In the days leading up to the outbreak of World War II, the French upper class live in a world of their own, oblivious to the impending chaos. Aviator André Jurieux lands his record-setting transatlantic flight only to find that the object of his affection, Christine, a married countess, did not come to greet him. He is heartbroken, and his friend Octave tries to console him. Christine, meanwhile, is trapped in a loveless marriage with the wealthy Marquis Robert de la Cheyniest. Despite their luxurious lifestyle, both Christine and Robert engage in affairs due to the lack of genuine intimacy in their relationship. The narrative unfolds as the Marquis organizes a weekend hunting party at his large country estate, which invites an ensemble of aristocrats and servants, including André and a provocative maid named Lisette, who happens to be Christine’s personal servant.

During the gathering, the complex web of romances and class tensions becomes more tangled. As the guests indulge in games and entertainment, they remain largely unaware of the simmering conflicts among them. André, still enamored with Christine, longs to win her love, while Robert continues his affair with Geneviève, a friend of the couple. Below stairs, Lisette is caught between the attentions of her husband, the gamekeeper Schumacher, and the Marquis' poacher, Marceau. The estate becomes a stage where the players, both masters and servants, are bound by the "rules of the game"—the unspoken social codes dictating their behavior—ultimately revealing the moral bankruptcy and disillusionment of this elite society.