Which Expansion

Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition expansions

Base game: 1–4 players45–60 minFryxGames3 expansions checked
  1. #1 overall

    Ares Expedition: Discovery

    Buy this first

    BGG 7.96 from 724 ratings. A BGG poster calls it the most highly recommended expansion for solo and two players, and another says it also works solo or co-op.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Awards and milestones, upgradeable phase cards, wild-tag project cards and new corporations and projects.

    Fixes: Adds end-game awards and in-game milestones, giving each game goals to chase.

    Expansion1–4 playersAdds more rulesFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:AmazonStronghold GamesHighlander Hobbies
  2. #2 overall

    Ares Expedition: Foundations

    Most groups can skip

    BGG 7.53 from 367 ratings. Only needed for five or six players; a BGG poster says 1-4 players never need it and that two-player tests were not recommended.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Player boards, cubes and phase cards for five or six players, a larger score track and a fourth infrastructure track with new project cards.

    Fixes: Lets groups of five or six play Ares Expedition.

    More players1–6 playersAdds more rulesBest for experienced groups
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:AmazonStronghold GamesHighlander Hobbies
  3. #3 overall

    Ares Expedition: Crisis

    Depends on your group

    BGG 7.87 from 773 ratings. Co-op fans call it one of the best-designed co-op expansions; critics say the crisis deck is small and repetitive, and it suits co-op groups only.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Co-op mode: players face a new Crisis card each round that lowers terraforming metrics until its goal is met, and win by re-terraforming Mars.

    Fixes: Turns Ares Expedition into a cooperative game for groups that prefer playing together.

    Expansion1–4 playersFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:AmazonStronghold GamesHighlander Hobbies

Need the base game?

Reference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Stronghold Games

Stuck between two?

Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition expansions: quick answers

Which Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition expansion should I buy first?

Ares Expedition: Discovery. BGG 7.96 from 724 ratings. A BGG poster calls it the most highly recommended expansion for solo and two players, and another says it also works solo or co-op.

Is Ares Expedition: Discovery worth it?

Our verdict: buy this first. It adds: Awards and milestones, upgradeable phase cards, wild-tag project cards and new corporations and projects.

Can I play Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition with more players?

Ares Expedition: Foundations extends it to 6 players. Our verdict: most groups can skip.

Ares Expedition: Discovery or Ares Expedition: Foundations: which first?

We’d buy Ares Expedition: Discovery first. See the side-by-side comparison for what each adds and needs.

Other games’ expansion guides

Rankings are our editorial picks, built from the reviews linked on each expansion page. Last checked 2026-10-15.