The best games by Isaac Childres 🇺🇸👨 2026

Looking for a really great game by Isaac Childres? Here is the list of the best Isaac Childres games 2026.

Who is Isaac Childres?

Isaac Childres is a US-American game designer and publisher from Lafayette, Indiana. Before game design, he earned his PhD in physics at Purdue University. In 2014 he founded the publisher Cephalofair Games – he became world-famous through the campaign epic Gloomhaven and its sequel Frosthaven.

Isaac Childres as a game designer

The first game by Isaac Childres in our database is Forge War from 2015 – Isaac Childres has been designing games for over 11 years. His most well-known game is Gloomhaven.

How good are games by Isaac Childres?

There are 3 games by Isaac Childres in our Top-1000 games list – making Isaac Childres #48 of the best game designers out of 12778 designers in our database.

More information about Isaac Childres

List of the best games by Isaac Childres 2026

In this list you'll find the best board, card & dice games by Isaac Childres that you can buy 2026.

This list was last updated on June 9, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion

    Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion is a standalone adventure game that serves as a prequel to the highly acclaimed Gloomhaven. It's designed to be more accessible to a broader audience, with streamlined rules and an integrated tutorial.

    Nominated for 13 awards and won 5.

    More details for Gloomhaven: Jaws of the Lion
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 30 - 120 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Hard to learn
  2. Gloomhaven

    Gloomhaven is a Euro-inspired tactical combat game set in a persistent and evolving world. Players assume the roles of adventurers, each with unique skills and motives, as they explore dungeons, ruins, and engage in cooperative battles against automated monsters.

    Nominated for 22 awards and won 10.

    More details for Gloomhaven
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 - 120 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Hard to learn

    Video reviews for Gloomhaven

    • YouTube Review for the game "Gloomhaven" by BoardGameGeek
      Video
    • YouTube Review for the game "Gloomhaven" by Shut Up & Sit Down
      Video
  3. Frosthaven

    • BGG Top 100BGG Top 100
    • CooperativeCooperative
    • StorytellingStorytelling
    • FantasyFantasy
    • Deck-BuildingDeck-Building
    • Solo ModeSolo Mode
    +6 more

    Frosthaven tells the story of a small outpost in the harsh north, struggling against severe weather and attacks from various powers. A group of exhausted mercenaries must protect the settlement, facing not only the brutal elements but also formidable threats like the Algox and mysterious machines. This standalone adventure features new characters, races, and enemies, alongside expanded gameplay that includes puzzles and village building, encouraging players to craft items instead of simply purchasing them.

    More details for Frosthaven
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 90 - 180 Minutes
    • 🧒 14+ years old
    • 🧩 Hard to learn
  4. Do you prefer playing complex and involved games? Is your idea of a perfect weekend a trip to Flippin' Burgers followed by a long game of board games with friends? This list is for you.

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  5. Forge War

    • FantasyFantasy
    • MedievalMedieval
    • Worker PlacementWorker Placement
    • Solo ModeSolo Mode
    • HeavyweightHeavyweight
    • Role-PlayingRole-Playing
    +1 more

    Players take on the role of blacksmiths in a kingdom plagued by marauding harpies, cursed dungeons, and fire-breathing dragons. They must gather ore from mines, purchase weapon designs, and forge weapons for adventurers, who return with ore, money, and rewards to invest in their burgeoning blacksmith empire.

    More details for Forge War
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 60 - 180 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Hard to learn
  6. Founders of Gloomhaven

    • FantasyFantasy
    • Tile-LayingTile-Laying
    • Deck-BuildingDeck-Building
    • Worker PlacementWorker Placement
    • Solo ModeSolo Mode
    • Economy & TradeEconomy & Trade
    +1 more

    Founders of Gloomhaven is a complex and engaging city-building strategy game that immerses players in the early history of the Gloomhaven universe. Unlike its predecessor, Gloomhaven, which is a cooperative campaign-driven game focused on tactical combat, Founders of Gloomhaven emphasizes strategic planning, resource management, and negotiation, offering a completely different experience that stands on its own.

    More details for Founders of Gloomhaven
    • 👥 1 - 4 Players
    • ⏱️ 90 - 120 Minutes
    • 🧒 12+ years old
    • 🧩 Hard to learn
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    Looking for a really good game of stringing actions together? Then we have just the thing for you: the list with the best Sequence of Actions games 2026.

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