Palette features a deck of cards, each of which displays one of six colors and some which display the designation, goal card. Players are dealt a hand of cards and take turns playing one card and then replenishing. A goal card is played into one of four slots in a central area; the other cards are played into players' individual tableaux. Special cards also can be played that replace and otherwise manipulate the cards in the tableaux and central area. The winner is the first player to match the colors of the four cards in his tableau with those in the central area.