At its core, Thronefall employs a straightforward gameplay structure divided into day and night phases. The day phase involves constructing your base using coins earned from various structures such as farms and houses. As well as structures for troops and upgrades, and defense installations. The strategic placement of these structures is predetermined, deviating from the typical freedom seen in many strategy games. While this limitation may seem restrictive, it streamlines the gameplay and focuses the player's attention on resource management and defensive preparations.
Thronefall follows a cel-shaded art style that complements its minimalist philosophy. The clean and easy-to-interpret visuals contribute to the game's accessibility, ensuring that players can quickly identify units, structures, and threats. This approach also aids in the smooth performance of the game, which runs seamlessly without any noticeable issues, even during larger battles.
Thronefall effectively addresses several common pain points found in traditional strategy games. It doesn't necessitate extensive brainpower, exceptional dexterity, or intricate knowledge of game mechanics for players to excel. Instead, the game hones in on the dopamine giving aspects of RTS games, as well as other similar genres like tower defense, base building, and empire management. Sessions are brief, requiring just a few minutes to both construct and successfully defend a base. As a result, the game doesn't demand a substantial time commitment from players.