# Terraforming Mars: Hellas & Elysium ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2017 - **BGG Rating**: 8.4 - **BGG Rank**: — - **Players**: 1-5 (Best with: 3) - **Duration**: 90-120 min - **Weight**: 2.77 / 5 - **Designers**: Jacob Fryxelius - **Artists**: Isaac Fryxelius, Jacob Fryxelius - **Publishers**: FryxGames, Arclight Games, Ghenos Games, Intrafin Games, Kilogames, Korea Boardgames, Lautapelit.fi, Lavka Games, Maldito Games, MeepleBR, MINDOK, MIPL, Rebel Sp. z o.o., Reflexshop, Schwerkraft-Verlag, Siam Board Games, Spilbræt.dk, Stronghold Games, Surfin' Meeple China - **Categories**: Economic, Environmental, Expansion for Base-game, Industry / Manufacturing, Science Fiction, Space Exploration, Territory Building - **Mechanics**: Closed Drafting, Hand Management, Tile Placement, Variable Player Powers ## Verdict The essential upgrade for Mars lovers seeking fresh map challenges.Epic new scenariosIncredible strategic varietyBoosted replayabilityNew game objectivesRequires base gameNew maps shift strategyRECOMMENDED ## Description If you're already a master of terraforming, get ready to expand your horizons (literally)! Terraforming Mars: Hellas & Elysium is the first major expansion for the classic Mars game, featuring a double-sided board that completely shifts the dynamics of where you can build your civilization. Instead of the standard map, you'll have two epic scenarios to explore. First, we have Elysium, a region almost opposite the equator, with vast plains perfect for oceans in the north and mineral-rich soil in the south. Pro tip: if you manage to place a tile on Olympus Mons, the solar system's giant, you'll score three free cards! Then, there's the wild side of Hellas, featuring the massive south pole and the enormous seven-hex crater that practically begs to be filled with water. Building near the pole can yield incredible heat and water bonuses, but keep in mind that each map brings its own unique challenges. The expansion introduces new Milestones and Awards specific to each setting. You could aim to be the ultimate 'Polar Explorer' or focus on dominating waterfront properties in Elysium. It's the perfect dose of variety for those who have mastered the base game and crave new strategic challenges, new objectives, and maps that demand entirely different planning. It's exactly the upgrade your Mars collection needs to keep things fresh! ## How to Play Game Objective In Terraforming Mars: Hellas & Elysium, players take on the role of corporations competing to transform Mars into a habitable planet. Each player attempts to raise the three terraforming metrics – temperature, oxygenation, and ocean coverage – while developing their own network of projects, harvesting resources, and achieving milestones and awards. The victory condition is to obtain the highest number of victory points at the end of the game, which are accumulated through: Milestones achieved (milestones) Awards earned (awards) Contributions to terraforming (land, water, and oxygen points) Other scoring criteria specified in the rulebook (see the rulebook for details on this section). Setup The rulebook does not provide complete details on game assembly. Below are only the information available in context: Choose one of the two boards: Hellas or Elysium. Each map has different placement bonuses and exclusive sets of milestones and awards. Set up the chosen board by placing the ocean areas, placement bonus lines, and milestone and award spaces as indicated on the map. Distribute project, event, automation, and other cards according to the game’s standard distribution rules (see the rulebook for details on this section). Prepare resource, production, and victory point tokens, as well as milestone and award markers. Distribute the initial amount of megacredits, resources, and cards to each player according to the start‑game rules (see the rulebook for details on this section). Game Flow The rulebook does not describe the turn structure, rounds, or specific phases of Terraforming Mars: Hellas & Elysium. To learn how the game progresses, consult the full rulebook. Actions and How to Play The rulebook does not detail the actions available to players, nor the rules for tile placement, card purchase, or resource production. For information on each action, card types, abilities, and choices, consult the full rulebook. End of Game and Scoring The rulebook does not specify the end‑game trigger or the exact count of victory points. However, the following milestones and awards are integral to scoring: Hellas Milestones: DIVERSIFIER, TACTICIAN, POLAR EXPLORER, ENERGIZER, RIM SETTLER Awards: Cultivator, Magnate, Space Baron, Excentric, Contractor Elysium Milestones: GENERALIST, SPECIALIST, ECOLOGIST, TYCOON, LEGEND Awards: Celebrity, Industrialist, Desert Settler, Estate Dealer, Benefactor For complete details on point calculation, victory and defeat conditions, consult the rulebook. Tips for Winning **Leverage placement bonuses**: In Hellas, place heat tiles in the Hellas Sea or the south pole to gain heat production bonuses. In Elysium, use the four volcanic sites to place lava tiles and gain heat production bonuses. **Focus on milestones**: Marks such as ENERGIZER (6 energy) or GENERALIST (increase all productions) can provide significant victory points. Plan your cards and actions to meet the requirements of these milestones before other players achieve them. **Maximize awards**: In Hellas, the Contractor award rewards the majority of construction tags. In Elysium, the Benefactor award rewards the highest terraforming rate. Focus on strategies that align your cards and production to win these awards. ## FAQ ### Can I play with only this expansion? No, you absolutely need the Terraforming Mars base game to play. ### What exactly changes in the game? You get a new double-sided board with two different maps (Elysium and Hellas), plus new milestones and awards for each. ### Is this game much harder than the original? The complexity is similar, but the new maps require you to think differently about tile placement. ### How many players can play? 1 to 5 players, following the same structure as the base game. ### How long does a game last? Typically between 90 to 120 minutes, depending on the number of players. ## Price Comparison ### Best Offers in Brazil - **Amazon**: R$ 114,07 (https://www.amazon.com.br/dp/B00FU7V39U?tag=bgbot26-20) - **Meca dos Jogos**: R$ 89,28 (https://www.mecadosjogos.com.br/terraforming-mars-hellas-e-elysium-p596?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Space Board Games**: R$ 90,21 (https://www.spaceboardgames.com.br/jogos-de-tabuleiro/terraforming-mars-hellas-amp-elysium?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Caixinha Boardgames**: R$ 92,07 (https://www.caixinhaboardgames.com.br/produtos/hellas-e-elysium-expansao-terraforming-mars/?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Brechó Lúdico**: R$ 93,25 (https://brecholudico.com.br/produto/terraforming-mars-hellas-elysium/?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **Expresso Board Games**: R$ 96,51 (https://www.expressoboardgames.com.br/terraforming-mars-hellas-elysium?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on Compara Jogos: https://www.comparajogos.com.br/item/terraforming-mars-hellas-elysium ### Best International Offers - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 14.88 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=2086174&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 14.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4887504&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 15.95 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4798823&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 16.98 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4673505&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 18.97 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4821899&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 18.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=744848&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 18.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=4802041&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 19.51 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=3439776&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 19.99 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=938738&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - **BoardGamePrices.com**: $ 20.21 (https://boardgameprices.com/item/go?source=A&storeitemid=752818&utm_source=boardgamesbot.com) - See all on BoardGamePrices: https://boardgameprices.com/item/show/20410/terraforming-mars-hellas-elysium?utm_source=boardgamesbot.com