Wayfarers of the South Tigris is set during the height of the Abbasid Caliphate, circa 820 AD. As brave explorers, cartographers and astronomers, players set out from Baghdad to map the surrounding lands, waterways and skies above. Players must carefully manage their caravan of workers and equipment, while regularly reporting their findings to the House of Wisdom. Will you be able to impress the Caliph, or will you get lost and succumb in the wilderness?

The goal of Wayfarers of the South Tigris is to be the player with the most Victory Points (VP) at the end of the game. Points are mainly earned by mapping the land, water and air. Players can also earn points by upgrading their caravans, drawing inspiration from nobles, and influencing the three guilds of science, trade, and exploration. As they make discoveries, players will want to quickly track their progress. The game ends once a player's marker reaches the far right column of the journal track.