Ever wondered what happens when you mix a bit too much sugar, some sneaky cards, and a bunch of friends pretending not to hate each other? Well, that’s pretty much the vibe I got when we tried Troll for this review. Leave your poker face at the door, because this board game is all about laughing, bluffing, and throwing just a smidge of shade. If you want deep strategy and serious competition, keep walking. But if you want fun chaos and social shenanigans, brace yourself. Here’s my honest, slightly sleep-deprived take after far too many rounds of this madness.
How It Plays
Setting Up
First, sort out the shiny components. Each player grabs their set of tokens and a troll board. Shuffle the deck (try not to spill your drink on it like I did), deal cards, and set the main board in the middle. You’re good to go—unless your cat has already run off with a piece.
Gameplay
Take turns playing cards and moving trolls. Bluff, backstab, or play it straight—no two rounds are ever the same because your friends are sneaky little goblins. Keep an eye on what people claim and, more importantly, what they actually do. Expect loud arguments, plenty of accusations, and at least one fake apology.
Winning the Game
The game ends when the troll treasure pile runs out or someone gets all their tokens to safety. Count up your hoard; whoever has the fattest stash wins. If you’re last, at least you probably had the most laughs. Or caused the most drama.
Want to know more? Read our extensive strategy guide for TROLL.
How ‘Troll’ Turns Friends Into Foes: Gameplay Mechanics and Player Interaction
Okay, folks, let me tell you about the sweet chaos that is ‘Troll.’ If you want a game night where your friends switch between giggles and side-eye, this is it. The premise is simple: every player is a troll, and your main goal is to outwit, annoy, and sometimes outright sabotage the other trolls at the table. The rules do a good job giving everyone a fighting chance, but nobody gets too comfortable. I saw peaceful alliances crumble faster than a cookie dunked too long in tea.
The core mechanics revolve around bluffing, misdirection, and a bit of good old-fashioned table talk. Each player has a hand of action cards—think stealing, blocking, or throwing curveballs at others. My pal Dave tried to be sneaky and hide his stash, but one poorly timed “swap” card and boom, his riches went straight to Karen, who’d been faking confusion for three rounds. There’s this tension where you need to plan a move or two ahead, but you’re never really sure if someone else is cooking up a scheme to mess you up.
One neat touch is how the game pushes you to interact. You can’t just lurk in the corner and hope for the best. You need to negotiate, trash talk, and sometimes team up—just to stab each other in the back a turn later. The best moments are when two trolls go head-to-head, and everyone else egging them on. There’s a lot of table talk, bluffing and laughter, but also a real sense that every word matters. If you want a game that keeps you talking, plotting, and plotting some more, troll does exactly that.
But how much of your fate is in your hands, and how much is luck? That’s what I’ll tackle in the next section, if my dice don’t betray me first…
Luck vs. Skill: Who Rules the Troll Bridge?
Alright, let’s rip the band-aid off: when it comes to luck versus skill, Troll likes to keep you on your toes—and sometimes kicks you off the bridge. My gaming group argued about this more than we argued about pineapple on pizza. Some rounds, you feel like a cackling evil genius, outwitting those pesky goblins (or trolls, or whatever role you’re stuck with). Other times, you feel like you just got punted into the river because your fate rested on the roll of a dice or a sneaky card.
The best moments in Troll come from clever plays: baiting your friends, outguessing their moves, or just plain tricking them into a trap of your own making. When your ploys work, you feel like the king (or queen) of the mountain. But, and it’s a big but, the game also tosses in random elements that smack you right in the face just when you start to think you’re smart. Got a plan? The draw deck or a surprise card might just unravel your genius in two seconds flat.
Some in my group loved this—one guy, Dave, swears the chaos keeps things exciting. Me? I like a fair fight, and if too much is left to chance, it makes me want to hurl the board out the window. Don’t get me wrong, you can win with brains in Troll, but luck strolls in like it owns the place more often than I’d like. That’s why I can’t give Troll more than 3 out of 5 stars here.
And now, speaking of things that don’t drive me up the wall, let’s check out the shiny stuff: next up is artwork and component quality—oh boy, do I have thoughts!
Stunning Trolls and Tangible Treats: Artwork & Component Quality in Troll
First off, let’s talk about how ‘Troll’ looks when you spill it out on the table. When I opened the box at my weekly game night, everyone at my table made the same noise: that weird happy gasp you make when you find extra fries at the bottom of the bag. The trolls themselves look fantastic—chunky, mischievous, and oddly cute (I swear one of them looks like my cousin after three cups of coffee). The cards burst with bright colors, loads of funny little details, and some honestly impressive illustrations. Every card tells a story, even if half the stories involve eating rocks or sneaking through muddy caves.
The game board (if you can call it that) is solid and easier to handle than a mid-life crisis, which is more than I can say for some other games with flimsier boards. The tokens are thick and chunky, which I approve of—no one should have to use tweezers just to pick up game pieces. The print quality holds up, even after a few spills during our last nacho-fueled brawl (sorry, Susan).
But, not all is perfect in the land of trolls. The insert could use some work; I don’t know who designed it, but it clearly was not someone who actually tried to fit everything back in after a game. Expect a little chaos when you pack up.
Up next: Can ‘Troll’ keep you sneaking and scheming for session after session, or does it fizzle out faster than my New Year’s resolutions? Time to talk replay value and game length!
Is Troll Worth Playing Again and Again? Let’s Talk Replay Value and Game Length
Alright, so you’re wondering if Troll is the sort of game that sits on your shelf and gathers dust, or if it’s one that keeps finding its way back to your table. I’ve played Troll a handful of times now, each with a different group (including my neighbor who still insists the game is rigged against him). Each playthrough surprised us: someone always tried a sneaky move, and the table exploded in wild accusations and laughter. That right there tells you—Troll has some legs in the replay department.
Let’s talk game length. Troll clocks in at about 30–45 minutes per session, which is just enough time to get a good dose of mischief without wearing out its welcome. There’s no sitting around waiting for ages, even with a group of slow decision-makers (looking at you, Uncle Dave). The pace keeps things lively, and if you mess up a round, you won’t have long to brood before you can start plotting again.
Replay value gets a boost from the fact that everyone seems to adopt a different approach each game. You’ve got bluffers, bold attackers, and then there’s always that one friend who tries to play peacemaker (they never win, but we love them anyway). While Troll isn’t a brain-burning puzzle, the social side and quick playtime mean it doesn’t get stale too fast.
So, do I recommend it? If you love laughter, chaos, and games that don’t take themselves too seriously—yes! Troll is the sort of chaos that keeps calling you back. Just don’t play with sore losers.
Conclusion
So, that’s a wrap on my wild ride with Troll. If you enjoy chaotic, bluff-heavy games with a side of betrayal and noisy laughter, Troll brings a lot to the table. The artwork pops, the tokens feel great, and every round takes me on a new rollercoaster of failed plans and shock victories.
But, if you love tight, strategic battles and hate leaving your fate to luck, this one might make you want to flip the table (ask my buddy Mark, who still hasn’t forgiven me for guessing his Troll three times in a row). Still, Troll delivers on fun when played with a social, easy-going group who enjoy a bit of trolling—pun fully intended.
Thanks for joining me for this review! Now go forth, gather your crew, and see who among you is the true Troll!
