The Plan is a quick-paced, light, card-management game with set-collection goals. In this simultaneous-play game, players form teams of expert thieves and attempt to steal valuable treasures from the museum in a series of heists. Every round, new treasures become available. However, treasures can be stolen only by experts in the specific field. The masterminds must try to gather the best team to send in. The treasures collected range from valuable jewels, to ancient artifacts, to priceless paintings, so the assembled team must match the treasure available.

To play, every mastermind commits to their team by choosing one card from their hand. These are called "plan cards", and they have a variety of experts on every card. Players will keep their teams hidden until everyone is ready to reveal their cards at once.

The smallest teams get to gather treasures first, but teams with more experts can collect more items. However, larger teams move slower, so treasures might not be available when they arrive. Teams with matching experts will cancel each other out, so players must form the right teams, while also sending them in at the right time.

The game is over when the treasures have been collected. Every item is worth victory points, and complete sets of any treasure earn extra bonus points. Whoever has the most points wins the game!