# Terraforming Mars: Prelude 2

Terraforming Mars: Prelude 2 is a board game for 1–5 players. It plays in 90–120 minutes and is meant for ages 12 and up. Ludoya players call it best with 3. It is rated 8.6 out of 10 by 9 Ludoya reviewers. The cheapest copy in stock is $19.99 (United States).

- **Players:** 1–5 (best with 3)
- **Playing time:** 90–120 minutes
- **Minimum age:** 12+
- **Complexity:** 2.3 out of 5
- **Year published:** 2024
- **Categories:** Expansion for Base-game, Industry / Manufacturing, Science Fiction, Economic, Environmental
- **Mechanics:** Open Drafting, Tile Placement, Hand Management
- **Ludoya rating:** 8.6 out of 10, from 9 reviews
- **Owned by:** 88 Ludoya players
- **Plays logged on Ludoya:** 31
- **Unique players:** 46

**Designers:** Jacob Fryxelius

**Artists:** William Bricker, Isaac Fryxelius

**Publishers:** FryxGames

## Where to buy in United States

| Shop | Price | Link |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Miniature Market | 19.99 $ | https://www.miniaturemarket.com/terraforming-mars-prelude-2-sg7207.html |
| Cardhaus Games | 19.99 $ | https://www.cardhaus.com/terraforming-mars-prelude-2/ |
| 401 Games | 24.95 $ | https://store.401games.ca/products/terraforming-mars-prelude-2 |
| Rampi Games | 16 € | https://www.rampigames.com/juego-de-mesa/terraforming-mars-preludio-2/ |
| Mathom | 16.2 € | https://mathom.es/es/terraforming-mars/56980-terraforming-mars-preludio-2-8436578818082.html |
| TLAMA games | 359 Kč | https://www.tlamagames.com/deskove-hry/mars--teraformace---predehra-2/ |
| Svet deskovych her | 379 Kč | https://www.svet-deskovych-her.cz/produkty/14072/mars-teraformace-predehra-2-6 |
| Dungeon Marvels | 16.2 € | https://dungeonmarvels.com/friendly-url-autogeneration-failed-82778.html |
| La Gameria | 16.2 € | https://gameria.es/juegos-de-mesa/terraforming-mars-preludio-2-17284.html |
| Zacatrus | 16.2 € | https://zacatrus.es/terraforming-mars-preludio-2.html |
| World of Board Games | 199 kr | https://www.worldofboardgames.com/terraforming-mars-prelude-2-sve-exp |
| Spelexperten | 199 kr | https://www.spelexperten.com/sallskapsspel/spelserier/terraforming-mars/terraforming-mars-prelude-2-exp-swe.html |
| Alphaspel | 199 kr | https://alphaspel.se/491-bradspel/198553-terraforming-mars-prelude-2-en |
| Jugar x Jugar | 18 € | https://www.jugarxjugar.com/shop/estrategia/7680-terraforming-mars-preludio-2-8436578818082.html |
| Dragons Lair | 219 kr | https://dragonslair.se/products/terraforming-mars-prelude-2-en |
| Fantasiapelit | 19.9 € | https://www.fantasiapelit.com/index.php?main=ai&kat=single&mista=indeksi&etsittava=_233417 |
| Pelipeikko | 19.95 € | https://pelipeikko.fi/fi/lautapelit/3140-terraforming-mars-prelude-2 |
| Get Your Fun | 19.99 € | https://www.getyourfun.it/020004-terraforming-mars-prelude-2-giochi-gestionali.html |
| Nordisk Spil | 169 kr | https://nordiskspil.dk/products/terraforming-mars-prelude-2 |
| Zatu Games | 19.99 £ | https://zatu.com/products/terraforming-mars-prelude-2 |
| Spilforsyningen | 179.95 kr | https://spilforsyningen.dk/products/terraforming-mars-prelude-2-exp-dansk |
| Good Games | 39.28 $ | https://www.goodgames.com.au/products/terraforming-mars-prelude-2 |
| Game Ninja | 279 kr | https://www.gameninja.no/produkt/terraforming-mars-prelude-2-en/ |
| Gamers@Hart | 24.5 £ | https://gamersathart.co.uk/product/terraforming-mars-prelude-2/ |

## Expansions

- [Terraforming Mars: Established Methods Promo Card](https://www.ludoya.com/games/terraforming-mars-established-methods-promo-card)
- [Terraforming Mars: Anti-Desertification Techniques Promo Card](https://www.ludoya.com/games/terraforming-mars-anti-desertification-techniques-promo-card)
- [Terraforming Mars: Strategic Base Planning Promo Card](https://www.ludoya.com/games/terraforming-mars-strategic-base-planning)
- [Terraforming Mars: Giant Solar Collector Promo Card](https://www.ludoya.com/games/terraforming-mars-giant-solar-collector-promo-card)

## Rules questions

### Do Prelude cards count as blue cards for milestones, awards, or card effects?

No — some Prelude cards have actions or effects and "work like blue cards," but the rulebook explicitly states that neither corporations nor preludes ever count as blue cards (they don't count toward milestones or awards). (page 2)

### If a Prelude has an action, can I use that action during the game like a blue card?

Yes — preludes that show actions or effects function like blue cards, so their actions/effects operate as written; however, the card still does not count as a blue card for counting purposes. (page 2)

### What happens to preludes and corporations that are discarded during setup or when the deck runs out?

All preludes and corporations discarded in setup or during the game are placed face down in their respective discard piles, and if you run out of cards you shuffle the discard pile to form a new deck. (page 3)

### I drew a Prelude that belongs to an expansion we aren't playing with — do I keep it?

If you draw a Prelude that requires an expansion you aren't using, discard it and draw a new card; the setup note also advises making sure you only play with the correct cards. (page 2)

### I tried to play a Prelude but couldn't perform all its effects — do I lose the card and do I get anything?

If you reveal a Prelude you cannot play (cannot perform all its effects), you must reveal and discard it and you receive 15 M€ as a refund. (page 3)

### How many corporations and preludes do we choose at setup?

Normally you choose from 2 corporations and 4 preludes at setup; the Variant: Extended Start lets you choose from 3 corporations and 6 preludes instead. (page 3)

## Links

- [This page](https://www.ludoya.com/games/terraforming-mars-prelude-2)
- [Terraforming Mars: Prelude 2 in the Ludoya app](https://app.ludoya.com/g/terraforming-mars-prelude-2)
- [BoardGameGeek entry](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/387809)

_Data from Ludoya, updated 2026-09-18. Ratings, ownership and play counts are Ludoya's own._