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Ever wondered what happens when you flip the script on classic fairy tales? Trolls and Princesses, created by Pim Thunborg and published by Game Brewer, does just that, and it’s a refreshing take on the stories we thought we knew.
👥 2-4 players, ages 12+
⌛ Playing time: 90-120 minutes
📝 Designer: Pim Thunborg
🎨 Artwork: Edu Valls
🏢 Publisher: Game Brewer
Stepping Into Troll Shoes: The Core Gameplay
In this game, players step into the shoes of troll clan leaders, living just a stone’s throw away from a quaint human village. The game is described as a “worker movement” adventure, where your goal is to win over the mountain king with your cunning and strategy. Each player’s turn kicks off with a round card that reveals where the troll king is heading and might just give you an edge in that specific area. Then, it’s time to move one of your trolls—to a cavern for resource gathering or to the village to cause a little trouble, perhaps?
The caverns are a bustling hub for the trolls. Here, they can upgrade their living quarters by adding resource tiles, creating snug spots for princess beds, and even storage for those pesky church bells and strategic outposts. The aim? To mine for precious stones and metals, vital for your escapades in the village.
Speaking of the village, it’s where the real fun begins. Trolls have a knack for mischief, from stealing church bells (their kryptonite, really) to cow-snatching, baby-swapping, and the occasional princess kidnapping. But pulling off such feats requires teamwork, meaning you’ll need to ensure enough of your trolls are in the village to carry out these cheeky tasks.
The game ends after 10 to 12 rounds, depending on how many players are involved. Final scores take into account various achievements, such as the number of princesses kidnapped, collections of babies and bells, outposts, special king tiles, and blue scoring tiles found in the cave.
The Tale’s End: A Parting Glance at Trolls & Princesses
While the gameplay might seem straightforward on the surface, there’s a strategic layer underneath that adds complexity. Establishing a strong presence in the village is crucial, and timing your actions is key. Wait too long, and you might find your plans foiled by an opponent’s move. The game also throws in a curveball with its puzzle component—the resource tiles are pentagons, not hexagons, making it a fun challenge to fit everything together just right.
Trolls and Princesses is a medium-weight eurogame that ingeniously incorporates a wealth of familiar mechanisms—worker placement, set collection, tile placement, and hand management—in a manner that feels entirely novel and engaging. Despite the familiarity of these mechanics, their combination within this game creates a refreshing and captivating gameplay experience. We thoroughly enjoyed diving into this game, and our decision to back it on Kickstarter, especially for the Deluxe Version, was definitely justified. The superior quality components of this version genuinely bring the game to life on the table, enhancing the overall experience.
