> I bought this game recently when it was on sale
Welcome to the Gloomiverse :)

> What exactly are the differences between them (besides the fact that Guildmaster incorporates the tutorial)?
Guildmaster is a separate thing akin to a roguelite where you unlock quests as you play and unlock new characters as you go. It is friendlier to complete beginners.
The campaign is meant to be identical to the boardgame

> Which is a better introduction to the game for someone who hasn't played the original boardgame?

Guildmaster .. but it will spoil the non-starter classes and items

> If I only play one of them, which would you recommend and why? (I like what I've seen so far, but I don't *love* it, and I'm not sure how much time I want to invest in this game when I have dozens of other games already waiting to be played.)

Guildmaster took me a long time since I played it methodically and there is a lot to do. It is shorter than the main Campaign ...

The Campaign famously runs 60-90 scenarios ... tabletop you are looking at a brain busting 3 hours per scenario for complex ones. Digital solo, 4 players, 2 hours or more depending on how much time you take for analysis.

Enjoy :)

Which of them would you say has more of a "story" to it?

I would play campaign as that is true Gloomhaven.

Gloohaven Digital is a videogame recreation of the boardgame Gloomhaven.

- The campaign is the boardgame.
- Guildmaster mode is not in the boardgame and was made as something for players to enjoy when the game was in early Access and the devs were making the campaign which was not available in EA.

When the game launched they left Guildmaster in as the EA players enjoyed it but it is not part of true Gloomhaven and a digital only thing.

I would play Campaign first as this is the real Gloomhaven experience. I would then play Guild master after a full campaign to enjoy more of the game and to keep the fun going.

Thank you both for your input.

Just like the op, I am new to Gloomhaven, I did the tutorial, then started Guildmaster, but did not complete Guildmaster. I started the Campaign mode, and I like the fact the narrator talks through the Campaign mode, so for me I prefer the Campaign mode. Now I have to say I die repeatedly, in Campaign mode, but I enjoy the Campaign mode more than Guildmaster. My Characters are now level 3, and The game does seem to get easier after the first couple of missions, It could be I am finally learning the cards now also, and you will unlock other cards as you level up. You mentioned that you are not sure how much time you want to invest in the game. I am finally understanding the game, and I have 47 hours of gameplay. Hope this helps, for me the game is tough, but rewarding.

Originally posted by max1195998:

J I have 47 hours of gameplay. Hope this helps, for me the game is tough, but rewarding.

Over 1000 hours on digital and who knows how much on tabletop and still learning new things too - enjoy the great game and don't forget about the Crimson Scales (very hard) and the Frosthaven sequel (still waiting to play it it in person before digital ... )