In Glory Islands, players simultaneously play sailing cards from their hands. The card values ​​determine the turn order, how far ships can move on the board, and where a player's pirates are placed on the board.

Depending on where they are placed, pirates can receive glory, treasure tokens, or barrels. The cards can also provide bonus actions that players can use to gain an advantage over their opponents. When pirates occupy all spaces on an island, the player with the most pirates on that island gets the most glory.

The game ends when one or more pirate ships have completed the route around the islands. The player with the most glory will be crowned "King of the Pirates"!