Board Games
How to play Terraforming Mars
Develop projects that raise oxygen, temperature, and oceans while building the most valuable corporation.
QUICK ANSWER
How do you play Terraforming Mars?
Spend resources on projects or standard actions, taking one or two actions before passing for the generation. Resolve the full result of that action before the next player begins. Continue in order while keeping pieces, scores, resources, or progress visible. When oxygen, temperature, and oceans are complete, finish the generation and total rating, tiles, milestones, awards, and cards.
Jump to the step-by-step rules ↓EDITOR'S TABLE NOTES
Is Terraforming Mars a good fit for your group?
This game works especially well for players who enjoy visible choices, turn-by-turn planning, and learning around a shared table; the listed 1–5-player range and 120–180 min playing time should also fit the group. Before setting up, decide whether that matches the experience your group wants today.
Rules version covered here
This guide explains the standard beginner version. Component names, board layouts, and special powers can change between editions, so the instructions packaged with your copy settle edition-specific questions. For Terraforming Mars, pay particular attention to the stated setup and ending condition below.
QUICK VIDEO GUIDE
Learn Terraforming Mars in under a minute
About this video
This original mini lesson covers what you need, setup, normal play, the winning condition, and one beginner tip. Continue below for the complete written guide.
INTERACTIVE LEARN-TO-PLAY
Practice Terraforming Mars before the first round
Walk through the setup, try a sample turn, and get a quick answer when play stalls.
Choose corporations, deal project cards, and set the global parameters and generation markers.
Confirm the starting player, turn direction, and the exact ending condition for Terraforming Mars.
Playable example turn
Step 1 of 4
Spend resources on projects or standard actions, taking one or two actions before passing for the generation.
What should we do now?
Start with this action: Spend resources on projects or standard actions, taking one or two actions before passing for the generation.
Scoring and winning
When oxygen, temperature, and oceans are complete, finish the generation and total rating, tiles, milestones, awards, and cards.
Common dispute to prevent
Keeping too many project cards and paying for plans that the economy cannot realistically complete. Agree on any edition-specific variation before the first turn.
The objective
Your goal is to develop projects that raise oxygen, temperature, and oceans while building the most valuable corporation. Before play begins, make sure every player can explain how the game ends and what determines the winner. That one check prevents many mid-game disagreements.
What you need
A Terraforming Mars set. Lay out every required item before teaching the rules. If pieces, cards, controllers, or play space are missing, resolve that before the practice turn.
How to set up
- Choose corporations, deal project cards, and set the global parameters and generation markers.
- Confirm the starting player, turn direction, and the exact ending condition for Terraforming Mars.
Setup check: Ask one player who did not arrange the game to compare the table, field, or screen with these steps. A fresh look often catches an incorrect starting position.
How to play: step by step
- Spend resources on projects or standard actions, taking one or two actions before passing for the generation.
- Resolve the full result of that action before the next player begins.
- Continue in order while keeping pieces, scores, resources, or progress visible.
- When oxygen, temperature, and oceans are complete, finish the generation and total rating, tiles, milestones, awards, and cards.
Example first round
A useful first-round walkthrough for Terraforming Mars begins this way: Spend resources on projects or standard actions, taking one or two actions before passing for the generation. Next, resolve the full result of that action before the next player begins. Continue in normal turn order until the ending condition applies: when oxygen, temperature, and oceans are complete, finish the generation and total rating, tiles, milestones, awards, and cards.
How scoring and winning work
- The result is determined by the guide's stated objective: Develop projects that raise oxygen, temperature, and oceans while building the most valuable corporation.
- The final step explains when play stops: When oxygen, temperature, and oceans are complete, finish the generation and total rating, tiles, milestones, awards, and cards.
- For the most common rules question, use this clarification consistently: Only for that player; others continue until every player has passed.
Useful variations
- For a first teaching game, play one open practice round and explain the reason for each legal move.
- For a shorter session, announce a stopping time before starting; 120–180 min is the normal planning range for Terraforming Mars.
- When playing with beginners, demonstrate this strategy before scoring begins: Prefer projects that work with the corporation's production and tags instead of buying every attractive card.
Beginner strategies
- Prefer projects that work with the corporation's production and tags instead of buying every attractive card.
- After each round, identify which decision created the strongest position and test that lesson in the next game.
Choose one of these ideas for the first game instead of trying to remember every strategy at once. Afterward, identify one decision that changed the result and one move you would test next time.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Keeping too many project cards and paying for plans that the economy cannot realistically complete.
- Mixing rules from another edition or a familiar house version without telling the other players.
If an illegal move is discovered, pause and agree on the least disruptive correction. For casual play, consistency and a shared understanding matter more than reconstructing many turns.
Frequently asked questions
Does passing end the whole generation?
Only for that player; others continue until every player has passed.
What is the best way to teach Terraforming Mars?
Explain the objective, demonstrate one normal turn, and let everyone try a no-pressure practice turn before scoring.
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