In Alchemists, get ready to don your lab coat and dive into the world of alchemy! Two to four aspiring master alchemists compete to unravel the arcane secrets of ingredients like mandrake root and scorpion tail. The main goal is to publish correct theories about the properties of these elements, and that's where the fun (and challenge) begins. The game unfolds over six intense rounds. At the start of each, players choose their action order, with those opting to act later receiving greater rewards, a classic 'he who waits, gains more' tactic.

Actions are declared by placing cubes on specific spaces, and the resolution order is crucial. To gain knowledge, you'll mix ingredients and test the results using a smartphone app (available for iOS, Android, and Windows), which randomizes the rules of alchemy for each new game, ensuring no two games are ever the same. If money is tight, you can sell potions of questionable quality to adventurers, but remember: money is just a means to an end. The real gold here is academic prestige! You can invest that money in powerful, expensive magical artifacts, which not only give an extra boost but also increase your reputation. There are nine different artifacts per game, so variety is guaranteed.

Your reputation fluctuates throughout the game, rising and falling according to your publications and actions. After the six rounds and a final exhibition, reputation is converted into points, along with points from artifacts and grants. The moment of truth arrives when the secrets of alchemy are revealed, and your theories are confirmed or refuted, gaining or losing points. Whoever accumulates the most points at the end is crowned the supreme alchemist. It's a race for knowledge, wealth, and fame, all bubbling in the alchemist's cauldron!