Terraforming Mars

Terraforming Mars is a board game set in the 25th century where players take on the roles of competing corporations tasked with transforming the Martian environment into one suitable for human habitation. The game simulates the large-scale engineering projects and economic competition inherent in such an undertaking, with players striving not only to contribute to the terraforming process itself, but also to secure victory points through various means including infrastructure development and technological advancements. The game’s setting provides a thematic framework for strategic gameplay, rather than dictating specific actions or outcomes. Gameplay revolves around resource management and card drafting. Players acquire and play project cards, each offering unique benefits and requirements, to increase their production of resources such as steel, titanium, and energy. These resources are used to fund further projects and contribute to raising the planet’s temperature, oxygen level, and ocean coverage. Strategic card selection is crucial, as players must balance immediate gains with long-term investments. The game utilizes a turn-based system with multiple phases, including a research phase for acquiring new cards, an action phase allowing diverse gameplay options, and a production phase that generates resources based on a player’s development. The game concludes once pre-defined terraforming parameters are met, with the corporation accumulating the most victory points declared the victor.