Splendor is a fast-paced and addictive game of chip-collecting and card development. Players are merchants of the Renaissance trying to buy gem mines means of transportation shops — all in order to acquire the most prestige points. If you're wealthy enough you might even receive a visit from a noble at some point which of course will further increase your prestige.

On your turn you may (1) collect chips (gems) or (2) buy and build a card or (3) reserve one card. If you collect chips you take either three different kinds of chips or two chips of the same kind. If you buy a card you pay its price in chips and add it to your playing area. To reserve a card — in order to make sure you get it or why not your opponents don't get it — you place it in front of you face down for later building; this costs you a round but you also get gold in the form of a joker chip which you can use as any gem.

All of the cards you buy increase your wealth as they give you a permanent gem bonus for later buys; some of the cards also give you prestige points. In order to win the game you must reach 15 prestige points before your opponents do.