Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar
INNOVATIVE WORKER-PLACEMENT EURO by DANIELE TASCINI + SIMONE LUCIANI (2012, Czech Games Edition). 2-4 players play Mayan tribes across 26-week ritual year using ROTATING GEAR MECHANISM — workers placed on 6 interlocking gears rotate through action spaces, gaining stronger actions the longer they stay. Considered a MASTERPIECE of physical mechanism design. HELD BGG TOP-50 for 10+ years. Won multiple Golden Geek + Deutscher Spiele Preis nominations. ~90 min.
What is Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar?
TZOLK'IN: THE MAYAN CALENDAR is an INNOVATIVE WORKER-PLACEMENT EURO designed by DANIELE TASCINI + SIMONE LUCIANI (Italy), published by CZECH GAMES EDITION (CGE, 2012). 2-4 PLAYERS play MAYAN TRIBES across a 26-week ritual year using a REVOLUTIONARY ROTATING GEAR MECHANISM — workers are placed on 6 INTERLOCKING GEARS that ROTATE through action spaces each round, gaining STRONGER actions the LONGER workers stay on the gear. Considered a MASTERPIECE of PHYSICAL MECHANISM DESIGN + one of the most tactilely satisfying board games ever. HELD BGG TOP-50 for 10+ years (2012-2026); peaked in top-20. Won Golden Geek Best Strategy Game 2013 nominee + Deutscher Spiele Preis 2013 top-10 + International Gamers Award 2013 nominee. ~90 MIN PLAY TIME. GAMEPLAY: 26 WEEKS (rounds). Each round: (1) Rotate MAIN CENTRAL GEAR (Tzolk'in) 1 tick — all 6 outer gears rotate 1 tick as consequence; (2) Player turn: place workers on gear OR take workers off gear to activate their current space. GEAR SPACES: Palenque (resource gathering), Yaxchilán (crafting), Tikal (buildings + monuments), Uxmal (buildings + trades), Chichen Itza (religious sacrifice to gods). Each gear has 5-6 spaces of increasing power as you move outward. Workers gain STRONGER actions the LONGER they stay on the gear. RELIGIOUS TRACKS: 3 gods (Kukulcan, Quetzalcoatl, Chaac) with 6 tracks each; advance via Chichen Itza sacrifices for VP + bonuses. FOOD DAYS occur 4 times per game — must feed all workers or take -3 VP penalty each. END GAME: 4 quarter-turn scoring events + final scoring for monuments + buildings + god track positions + corn/resources. RECEPTION: Golden Geek 2013 nominee; Deutscher Spiele Preis 2013 (7th); BGG top-50 consistently 2012-2026; considered a MASTERPIECE. Expansion: Tribes & Prophecies (2013) adds asymmetric tribes + prophecies.
Quick facts
Category
Board Games
Type
Individual
Players
2–4
Duration
~90 min
Where played
indoor
Field / court
Central Tzolk'in gear + 6 interlocking outer gears
Country of origin
🇮🇹 Italy
Estimated origin
Designed 2010-2012 Daniele Tascini + Simone Luciani; released 2012 CGE
Olympic
No
Popularity
major
How it works
Objective
Score most VP by end of 26 weeks via religious track positions + monuments + buildings + corn/resources + quarterly scoring bonuses.
Rules
Basic rules
26 weeks; rotate central gear each round
All 6 outer gears rotate as consequence.
Player turn: place workers on gears OR take off to activate
Timing = when to take off for stronger actions.
Longer stay on gear = stronger action
Delayed gratification core mechanic.
6 gears: Palenque, Yaxchilán, Tikal, Uxmal, Chichen Itza + monument
Each specialized: resources/crafting/buildings/religion.
3 religious tracks; advance via Chichen Itza sacrifices
Track positions = VP + bonuses.
Food days 4x per game: feed workers or -3 VP each
Corn management critical.
Scoring
End-game VP: religious track positions + monuments + buildings + gold/crystal remaining + quarterly scoring bonuses achieved.
| Action | Points |
|---|---|
| Religious track position | Varies 1-10 VP per god |
| Monument tile purchased | Varies; end-game criteria |
| Building owned | 3-8 VP each |
| Gold / crystal end-game | 1-2 VP each |
| Quarterly scoring achievements | Awarded at rounds 7, 14, 21, 26 |
Win condition · Highest VP after 26 weeks wins.
Playing area
Called
Central Tzolk'in gear + 6 interlocking outer gears
Dimensions
~90×60cm playspace
Central rotating Tzolk'in gear + 6 outer gears (Palenque, Yaxchilán, Tikal, Uxmal, Chichen Itza + 1 monument). Personal player boards + religious track board.
Equipment
Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar base box
$70 USD; includes gears + all base content
Tzolk'in: Tribes & Prophecies expansion (2013)
$40; asymmetric tribes + prophecies
Central Tzolk'in gear + 6 outer gears (physical!)
Tactile mechanism; the visual signature
Wooden worker meeples
Placed on gears
Corn + resource tokens (wood, stone, gold, crystal)
Feed workers + resources
Religious track markers + god cards
3 gods; 6 track positions each
Building + monument tiles
Purchased VP tiles
Strategies
Timing gear takeoffs
Take off early = weak action; late = strong. Balance corn cost + action value.
Religious track focus
Advance 1-2 gods deeply for big VP.
Corn economy
Food days force feeding; -3 VP per unfed = crushing.
Monument selection
Match monument end-game criteria to your strategy.
Skip weeks strategically
Some weeks skip your turn for corn payment.
Terminology
- Tzolk'in
- Central rotating gear; represents Mayan ritual calendar.
- Gear (Palenque/Yaxchilán/Tikal/Uxmal/Chichen Itza)
- 6 outer action gears; each specialized theme.
- Food day
- 4x per game forced feeding; -3 VP per unfed worker.
- Religious track
- 3 gods (Kukulcan/Quetzalcoatl/Chaac); advance for VP + bonuses.
- Monument
- Purchasable end-game scoring tile.
- Quarterly scoring
- Rounds 7, 14, 21, 26 trigger scoring bonuses.
Major competitions
Golden Geek Best Strategy Game 2013 nominee
annual · worldwide · since 2013
Deutscher Spiele Preis 2013 (7th place)
annual · Germany · since 2013
International Gamers Award 2013 nominee
annual · worldwide · since 2013
BGG top-50 consistently 2012-2026
ongoing · worldwide · since 2012
Where it is played
Governing bodies
Czech Games Edition (publisher)
Founded 2007 · Czech Republic
Daniele Tascini + Simone Luciani (designers)
Founded 2012 · Italy
Famous names & records
Famous athletes
- Daniele Tascini (Italy) — Co-designer; also Teotihuacan, Marco Polo
- Simone Luciani (Italy) — Co-designer; also Lorenzo il Magnifico, Tzolk'in
- Milan Vavroň (Czech) — Illustrator
Learn this sport
beginner
- 1
Buy Tzolk'in base ($70)
Physical gears are the appeal.
- 2
Play 2p first to learn mechanism
Understand gear rotation + food days.
intermediate
- 1
3-4 player games
More interaction; harder resource competition.
advanced
- 1
Tribes & Prophecies expansion
Asymmetric tribes add depth.
Frequently asked
What is Tzolk'in?+
INNOVATIVE WORKER-PLACEMENT EURO by Daniele Tascini + Simone Luciani (2012, Czech Games Edition). 2-4 players play Mayan tribes across 26-week ritual year using ROTATING GEAR MECHANISM. Considered a masterpiece of physical mechanism design. HELD BGG top-50 for 10+ years. Won multiple Golden Geek + Deutscher Spiele Preis nominations. ~90 min.
Sources & provenance
- Czech Games Edition — Tzolk'in— CGE
- BoardGameGeek — Tzolk'in— BGG
- Wikipedia — Tzolk'in— Wikipedia