Wayfarers of the South Tigris takes place during the height of the Abbasid Caliphate, circa 820 AD. As brave explorers, cartographers and astronomers, players set off from Baghdad to chart the surrounding land, waterways, and heavens above. Players must carefully manage their caravan of workers and equipment, while reporting back regularly to record their findings at the House of Wisdom. Will you succeed in impressing the Caliph, or lose your way and succumb to the wilderness?

The goal of Wayfarers of the South Tigris is to be the player with the most victory points (VP) at the game's end. Points are primarily obtained by mapping the land, water, and sky. Players can also gain points from upgrading their caravans, by gaining inspiration from nobles, and by influencing the three guilds of science, trade and exploration. As they make discoveries, players will want to rapidly journal their progress. The game is over once one player’s marker has reached the far right column of the journal track.