Wayfinder is about four Polynesian tribes who, while voyaging, got mixed up among a group of islands. Each player plays a Wayfinder (navigator-priest). The goal for the Wayfinder is to go on a series of voyages to unite the people of the tribes and form villages.

On the player's turn, the player must execute a voyage where the wayfinder is located - picking up all the residents of that space and voyaging (mancala like) placing one tribesman on each spot along the way.

You get points for creating villages (exactly 5 men of one color in a space) - but more points for villages of your own color. Huts mark created villages - which is used in end game scoring.

There is a real time part of the game play. That is, when it's not your turn, you must race to place your Wayfinder to mark the beginning of your next voyage before the beginning of your next turn.

The game ends when there are no more moves possible. The player with the highest score wins.