Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar presents a new game mechanism: dynamic worker placement. Players representing different Mayan tribes place their workers on connected gears, and as the gears rotate they take the workers to more valuable actions.

During a turn, players must either place one or more workers onto available spots on the gears, or instead, pick up one or more workers. Placing workers costs corn, which is used as a currency in the game and is also needed for feeding. Picking up a worker allows a player to perform an action depending on the position of the worker. Leaving a worker on a gear as it rotates moves it to a more powerful action.

The game ends after one full revolution of the central Tzolk'in gear. Construct many bulidings, or please the gods by placing crystal skulls in deep caves. These are just two of the many paths to victory!