Terraforming Mars (board game): Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 13:02, 26 October 2023 edit Prophylax (talk \| contribs) Extended confirmed users 1,281 edits →Expansions and spin-offs: Added section "future expansions" Tag: Visual edit ← Previous edit		Latest revision as of 16:09, 8 January 2025 edit undo Wilbers (talk \| contribs) 131 edits Added Pinball FX Tag: Visual edit
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Line 6: \|illustrator=Isaac Fryxelius \|publisher=[[FryxGames]] (2016) \|genre=Board game\|players=~~1-5~~1–5 \|setup_time=10 minutes\|playing_time=120 minutes \|random_chance=Low Line 24: ==Expansions and spin-offs== ===Expansions=== Five expansions have been released:<ref name="FOX59">{{cite news\|url=https://fox59.com/2017/08/19/locally-printed-board-game-terraforming-mars-returns-to-gen-con-with-new-expansion/\|title=Locally printed board game "Terraforming Mars" returns to Gen Con with new expansion\|last=Adams\|first=Sabrina\|work=[[WXIN]]\|date=August 19, 2017\|access-date=December 29, 2017\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503122329/https://fox59.com/morning-news/locally-printed-board-game-terraforming-mars-returns-to-gen-con-with-new-expansion/\|archive-date=May 3, 2021\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|last=McAleer\|first=Jeff\|title=Ring in the New Year with 'Terraforming Mars: Venus Next'\|url=https://thegaminggang.com/game-news/ring-in-the-new-year-with-terraforming-mars-venus-next/\|website=The Gaming Gang\|date=December 19, 2017\|access-date=January 9, 2018\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229004512/https://thegaminggang.com/game-news/ring-in-the-new-year-with-terraforming-mars-venus-next/\|archive-date=February 29, 2020\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167791/terraforming-mars/expansions\|title=Terraforming Mars\|website=BoardGameGeek\|access-date=January 1, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Brettspiel">{{cite web\|url=https://www.brettspiel-news.de/index.php/nachrichten/4734-terraforming-mars-turmoil-erste-bilder\|title=TERRAFORMING MARS // Turmoil -– erste Bilder\|website=Brettspiel\|date=October 18, 2019\|access-date=November 4, 2019\|lang=de}}</ref>▼ * ''[[Hellas Planitia\|Hellas]] and [[Elysium Planitia\|Elysium]]'' (2017), which adds a new double-sided board representing two new regions of Mars, with each region having its own terrain layout, milestones, and end-game achievements▼ ▲Five expansions have been released:<ref name="FOX59">{{cite news\|url=https://fox59.com/2017/08/19/locally-printed-board-game-terraforming-mars-returns-to-gen-con-with-new-expansion/\|title=Locally printed board game "Terraforming Mars" returns to Gen Con with new expansion\|last=Adams\|first=Sabrina\|work=[[WXIN]]\|date=August 19, 2017\|access-date=December 29, 2017\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210503122329/https://fox59.com/morning-news/locally-printed-board-game-terraforming-mars-returns-to-gen-con-with-new-expansion/\|archive-date=May 3, 2021\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|last=McAleer\|first=Jeff\|title=Ring in the New Year with 'Terraforming Mars: Venus Next'\|url=https://thegaminggang.com/game-news/ring-in-the-new-year-with-terraforming-mars-venus-next/\|website=The Gaming Gang\|date=December 19, 2017\|access-date=January 9, 2018\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229004512/https://thegaminggang.com/game-news/ring-in-the-new-year-with-terraforming-mars-venus-next/\|archive-date=February 29, 2020\|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167791/terraforming-mars/expansions\|title=Terraforming Mars\|website=BoardGameGeek\|access-date=January 1, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Brettspiel">{{cite web\|url=https://www.brettspiel-news.de/index.php/nachrichten/4734-terraforming-mars-turmoil-erste-bilder\|title=TERRAFORMING MARS // Turmoil - erste Bilder\|website=Brettspiel\|date=October 18, 2019\|access-date=November 4, 2019\|lang=de}}</ref> ▲* ''Hellas and Elysium'' (2017), which adds a new double-sided board representing two new regions of Mars, with each region having its own terrain layout, milestones, and end-game achievements * ''Venus Next'' (2017), which adds a new side-board representing Venus as a new terraforming opportunity and new Venus-related cards for the deck * ''Prelude'' (2018), which adds Prelude cards that players take during setup to jump-start their production and terraforming Line 38: * ''Milestones and Awards'' (planned 07/2024), which allows players to randomize 35 milestones and 35 awards * ''Automa Solo Expansion'' (planned 07/2024), which provides a new solo player mode * ''[[Arabia Terra]], [[Amazonis ~~Planatia~~Planitia]], [[Terra Cimmeria]], [[Vastitas Borealis]]'' (planned 07/2024), which adds four new boards representing new expansion outposts of Mars, with each board having its own terrain layout, milestones, and end-game achievements ===Promos=== Several seasonal promotional cards have been released that include new corporations, preludes, and project cards.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=TM Accessories and Promos \|url=https://www.fryxgames.se/produkt-kategori/tm/tm_accessories/ \|access-date=2023-10-26 \|website=FryxGames \|language=en-US}}</ref> ===Card Adaptation=== ''Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition'', a simplified card game version of the original, released in 2021.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web\|last=Hall\|first=Charlie\|date=2021-07-02\|title=Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition is faster than the original, but no less fiddly\|url=https://www.polygon.com/reviews/22560752/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-review\|access-date=2022-02-07\|website=Polygon\|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|date=2021-11-04 \|title=Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition Improves on a Modern Board Game Classic \|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/board-games/terrafarming-mars-ares-expedition-review/ \|access-date=2022-06-22 \|website=pastemagazine.com \|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web\|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2022/07/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-makes-a-great-board-game-more-accessible/\|title=The Terraforming Mars card game is as good as we'd hoped it would be\|last=Zimmerman\|first=Aaron\|publisher=[[Ars Technica]]\|date=22 July 2022\|access-date=22 July 2022}}</ref> A [[legacy game\|legacy]] variant and a dice game are also scheduled for release.<ref>{{cite web\|last=Zoch\|first=Patrick\|title=Terraforming Mars Legacy in the Works\|url=http://www.dicetowernews.com/terraforming-mars-legacy-in-the-works/56731\|access-date=January 27, 2019\|website=[[Tom Vasel\|The Dice Tower]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.boardgame-news.com/news/post/terraforming-mars-the-dice-game\|title=Terraforming Mars: The Dice Game\|last=Kenntoft\|first=Jay\|website=Boardgame-News\|access-date=April 1, 2020}}</ref> ===Video ~~game~~Game ~~adaptation~~Adaptations=== A [[video game]] adaptation of ''Terraforming Mars'', developed by [[Asmodee Digital]], was released in October 2018. Matt Thrower of ''Strategy Gamer'' considered the adaptation to have "too many rough edges to recommend".<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.strategygamer.com/reviews/terraforming-mars/\|title=Review: Terraforming Mars\|last=Thrower\|first=Matt\|website=Strategy Gamer\|date=October 24, 2018\|access-date=November 29, 2018}} {{dead link\|date=May 2021\|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> However, in a list of Best Board Games On PC from the same site he later revised this opinion, saying "developer Asmodee Digital has stepped up the plate with a host of updates. And while the interface remains a bit obtuse, the game itself is shining as it should."<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.strategygamer.com/articles/pc-board-games/\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504151617/https://www.strategygamer.com/articles/pc-board-games/\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=May 4, 2019\|title=The Best Board Games On PC 2019\|last=Thrower\|first=Matt\|website=Strategy Gamer\|date=May 22, 2019\|access-date=May 23, 2019}} </ref> [[Zen Studios]] released a ''Terraforming Mars'' pinball table for [[Pinball FX (2023 video game)\|''Pinball FX'']] on December 7, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Square \|first=Push \|date=2023-11-28 \|title=It's Going to Be a Big Few Days for Virtual Pinball Fans on PS5, PS4 \|url=https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2023/11/its-going-to-be-a-big-few-days-for-virtual-pinball-fans-on-ps5-ps4 \|access-date=2025-01-08 \|website=Push Square \|language=en-GB}}</ref> ===Online Play=== ''Terraforming Mars'' can also be played on [[Steam (service)\|Steam]] and Board Game Arena. ==Inspiration== The base game rulebook acknowledges [[Kim Stanley Robinson]] and his [[Mars trilogy\|''Mars'' trilogy]] as "great inspiration" to the game.<ref>{{cite web \|last1=Fryxelius \|first1=Jacob \|title=Terraforming Mars \|url=https://fryxgames.se/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/TMRULESFINAL.pdf \|website=Fryxgames \|access-date=7 April 2024 \|page=16}}</ref> The example players in the rulebook are named Kim, Stanley and Robinson. ==Reception== ''Terraforming Mars'' received highly positive reviews following its release. Reviewing from ''[[Ars Technica]]'', Aaron Zimmerman criticised 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". 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 \|work=[[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> From 2019 to 2020, ''Terraforming Mars'' peaked as the 3rd ranked board game on [[BoardGameGeek]].<ref>{{cite web\|title=Terraforming Mars Historical Stats{{!}} BoardGameGeek\|url=https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/167791/terraforming-mars/stats/history?rankobjectid=1 \|website=BoardGameGeek\|access-date=January 26, 2023}}</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 ~~(website)]],~~'', 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" /> ==Media tie-ins== In 2021, a tie-in novel based on the game by author [[Jane Killick]] called ''In the Shadow of Deimos'' was published by Aconyte Books.<ref>{{cite web \|title=Books in the world of Terraforming Mars \|url=https://aconytebooks.com/?worlds=terraforming-mars \|website=Aconyte Books \|access-date=12 July 2022}}</ref> In 2022, a second novel titled ''Edge of Catastrophe'' ~~is also set to be~~was released by Jane Killick. == References == {{reflist}} Line 64 ⟶ 75: [[Category:Board games introduced in 2016]] ~~[[Category:Play-by-email video games]]~~ [[Category:Science fiction board games]] [[Category:Video games set on Mars]]