In Gùgōng, we are transported to China in 1570, during the reign of the Longqing Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. After years of disarray and corruption, the country was in a delicate situation. The game's plot unfolds in the magnificent Forbidden City, home to many emperors and the center of a complex bureaucracy, yet also permeated by corruption. Even with severe penalties, high-ranking officials maintained a peculiar practice: they would accept gifts from petitioners and, in return, offer one of seemingly lower value, simulating compliance with prohibitions. This intriguing practice is the central basis of Gùgōng.

Players take on the role of powerful Chinese families, seeking to ascend and gain influence by exchanging gifts with these officials. The core mechanic is brilliant: to perform an action, you must offer a gift card of higher value than the card you will receive from the official. This forces strategic decisions each turn, as the value of the gifts in your hand is crucial for determining your action options. Throughout the game, you will travel across China, sail down the Grand Canal, purchase precious jade, contribute to the construction of the Great Wall, secure advantages with decrees, manipulate events through intrigue, and ultimately, seek an audience with the emperor himself. If only one player succeeds in gaining this audience, they win. If several succeed, the winner is the player with the most victory points among them. Prepare for a strategic and culturally rich journey!