Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition – Discovery
FryxGames, Stronghold Games, Intrafin Games · Board game · 2023
1–4 · best 2, 3
Solo
60 min
Weight 2.7/5
8.5
rating
Ludopedia
8.0
rating
BGG
8.5
rating
Ludopedia
8.0
rating
BGG
Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED
For Terraforming Mars fans who want more impactful decisions without losing the base game’s pace.
Highlights
- New competitive goals (awards/milestones)
- Wild tags add flexibility
- Upgraded phase cards = more options
Keep in mind
- Requires base game to play
- High language dependency
Rules manual not indexed yet
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About the game
What you do in a play session
Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition – Discovery is the expansion that amps up the base game with four strategic additions: awards, milestones, upgraded phase cards, and wild tags. Awards are end-game scoring objectives — the player with the most of a specific resource gets 5VP, and second place takes 2VP. Three awards are revealed at the start, so you know what to aim for. Milestones are in-game achievements: the first to hit the goal earns 3VP at the end. Phase cards can now be upgraded, offering two bonus types to choose from. And wild tags? They’re the game’s joker — when revealed, you pick which tag they represent (and use tokens to remember). Perfect for Ares Expedition fans who want extra strategic layers without overcomplicating things.
Expansion for
Published additional content
Gallery
Box and component photos
Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.
Best player count
BGG community vote
1
BEST
2
BEST
3
BEST
4
REC
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
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Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
FryxGames, Stronghold Games, Intrafin Games, Lavka Games, Maldito Games, Rebel Sp. z o.o., Reflexshop, Schwerkraft-Verlag
Designer
Jacob Fryxelius, Nick Little (I), Sydney Engelstein
Artist
Nio Mendoza
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
4,358owners
331wishlist
62want to play
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
Do I need the base game to play?
Yes, this is an expansion and requires Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition.
How many players does it support?
1 to 4, same as the base game.
Is there new single-player content?
The new mechanics work in solo mode, but there are no exclusive rules.
Is it worth it if I own other expansions?
Yes, the new mechanics are compatible and add more variety.
How complex is it compared to the base game?
Similar weight (2.7/5), but with more strategic decisions.
Does it require translation?
Yes, almost all text is essential to play.
