The World's Fair of 1893 in Chicago was an amazing international exhibition that showcased many great achievements in science, technology, culture, and entertainment. Acting as organizers of the fair, players work diligently to increase their influence throughout the fair and secure the grand exhibits that will be put on display. The organizer who has earned the best reputation when the fair starts will emerge the victor.

On every turn of World's Fair 1893, the current player sends a supporter to one of the five areas and gather all of the cards by it. Then, new cards are added to some of the areas, and the next player takes a turn.

The five areas represent sections of exhibits, such as Fine Arts and Electricity. Some cards represent exhibit proposals in one of those five areas, others represent influential individuals who give you bonus supporters, and other cards represent tickets for attractions and concessions along the Midway.

The game consists of three scoring rounds, each triggered when players collectively gather the requisite of Midway tickets. Players obtain reputation points for leading in number of supporters in an area and for gathering the most tickets in each round. The leaders in an area also receive approval for exhibit proposals they have gathered that match the area. Players score reputation points at the end of the game based on the breadth and diversity of their approved exhibits.