# Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition

Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition is a board game for 1–4 players. It plays in 45–60 minutes and is meant for ages 14 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 3. It is rated 7.3 out of 10 by 93 Ludoya reviewers. The cheapest copy in stock is $34.95 (United States).

- **Players:** 1–4 (best with 3)
- **Playing time:** 45–60 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 14+
- **Complexity:** 2.9 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2021
- **Categories:** Card Game, Science Fiction, Space Exploration
- **Mechanics:** Solo / Solitaire Game, Tech Trees / Tech Tracks, Income, Track Movement, Variable Phase Order, Multi-Use Cards, End Game Bonuses, Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, Set Collection, Tags, Variable Set-up, Follow, Simultaneous Action Selection, Market
- **Ludoya rating:** 7.3 out of 10, from 93 reviews
- **Owned by:** 258 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 747
- **Unique players:** 636

**Designers:** Jacob Fryxelius, Sydney Engelstein, Nick Little (I)

**Artists:** Jacob Fryxelius, Andrei Stef, Justine Nortjé, Sydney Engelstein, Naomi Robinson, Jason D. Kingsley, Nio Mendoza, Nick Little (I), Garrett Kaida, William Bricker

**Publishers:** Stronghold Games, FryxGames

## Where to buy in United States

| Shop | Price | Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gamers Guild AZ | 34.95 $ | https://gamersguildaz.com/products/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-collectors-edition |
| Miniature Market | 36.99 $ | https://www.miniaturemarket.com/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-collectors-edition-sgtmcg1.html |
| Cardhaus Games | 37.89 $ | https://www.cardhaus.com/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-collector-s-edition/ |
| Mathom | 37.84 € | https://mathom.es/es/terraforming-mars-expedicion-ares/48158-terraforming-mars-expedicion-ares-8436578814312.html |
| Spelexperten | 329 kr | https://www.spelexperten.com/sallskapsspel/kortspel/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-swe.html |
| World of Board Games | 335 kr | https://www.worldofboardgames.com/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-sve |
| Reflexshop | 12990 Ft | https://reflexshop.hu/mars-terraformalasa-aresz-expedicio |
| TLAMA games | 879 Kč | https://www.tlamagames.com/deskove-hry/mars--teraformace-expedice-ares/ |
| Juegos de la Mesa Redonda | 36.51 € | https://juegosdelamesaredonda.com/12210-terraforming-mars-expedicion-ares-8436578814312.html |
| Dungeon Marvels | 38.66 € | https://dungeonmarvels.com/terraforming-mars-expedicion-ares-61991.html |
| Dragons Lair | 439 kr | https://dragonslair.se/products/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-sv |
| Spilforsyningen | 299.95 kr | https://spilforsyningen.dk/products/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-eng |
| Alphaspel | 465 kr | https://alphaspel.se/491-bradspel/157215-terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-se |
| Mono de Juegos | 42.95 € | https://www.monodejuegos.shop/juego-de-mesa/terraforming-mars-expedicion-ares/ |
| Hyggeonkel | 329.95 kr | https://www.hyggeonkel.dk/produkt/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition |
| Get Your Fun | 44.99 € | https://www.getyourfun.it/04493--terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-giochi-gestionali.html |
| Zatu Games | 38.9 £ | https://zatu.com/products/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition |
| Spielezar | 59.9 Fr. | https://www.spielezar.ch/brettspiele/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition |

## Expansions

- [Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition – Crisis](https://www.ludoya.com/games/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-crisis)
- [Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition – Discovery](https://www.ludoya.com/games/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-discovery)
- [Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition – Discovery · Foundations · Crisis](https://www.ludoya.com/games/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-discovery-foundations-crisis)
- [Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition – Foundations](https://www.ludoya.com/games/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-foundations)
- [Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition – Promo Cards](https://www.ludoya.com/games/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-promo-cards)
- [Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition – Promo Cards #2](https://www.ludoya.com/games/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-promo-cards-2)
- [Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition – Private Investor Beach Promo Card](https://www.ludoya.com/games/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-private-investor-beach-promo-card)
- [Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition – Tourism Promo Card](https://www.ludoya.com/games/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-tourism-promo-card)
- [Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition – Orbital Outpost MVM Promo Card](https://www.ludoya.com/games/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition-orbital-outpost-mvm-promo-card)

## Similar games

- [Race for the Galaxy](https://www.ludoya.com/games/race-for-the-galaxy)
- [Terraforming Mars](https://www.ludoya.com/games/terraforming-mars)
- [Innovation Ultimate](https://www.ludoya.com/games/innovation-ultimate)
- [Natera: New Beginning](https://www.ludoya.com/games/natera-new-beginning)
- [Earth](https://www.ludoya.com/games/earth)
- [Gaia Project](https://www.ludoya.com/games/gaia-project)
- [Ultra Tiny Epic Galaxies](https://www.ludoya.com/games/ultra-tiny-epic-galaxies)
- [The Manhattan Project: Energy Empire](https://www.ludoya.com/games/the-manhattan-project-energy-empire)
- [SETI: Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence](https://www.ludoya.com/games/seti-search-for-extraterrestrial-intelligence)
- [Roll for the Galaxy](https://www.ludoya.com/games/roll-for-the-galaxy)
- [On Mars](https://www.ludoya.com/games/on-mars)
- [Expeditions](https://www.ludoya.com/games/expeditions)

## Rules questions

### Can I pick the same phase two rounds in a row?

No — starting with the second round you place the newly chosen phase card rotated on top of the previous one and you are not allowed to pick the same phase two rounds in a row (p.10).

### In the Development phase, can I play more than one green card, and what is the “pay 3 MC less” bonus?

During Development each player may play one green project card, and if you chose that phase the cost of the card you play this phase is reduced by 3 MC (p.11).

### How do steel and titanium discounts work — do they pay for cards or just reduce the cost, and can they make the cost go below zero?

Steel reduces the cost of cards with the building tag by 2 MC per steel and titanium reduces space-tag cards by 3 MC per titanium (they reduce the cost rather than directly paying it), and a card’s cost cannot be reduced below zero (p.12).

### Do I have to spend heat or plants to take standard actions to raise parameters if I can?

Yes — at the end of the action phase, if you are able to spend heat or plants for a standard action you must do so unless the associated terraforming parameter is already at its maximum (p.14).

### How much MC do I get in the Production phase — do I add my TR to my MC production?

In Production you gain MC equal to your MC production plus your TR; if you chose the Production phase you also get the phase bonus of +4 MC, and you similarly gain heat, plants and cards according to those productions (p.15).

### When I must discard down to 10 cards at the end of the round, do I get 3 MC per discarded card — and can I discard cards at other times for 3 MC?

Yes — during the end step you discard down to ten and gain 3 MC for each card discarded, and the rules also allow you to discard project cards at any time to gain 3 MC (p.16; also p.11).

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition)
- [Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/terraforming-mars-ares-expedition)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/328871)

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