From the publisher: Thrones is a two-player 9x9 board game where each players set their tiles and pieces secretly, screened from their opponent's view, until the screen is removed, the middle fifth row is set, and the battle's combat begins. Gameplay: Each player controls an army of 13 and a homeland of 36 tiles, including 1 Fortress. A screen separates the players as they set their sides of the battlefield in secret. Before the screen is removed, both players choose positions for the tiles in a middle row between their two sides. Once the screen is removed, the middle row tiles positions are resolved, and the remaining empty space is occupied by a neutral Fortress. The game begins! Tiles affect their piece’s ability to move, attack, and defend itself- sometimes to their benefit, sometimes not. Players must battle their opponent’s army while preserving their own, but will lose if they lose their Throne piece. A player instantly defeats their opponent by moving their Throne piece into their enemy's Fortress- no matter what pieces either player controls.