Embark on a historical journey within the walls of Bornem Abbey, the heart of the board game Abbates. Players take on the role of abbots vying to acquire the most prestigious collections of stained glass windows, precious artifacts, and ancient manuscripts from the monumental abbey library.

Against the atmospheric backdrop of the abbey, the game unfolds on a dynamic 3x3 grid representing the courtyard, surrounded by corridors along which the abbots move. Players move their abbot figures through these corridors, strategically choosing rows or columns of the grid to acquire the most coveted artifacts. Using abbot cards, players can perform actions that reflect the "Rule of Benedict." Successful moves aligned with these venerable guidelines receive powerful bonus cards that can significantly influence the course of the game.

Scoring points in Abbates requires both tactical insight and foresight: players must assemble their collections according to specific patterns to accumulate as many points as possible. The strategic depth is further enhanced by the penalty points system, which requires players to limit the points difference between their own player character and the Abbot General.