Yes, and that is a real consideration. Descent: Legends of the Dark is fully app-driven; the app handles enemy AI, narrative branching, terrain interactions, and inventory tracking. The benefit is dramatically lower table overhead per scenario (no enemy decision-making, no rulebook lookups) and a richer narrative because the app delivers dialogue and consequences in real time. The drawback is that if Fantasy Flight stops supporting the app, the game becomes harder to play. As of 2026, the app is well supported, but the long-term dependency is real.
Is Aeon's End a dungeon crawl or a deckbuilder?
Both, depending on how you frame it. Aeon's End is a cooperative deckbuilder where players defend a city from a nemesis over a series of scenarios, with a clever 'no shuffling' deck rule that makes deck composition more strategic. It is not a room-by-room dungeon crawl, but the boss fights, character abilities, and campaign structure share enough DNA with the dungeon crawl genre that it belongs on a coop dungeon crawl shelf. Aeon's End Legacy is the most accessible entry; Aeon's End: War Eternal is the most polished standalone.
How long do these games take to set up?
Setup varies dramatically. Gloomhaven scenarios take 20 to 30 minutes (open the room map, deploy enemies and tokens, sort the monster decks, set up character mats). Frosthaven adds crafting and outpost management on top, pushing setup to 30 to 40 minutes. Descent: Legends of the Dark uses physical 3D terrain and runs 20 to 25 minutes. Massive Darkness 2 has minimal setup at 10 to 15 minutes because the enemies are pre-grouped on cards. Aeon's End sets up in 5 minutes. Plan total session time to include setup, not just play.