# On Mars

On Mars is a board game for 1–4 players. It plays in 90–150 minutes and is meant for ages 14 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 3. It is rated 7.8 out of 10 by 95 Ludoya reviewers. The cheapest copy in stock is $111.99 (United States).

- **Players:** 1–4 (best with 3)
- **Playing time:** 90–150 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 14+
- **Complexity:** 4.6 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2020
- **Categories:** Economic, Space Exploration, Exploration, City Building, Territory Building, Science Fiction
- **Mechanics:** Movement Points, Delayed Purchase, Hexagon Grid, Contracts, Tile Placement, Tech Trees / Tech Tracks, Solo / Solitaire Game, Income, Variable Phase Order, Worker Placement, End Game Bonuses, Set Collection
- **Ludoya rating:** 7.8 out of 10, from 95 reviews
- **Owned by:** 185 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 606
- **Unique players:** 657

**Designers:** Vital Lacerda

**Artists:** Ian O'Toole

**Publishers:** Eagle-Gryphon Games

## Where to buy in United States

| Shop | Price | Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gamers Guild AZ | 111.99 $ | https://gamersguildaz.com/products/on-mars |
| Dragons Lair | 1299 kr | https://dragonslair.se/products/on-mars |
| Nexus | 21995 kr | https://nexus.is/vara/on-mars/ |
| Alphaspel | 1799 kr | https://alphaspel.se/491-bradspel/104112-on-mars-kickstarter-edition |

## Expansions

- [On Mars: Alien Invasion](https://www.ludoya.com/games/on-mars-alien-invasion)
- [On Mars: Upgrade Pack](https://www.ludoya.com/games/on-mars-upgrade-pack)
- [On Mars: Beacon Promo Card](https://www.ludoya.com/games/on-mars-beacon-promo-card)

## Similar games

- [Gaia Project](https://www.ludoya.com/games/gaia-project)
- [Age of Innovation](https://www.ludoya.com/games/age-of-innovation)
- [Andromeda's Edge: Deluxe Edition](https://www.ludoya.com/games/andromedas-edge-deluxe-edition)
- [Terraforming Mars](https://www.ludoya.com/games/terraforming-mars)
- [Andromeda's Edge](https://www.ludoya.com/games/andromedas-edge)
- [Nucleum](https://www.ludoya.com/games/nucleum)
- [Beyond the Sun](https://www.ludoya.com/games/beyond-the-sun)
- [Civolution](https://www.ludoya.com/games/civolution)
- [Terra Mystica: Big Box](https://www.ludoya.com/games/terra-mystica-big-box-2)
- [Shackleton Base: A Journey to the Moon](https://www.ludoya.com/games/shackleton-base-a-journey-to-the-moon)
- [Galactic Cruise](https://www.ludoya.com/games/galactic-cruise)
- [Maracaibo](https://www.ludoya.com/games/maracaibo)

## Rules questions

### Can I use a Tech tile the same turn I take it?

No — when you Learn Tech you place the tile in your left laboratory, and you must perform Research & Development to develop/activate tech tiles before using them (see pp. 10–11).

### Do my colonists return automatically during the round, or do I have to spend actions to bring them back?

Colonists return during the Shuttle phase when resolving Travel to the Colony & Orbit; returning Colonists is handled as part of that travel step (see p. 20).

### When I place a Discovery tile from Orbit, where is it allowed to go?

A Discovery tile must be placed on the Colony exactly three hexes away from your Rover — it cannot be placed at a different distance (see p. 20).

### Does a newly-built Mine produce immediately?

Yes — when you build a Mine by placing a Colonist it yields 1 Mineral on Orbit immediately, and the mine may be upgraded later (see p. 15).

### Are Mars Crystals stored like normal resources and how do they function?

Mars Crystals are a distinct resource with their own rules for storage and use; they can boost movement and actions and are handled separately from minerals/other resources (see pp. 7 and 18).

### How do Progress/LSS cubes affect the colony and when are they applied?

Progress and LSS cubes are applied during the Colony status update: they advance the colony level and grant the associated rewards/effects when the colony advances (see pp. 15–16).

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/on-mars)
- [On Mars in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/on-mars)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/184267)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-19. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._