In Zapotec, you build temples, cornfields, and villages in the three valleys surrounding the capital to generate resources needed to build pyramids, make offerings to the gods, and perform rituals.

Each round, players simultaneously choose a card from their hand to determine the turn order and the resources they collect. Players then take turns spending resources to build new houses, access special abilities, make offerings to the gods, and build pyramids.

At the end of the round, players draw new cards from the central market, with the last unchosen card becoming the scoring bonus card for the next round.

After five rounds, players score points for pyramids, for their position on the sacrifice track and for their ritual cards. The player with the most victory points wins.