# Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar

Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar is a board game for 2–4 players. It plays in 90 minutes and is meant for ages 13 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 4. It is rated 7.9 out of 10 by 185 Ludoya reviewers. The cheapest copy in stock is $49.95 (United States).

- **Players:** 2–4 (best with 4)
- **Playing time:** 90 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 13+
- **Complexity:** 3.7 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2012
- **Categories:** Mythology, Economic, Civilization, Ancient, Farming
- **Mechanics:** Track Movement, End Game Bonuses, Once-Per-Game Abilities, Worker Placement, Turn Order: Claim Action, Bias
- **Ludoya rating:** 7.9 out of 10, from 185 reviews
- **Owned by:** 329 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 1,232
- **Unique players:** 1,036

**Designers:** Simone Luciani, Daniele Tascini

**Artists:** Milan Vavroň

**Publishers:** Czech Games Edition

## Where to buy in United States

| Shop | Price | Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cardhaus Games | 49.95 $ | https://www.cardhaus.com/tzolkin-the-mayan-calendar/ |
| Miniature Market | 59.99 $ | https://www.miniaturemarket.com/tzolkin-mayan-calendar-cge00019.html |
| eFantasy | 49.99 € | https://www.efantasy.gr/en/products/board-games/5402-board-game-tzolkin-the-mayan-calendar |
| Spilforsyningen | 299.95 kr | https://spilforsyningen.dk/products/tzolkin-the-mayan-calendar-eng |
| Spelexperten | 499 kr | https://www.spelexperten.com/sallskapsspel/strategispel/tzolk-in-the-mayan-calendar-1.html |
| World of Board Games | 499 kr | https://www.worldofboardgames.com/firefly-the-game |
| Good Games | 74.44 $ | https://www.goodgames.com.au/products/tzolkin-the-mayan-calendar |
| TLAMA games | 1149 Kč | https://www.tlamagames.com/deskove-hry/tzolk-in--the-mayan-calendar-en/ |
| Zatu Games | 41.25 £ | https://zatu.com/products/tzolkin-mayan-calendar |
| Alphaspel | 549 kr | https://alphaspel.se/491-bradspel/26630-tzolkin-the-mayan-calendar |
| Ludifolie | 48.9 € | https://www.ludifolie.com/1175-tzolk-in-le-calendrier-maya.html |
| La Gameria | 49.95 € | https://gameria.es/juegos-de-mesa/tzolk-in-el-calendario-maya-ingles-19723.html |
| Get Your Fun | 49.99 € | https://www.getyourfun.it/037148-tzolk-in-the-mayan-calendar-giochi-gestionali.html |
| Dragons Lair | 575 kr | https://dragonslair.se/products/tzolkin-the-mayan-calendar |
| Fantasiapelit | 53.4 € | https://www.fantasiapelit.com/index.php?main=ai&kat=single&mista=indeksi&etsittava=_146242 |
| Game Ninja | 599 kr | https://www.gameninja.no/produkt/tzolkin/ |
| Spielezar | 54.9 Fr. | https://www.spielezar.ch/brettspiele/tzolk-in-the-mayan-calendar-en |

## Expansions

- [Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar – Tribes & Prophecies](https://www.ludoya.com/games/tzolkin-the-mayan-calendar-tribes-and-prophecies)
- [Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar – Mini Expansion 1](https://www.ludoya.com/games/tzolkin-the-mayan-calendar-mini-expansion-1)
- [Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar – Mini Expansion 2](https://www.ludoya.com/games/tzolkin-the-mayan-calendar-mini-expansion-2)
- [Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar – Tribes & Prophecies: Ek Chuah](https://www.ludoya.com/games/tzolkin-the-mayan-calendar-tribes-and-prophecies-ek-chuah)

## Similar games

- [Egizia](https://www.ludoya.com/games/egizia)
- [Egizia: Shifting Sands](https://www.ludoya.com/games/egizia-shifting-sands)
- [Men-Nefer](https://www.ludoya.com/games/men-nefer)
- [Arborea](https://www.ludoya.com/games/arborea)
- [Gùgōng: Deluxe Big Box](https://www.ludoya.com/games/gugong-deluxe-big-box)
- [The Ancient World (Second Edition)](https://www.ludoya.com/games/the-ancient-world-second-edition)
- [Ayar: Children of the Sun](https://www.ludoya.com/games/ayar-children-of-the-sun)
- [Gentes: Deluxified Edition](https://www.ludoya.com/games/gentes-deluxified-edition)
- [Millennia: Tracks of Time](https://www.ludoya.com/games/millennia)
- [Agricola](https://www.ludoya.com/games/agricola)
- [Village](https://www.ludoya.com/games/village)
- [Era of Tribes](https://www.ludoya.com/games/era-of-tribes)

## Rules questions

### Do I have to place workers or pick up workers on my turn — can I do both or skip my turn?

You must either place one or more available workers or pick up one or more of your workers; you cannot do both or skip your turn (your first turn will always be a placement turn). (page 6)

### How much corn do I pay when I place workers onto the gears?

You pay corn equal to the action-space number for each worker placed, plus an additional cost based on how many workers you place that turn as indicated on your player board (the board shows the cumulative and per-worker breakdown). (page 6)

### When I pick up workers, what actions can I take and can I use a lower action space?

For each worker picked up you may either perform the action where it stood, perform a lower-numbered action on the same gear by paying 1 corn per step back, or do nothing; you pick them up and resolve the chosen effects sequentially, so order matters. (page 6)

### When do we feed workers and how much corn does each worker need?

On a Food Day (there are four per game) after everyone has taken a turn you must pay 2 corn for each worker in play (on the gears or in front of you); you must feed as many workers as you can and lose 3 victory points for each worker you fail to feed, while farm buildings can reduce feeding costs. (pages 13, 11)

### What happens if I don't have corn to place workers — can I beg for corn and are there penalties?

At the start of your turn, if you have 2 or fewer corn you may beg: discard all your corn and take 3 from the bank, but this angers the gods so you must move down one step on a temple; if you must place but cannot and have no workers on gears you must beg (with a rare special case if you are already at the bottom of every temple). (pages 6, 11)

### What does the Starting Player Space do and what are the temple top-step rules?

The Starting Player Space gives you all corn accumulated on the gear tooth immediately, returns that worker to you at the end of the round, transfers the Starting Player Marker, and may let you advance the calendar 2 days with restrictions; temple top steps are exclusive to one player and when you reach a top step you flip your board lighter-side-up (granting calendar-speed privileges). (page 10)

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/tzolkin-the-mayan-calendar)
- [Tzolk'in: The Mayan Calendar in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/tzolkin-the-mayan-calendar)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/126163)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-19. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._