Frosthaven game director explains the challenges of adapting the hit dungeon-crawler board game
Snapshot Games is adapting the popular dungeon-crawler board game Frosthaven into a digital version, with game director Hristo Petkov overseeing the project. To properly understand the game’s complex mechanics and design philosophy, the development team was organized into small groups of four that spent several months—between three and six—playing through full Frosthaven campaigns. The team consulted directly with the game’s original designer, Isaac Childres, when questions arose about rules and design intent.
The digital adaptation entered early access in July 2025 and is scheduled for full launch on October 15. Early responses from players have been largely positive, though some critics have flagged the game’s punishing difficulty level as a concern. The digital version apparently amplifies the challenge compared to the tabletop original, which may represent either a deliberate design choice or an unintended consequence of the digital implementation.
Petkov emphasized that the team’s approach was exploratory rather than purely competitive, stating the groups played “to understand the whole design behind it and not just to win.” This methodical approach reflects the broader challenge of translating a complex tabletop experience into a digital medium while preserving the original game’s depth and spirit.