Terraforming Mars (board game): Difference between revisions

|name=Terraforming Mars|subject_name=''Terraforming Mars''

|caption=Terraforming Mars box cover|designer=Jacob Fryxelius

|genre=Board game|players=1-51–5

|setup_time=10 minutes|playing_time=120 minutes

|random_chance=ModerateLow

{{italic title}}'''''Terraforming Mars''''' is a [[board game]] for 1 to 5 players designed by Jacob Fryxelius and published by FryxGames in 2016, and thereafter by 12 others, including [[Stronghold Games]]. In ''Terraforming Mars'', players take the role of corporations working together to [[Terraforming of Mars|terraform the planet Mars]] by raising the temperature, adding oxygen to the atmosphere, covering the planet's surface with water and creating plant and animal life.<ref name="NZH">{{cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/adults-claiming-board-games-as-more-than-a-childhood-hobby/TMAE3W7WX4W5IHHEA4G2RBJPAM/|title=Adults claiming board games as more than a childhood hobby|work=[[New Zealand Herald]]|date=February 10, 2018|access-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118210700/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/adults-claiming-board-games-as-more-than-a-childhood-hobby/TMAE3W7WX4W5IHHEA4G2RBJPAM/|archive-date=November 18, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The game incorporates elements of resource management, engine building, and strategic planning.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-14 |title=Terraforming Mars Board Game Review |url=https://theboardgamer.org/board-game-review/terraforming-mars-board-game-review/ |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=The Board Gamer |language=en-US}}</ref> Players compete to earn the most victory points, which are measured by their contribution to terraforming and to human infrastructure. These goals are achieved by collecting income and resources which allow them to play various projects, represented by cards that increase their income or resources, build infrastructure, or directly contribute to terraforming the planet. The game was received positively by fans and critics, and received numerous awards.

==Expansions and Spinspin-offs==

* ''Colonies'' (2018), which adds areas around the solarSolar systemSystem for players to colonize and travel to, providing alternative ways of getting resources without having to play cards

''Terraforming Mars'' received highly positive reviews following its release. Reviewing from ''[[Ars Technica|]]''Ars Technica'']], Aaron Zimmerman criticised the the "serious art and component weaknesses", but praised the engine-building mechanism, the uniqueness of cards, and variable starting corporate cards, concluding that it is "a crunchy, engaging brain-burner with amazing theme". Matt Thrower from ''[[IGN]]'' also commented positively on the game's replayability.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thrower |first=Matt |date=2022-03-07 |title=Best Board Games for Adults (2022) |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/best-board-games-for-adults |access-date=2022-06-22 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref> It was subsequently listed on ''[[Ars Technica]]'' as one of its 20 best games of 2016,.<ref name="Ars Technica 3">{{cite web |date=December 27, 2016 |title=Game on! The best board games of 2016 |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/12/game-on-the-best-board-games-of-2016/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214003201/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2016/12/game-on-the-best-board-games-of-2016/ |archive-date=February 14, 2021 |access-date=December 26, 2017 |website=Ars Technica}}</ref> Matt Thrower from ''[[IGN]]'' also commented positively on the game's replayability.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thrower |first=Matt |date=2022-03-07 |title=Best Board Games for Adults (2022) |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/best-board-games-for-adults |access-date=2022-06-22 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref> Editors from [[Polygon (website)|''Polygon'']] stated that the card system was "gripping" and described the game arc was "gratifying"; ''Terraforming Mars'' was also listed as its runner up for best game of 2016 and best strategy game of 2016.<ref name="Polygon">{{cite web |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=March 9, 2017 |title=The Best Board Games of 2016 |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/3/9/14867936/the-best-board-games-of-2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229004511/https://www.polygon.com/2017/3/9/14867936/the-best-board-games-of-2016 |archive-date=February 29, 2020 |access-date=December 29, 2017 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref> Similarly, ''[[Popular Mechanics]]'' named ''Terraforming Mars'' as one of its 50 best games of the year.<ref name="Popular Mechanics">{{cite web |last=Herkewitz |first=William |date=December 17, 2019 |title=The 50 Best New Board Games |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/gaming/g18/15-best-new-board-games-of-the-year/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418005520/https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/gaming/g18/15-best-new-board-games-of-the-year/ |archive-date=April 18, 2021 |access-date=May 3, 2021 |work=[[Popular Mechanics]]}}</ref> ''Vulture'' called it "the best high strategy game of 2016."<ref name="vulture">{{cite web |last=Law |first=Keith |date=December 21, 2016 |title=The Best Board Games for Every Holiday Situation |url=http://www.vulture.com/2016/12/best-family-adult-board-games-holidays-christmas.html/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420023905/https://www.vulture.com/2016/12/best-family-adult-board-games-holidays-christmas.html/ |archive-date=April 20, 2018 |access-date=December 29, 2017 |website=[[Vulture (website)|Vulture]]}}</ref> In an article for ''[[The Guardian]]'', Dan Jolin said that the projects "synergise in many different and rewarding ways", and stated that "isn't just a great science game, it's a great game full stop".<ref name="theguardian_2019-04-20">{{cite web |last=Jolin |first=Dan |date=20 April 2019 |title=The board games turning science into playtime |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/apr/20/board-games-turning-science-into-playtime |access-date=24 November 2021 |publisherwork=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

The game was nominated for the 2017 [[Kennerspiel des Jahres]] award for Best Strategy Game of the Year.<ref name="Ars Technica">{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/05/2017s-board-game-of-the-year-shortlist-is-out-get-playing/|title=2017's "Board Game of the Year" shortlist is out—get playing!|website=Ars Technica|date=May 22, 2017|access-date=December 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111235339/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/05/2017s-board-game-of-the-year-shortlist-is-out-get-playing/|archive-date=November 11, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> It won Best Family/Adult Game at the 2017 [[Deutscher Spiele Preis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.brettspiel-news.de/index.php/nachrichten/1238-deutschen-spielepreis-2017-terraforming-mars-gewinnt|title=Deutschen Spielepreis 2017: Terraforming Mars gewinnt|last=Krause|first=Daniel|website=Brettspiel|date=September 18, 2017|access-date=May 3, 2021|language=de}}</ref> AsFrom of May2019 to 20222020, ''Terraforming Mars'' ispeaked rankedas 4ththe among3rd allranked board gamesgame on [[BoardGameGeek]].<ref>{{cite web|title=BrowseTerraforming BoardMars GamesHistorical Stats{{!}} BoardGameGeek|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/browse/boardgame/167791/terraforming-mars/stats/history?sortrankobjectid=rank1 |website=BoardGameGeek|access-date=AugJanuary 2726, 20192023}}</ref>

The expansions to the game were also received positively. ''Hellas and Elysium'' and ''Venus Next'' were the two runners-up for the Golden Geek award for the best expansion to a game in 2017.<ref name="Polygon 2">{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/14/17117260/the-best-board-games-of-2017-board-game-geek-golden-geek|title=The best board games of 2017, as chosen by the Board Game Geek community|last=Hall|first=Charlie|website=Polygon|date=March 14, 2018|access-date=March 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205232350/https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/14/17117260/the-best-board-games-of-2017-board-game-geek-golden-geek|archive-date=February 5, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Prelude'' has been received very well by critics for speeding up the beginning phase by giving each player extra abilities at the start of the game.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hands Down Best Terraforming Mars Expansions in 2021 [Ranked]|url=https://boardgametheories.com/best-terraforming-mars-expansion/|website=Board Game Theories|date=3 July 2020 |access-date=May 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503102051/https://boardgametheories.com/best-terraforming-mars-expansion/|archive-date=May 3, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition'' was also reviewed by Charlie Hall from ''Polygon'', who described the game's multiple phases as interesting, but critiqued that it was "a smaller, mostly card-based game leaves behind a few vestigial remnants from the original" that still contained "redundant icons and concepts". Hall additionally criticised the components and rulebook.<ref name=":0" /> Reviewing from ''Ars Technica'', Aaron Zimmerman stated that the game was a combination of ''Race for the Galaxy'' and the original title, and complimented the engagement and engine-building mechanics. Zimmerman considered that the game's player interaction was "arguably more" than the base game, and considered its components as superior.<ref name=":1" />

== References ==