Trolls & Princesses is a "worker movement" game. You play as one of four troll clans and to gain the favor of the Mountain King, you try to impress him. The players gain favor (in the form of victory points) when they do what trolls usually do: trade mercenaries, "hire" people, tear down church bells, kidnap princesses, build your cave, and use troll magic.

To succeed, players must gather resources to perform various actions. The player with the most victory points at the end can crown themselves the ultimate troll clan leader.