What is The Crimson Scales?
If you’re tired of standard crawl-and-draft loops, The Crimson Scales throws you into a brutal, tactical digital adaptation of a massive fan-made Gloomhaven expansion. It’s free, it’s deep, and it demands you sweat for every win.
Gameplay
You’re diving into The Crimson Scales, which is essentially a fan-made expansion for Gloomhaven that Tall Tree just digitized. Forget the simple 'draw four, play two' loop you’re used to in roguelikes. Here, your deck is your stamina pool. You play a card, it hits the discard pile, and once it’s gone, you’re done for the scenario. It’s brutal, tactical, and forces you to think about survival over burst damage. You aren’t just building one deck; you’re managing a squad of mercenaries, creating a combined engine of abilities. The synergy comes from party composition, not finding one OP card. You’ll obsess over 'burn' cards that vanish for the rest of the fight, adding real tension. The campaign spans over 50 scenarios with 11 unique mercenaries to unlock. The meta-progression ties into your party’s growth and the story, making it feel like a journey rather than disconnected runs. It’s a puzzle, not a power fantasy.
Key Features
- 11 unique mercenaries to master
- Over 50 tactical campaign scenarios
- Deck acts as stamina pool
- Party-based synergy mechanics
- Fan-made Gloomhaven expansion
Screenshots
Verdict
“Will update after more play, but through one scenario, this seems like a remarkably clean, enjoyable 2D-board-game implementation with an interesting set of classes. Information I wanted during play …”
This is a must-play if you love Gloomhaven or crave heavy tactical depth, but skip it if you hate bookkeeping or want a polished, casual experience. It’s free to play, so the risk is low, but the rough edges in the UI and steep learning curve will drive some away. You’ll want to wait if you’re looking for a quick fix.
Play for Free →* Price at time of publication (checked 01.10.2026). Prices may vary by region and are subject to change. This is an editorial review, not a commercial offer.