Terraforming Mars expansions
Terraforming Mars: Colonies vs Terraforming Mars: Venus Next
Short answer: buy Terraforming Mars: Colonies first. The usual second buy. It adds some rules, so get used to the base game first.
Pick Terraforming Mars: Venus Next first instead if this sounds more like your table: Adds cards and a fourth track but makes games longer. Skip it if your games already run long.
| Question | Terraforming Mars: Colonies | Terraforming Mars: Venus Next |
|---|---|---|
| Our label | Worth it | Depends on your group |
| Buy order | #2 for Terraforming Mars | #4 for Terraforming Mars |
| What it adds | Colony tiles for moons you can settle and trade with, plus new cards and corporations. | Venus as a fourth track to raise, about 50 project cards, 5 corporations, and a new floater resource. |
| What it fixes | Gives you something useful to do when the card market is dry. | — |
| Type | Expansion | Expansion |
| Players | 1–5 players | 1–5 players |
| Rules load | Adds more rules | Adds more rules |
| Best for | — | — |
| You need first | Just the base game | Just the base game |
| Price guide | $20–$40 | $20–$40 |
| More | Terraforming Mars: Colonies details | Terraforming Mars: Venus Next details |