Deep in the tropical jungle to the west of the Everdell Valley lies the country of Emerland, a vibrant land known for its artistic and musical culture, and for its abundance of natural resources, including valuable gems mined from its many underground caverns. Tiny critters found here — mostly insects — are fastidious and clever Helpers, often assisting the larger critters in their work and in optimizing or bringing beauty to their cities and homes.

The jungles are vast and dense, and expeditions into the further realms of the land are undertaken often. There was once a mysterious civilization that dwelt here, long lost to history, but archaeological discoveries are beginning to shed a light on the ancients.

In Emerland, you send critter Workers to various locations on the board to gather resources. You use these resources to play cards face-up in front of you, forming your jungle city and helping you to score points. Each turn, you take one of 6 possible actions: Place a Worker (with or without Helpers), Place a Helper, Play a Card, Use an Artisan Card, Excavate with your Archaeologist or Prepare for Season.

The game ends when all players have reached the end of Spring and can no longer make any actions. The player with the most points wins.