Run a company racing to make Mars livable by raising heat, oxygen and oceans.
Start with Terraforming Mars: Prelude.
Adds: Prelude cards that give each player a head start, plus 5 new corporations and 7 project cards.
Fixes: Cuts the slow early rounds.
Both rankings we read put it first. It cuts the slow opening rounds and adds almost no rules.
Usually a better fit for a different kind of group — still fine if it sounds fun.
Adds: Colony tiles for moons you can settle and trade with, plus new cards and corporations.
Fixes: Gives you something useful to do when the card market is dry.
The usual second buy. It adds some rules, so get used to the base game first.
Usually a better fit for a different kind of group — still fine if it sounds fun.
Adds: A double-sided board with two new Mars maps, each with its own milestones and awards.
Fixes: Freshens up the board once the base map feels familiar.
New maps, no new rules. Buy it once the base map feels worn out.
Usually a better fit for a different kind of group — still fine if it sounds fun.
Adds: Venus as a fourth track to raise, about 50 project cards, 5 corporations, and a new floater resource.
Adds cards and a fourth track but makes games longer. Skip it if your games already run long.
Usually a better fit for a different kind of group — still fine if it sounds fun.
Adds: A political committee with parties and delegates, global event cards, and new corporations and projects.
For groups with many games behind them who want politics. Both rankings put it last because it adds the most rules and time.
Usually a better fit for a different kind of group — still fine if it sounds fun.
Rankings are our editorial picks, built from the reviews linked on each expansion page. Last checked 2026-09-27.