Mexica

The game is set up by placing the Mexica board in the center of the table. Fifteen couple or district tokens are shuffled face down, with eight placed randomly on their corresponding spots on the board in ascending order of their yellow numbers, and the remaining seven placed face down to the side for the second period. Canal tiles are placed near the board, along with two two-space canal tiles on their indicated spots. Bridges and action point tokens are placed nearby. Each player receives a player aid card, a prestige point marker in their chosen color, and nine temples. Players place their prestige point markers on the zero space of the prestige track and set their nine temples in front of them according to their player aid. Starting with the oldest player and going clockwise, each player places their Pilli Mexica on one of the four starting spaces on the board.

Players take on the role of tribe leaders in Mexica, an area control game for two to four players. The primary objective is to secure the most land mass and erect magnificent temples in Tenochtitlan, proving your civilization's supremacy.

Mexica is played over two periods, each consisting of a varying number of rounds. On your turn, you have six action points to spend on seven possible actions: constructing a canal, founding a district, constructing or relocating a bridge, building a temple, moving your Pilli Mexica, taking an action point token, or spending an action point token. Unused action points are lost at the end of your turn.

Scoring for spiritual grandeur occurs at the end of each period. You score prestige points for all founded districts based on the total levels of your temples within each district. In the second period, you also score un-founded districts. Ties are resolved by sharing the place, with specific rules for first, second, and third place. Additional points are awarded if your Pilli Mexica is on one of the four starting spaces.

The game concludes after two distinct periods. The first period ends when all eight couple tokens on the emperor's commands have been used and at least one player has placed all of their temples. The second period ends similarly with the remaining seven couple tokens and temple placements, leading directly to the final scoring and determination of the winner.