In the age of exploration the players arrive at a new home far from their homeland. They try to settle the big island and each player attempts to explore one part of it by placing landscape tiles. Landscape tiles give resources and those are used to erect buildings with special abilities. Barriers on the island have must be removed in order to explore the island even further. Players will build valuable statues and supply ships get them the supplies from the old world they need to be a successful settler on Cooper Island.

The interesting thing about Cooper Island is the way the players mark their victory points. They sail with ships around the island to indicate their progress. On their way around the island they find smaller islands inshore that give valuable benefits. After five rounds, a game of Cooper Island is over and the player who developed the best and went on furthest with their ships will win.