Stronghold Games | Terraforming Mars: Prelude Expansion | Board Game | Ages 14+ | 1-5 Players | 90- 120 Minute Playing Time

Terraforming Mars is a "Pringles" game; once you've played once, you keep coming back to it. I was first introduced to it by a friend, and soon after bought my own so that I could keep playing. It is very well-balanced and well-made, and provides plenty of fun on an evening which otherwise might have been quite dull.The box comes with a board, 5 player sheets, 5 bags of player cubes (red, yellow, blue, green, and black), 3 bags of metallic cubes for currency, around 200 project cards, and various tiles which indicate forests, cities, oceans, and other structures. All of these are of a decent quality, and so far we have seen no wear and tear to any of them. The board sometimes doesn't lie completely flat, but this doesn't significantly affect gameplay in any way. It is worth bearing in mind that the game takes up a large amount of space, so having a large table or section of floor space clear is a must.It also comes with a much needed instruction booklet; Terraforming Mars has a steep but not long-lasting learning curve which can seem daunting, but is well worth giving a go. After playing only one game, the whole family had gotten a firm grasp of the basic rules, and we're now playing near expertly, able to plan ahead and strategise based on our knowledge of the game. Each game takes between 2 and 4 hours, depending on how long it takes indidivuals to decide on their turn. This doesn't mean the game is boring though; far from it! The gameplay is interesting and even addictive, with none of us noticing how much time has passed while we've been playing. You can also never tell who has won the game until the final scoring happens, leading to some tense moments and unexpected winners. This also contributes to constantly wanting to go back for more, so you can improve on your previous score or try different approaches.Since owning the game, we have also bought 2 expansions; the "Preludes" expansion and the "Colonies" expansion. The Preludes expansion adds a huge amount to the game, and I view it as a necessity as it not only decreases play time (due to providing more resources) but also allows for more focused strategies; the Colonies expansion is also a great addition as it gives players more options within the game.Overall, Terraforming Mars is a brilliant board game which is well worth the money. Due to the plenty of combinations of cards and strategies, the game has endless replayability, and will make sure you never have a dull board games night again!

Terraforming Mars by Stronghold Games is hands down one of my favorite board games ever. If you’ve ever dreamed of managing resources, colonizing a planet, and pretending to be a space pioneer like Matt Damon in *The Martian*, then this game is your ticket to the Red Planet.First off, let’s talk about what makes this game so great. Imagine you’re a billionaire CEO tasked with turning Mars from a barren wasteland into a thriving paradise. Sounds easy, right? Well, not quite. You’ll need to juggle resources, manage heat and oxygen levels, and develop cities—all while dealing with the fact that you’re on a planet where literally nothing grows (sorry, no potatoes like Matt Damon). But that’s the thrill! The game makes you feel like you’re actually terraforming Mars, and every decision feels crucial.Terraforming Mars has a rich history. Released in 2016, it quickly shot to the top of board game charts, becoming a favorite among strategy gamers worldwide. Why? Because it combines deep strategic planning with an immersive theme. The game is beautifully designed with tons of cards, each representing a project that could help turn Mars into a second Earth. The beauty of it is in the variety—you can go for an aggressive strategy, aiming to choke out your opponents, or play the long game, slowly but surely transforming the planet into a habitable home.The real charm of Terraforming Mars is how it makes you feel like you’re on the cusp of something monumental. Every turn, you’re not just playing a game—you’re building a future for humanity, all while hoping your opponent’s oxygen strategy doesn’t ruin your perfect plan. It’s like being in *The Martian*, but with less potato farming and more brainpower.Terraforming Mars is successful because it’s not just a game; it’s an experience. It’s challenging enough to keep you on your toes but accessible enough that you don’t need a PhD in astrophysics to enjoy it. With its engaging mechanics, endless replayability, and the sheer joy of watching Mars slowly turn green under your careful guidance, it’s no wonder this game has become a modern classic.So if you’re ready to channel your inner space explorer, grab some friends (or go solo), and take a trip to Mars. Just remember, you’re there to terraform, not to grow potatoes. Leave that to Matt Damon.

Excellent strategy card game, has good complexity and high replayability.Simple to learn, you choose what phase you want to happen on a turn(5 to choose from), everyone plays theirs in secret, you reveal, you get bonuses for playing cards on your own phase. Play cards by spending resources, which are tracked by player boards and cubes, Bronze-Silver-Gold (1-5-10). It's actually amazing the sheer amount of complexity you can track and simply by using them.You build an engine (some kind of synergy of cards) together and try and make Mars inhabitable. The game ends when Mars is safe, you then win by gaining the most Victory Points (VP). Gained by playing cards and making Mars inhabitable.Strongly recommend, it's sufficiently complex that it really does satisfy, however not needlessly complicated in both gameplay and setup to make you tired at the mere prospect of playing it.