Review – Enthrone

Enthrone is a 2-player game of hidden roles and unwitting pawns where players will move characters around to eliminate their targets and unmask their opponent, or just seize the throne outright. Each player will move 1 of 5 of the pawns on the board each turn as both players out-maneuver each other. It boils down to chess with hidden identities, but it’s much more engaging than that might suggest. Read on for the review!

Review

On their turn, each player will be able to move one of the 5 pawns who’s Action Tiles occupy one of the top 5 spots on the Action Board. The 3 pawns whose tiles are on the bottom are unable to be used, but can still be eliminated if they’re out on the board and no longer on one of the starting Lion spaces. Only Pawns in the top two spaces may eliminate targets, and only Pawns in the top 3 spaces can move into the center spot on the board and claim the throne. 

Every time anyone uses a Tile, that Tile goes to the bottom of the Action Board, making it take at least 3 more turns before you can use them again, with one exception. When a Pawn is eliminated, you flip their Tile over and remove the Pawn from the board. The backside of the Tiles have Arrows pointing down, and you can choose these Tiles on your turn to use the action of the Pawn below them, even if they would otherwise be unavailable in the bottom 3. 

Players will choose their targets based on which identity card they choose at the beginning of the game from the 3 they are dealt—each identity has 3 targets that you can eliminate to win the game, and you can even win if your opponent does some of the work for you. The other 3 endgame conditions are: if your Chosen pawn moves into the center space, if you manage to capture your opponent’s Chosen Pawn, or if someone captures a 4th Pawn that doesn’t win them the game. That last one will make you lose. Both Players also have a reference card showing them each Identities’ quarry, so if you notice your opponent going for the same Pawn you might be able to figure out their Chosen Pawn. 

Most games end with someone getting their 3rd Quarry, since that’s the easiest way to win. You could probably figure out which of the 8 Pawns is their Chosen, but by the time you do they might be ready to strike the killing blow and claim the win themselves. A good rule of thumb is to try to get your goals done while balancing ruining theirs—if it’s really obvious that they’re moving the King to the Center or protecting him at all costs, it’s a good bet he might be their Chosen. Or it could be a big feint, because after all it is a hidden role game. In all the games I played so far no one has claimed the center spot, since that’s the hardest thing to do. Oftentimes, my opponent’s targets and mine had some overlap, so the game was over after eliminating 4-5 pawns. The box says 20 minutes, but really most games were over in 10. Which isn’t bad—it’s quick and easy to reset and play again—we just apparently never had the patience to play the long game and go for the Throne. 

Enthrone is a beautifully designed game with highly detailed pawns (none of these characters skipped arms or back day at the gym) and a colorful board that will probably appeal greatly to anyone who’s a fan of Chess and games like Love Letter. 

A review copy was provided by the publisher.