Terraforming Mars




 * The taming for the Red Planet has begun! Corporations are competing to transform Mars into habitable planet by spending vast resources and using innovative technology to raise the temperature, create a breathable atmosphere, and make oceans of water. As terraforming progresses, more and more people will immigrate from Earth to live on the Red Planet.

Terraforming Mars is a board game for 1 to 5 players designed by Jacob Fryxelius and published by FryxGames in 2016. Featuring 208 project cards, 17 corporation cards, original game board, 9 ocean tiles, 60 greenery/city tiles and 11 special tiles, it contains both the base game and the Corporate Era expansion.

A digital game adaptation, developed by Asmodee Digital, was released in October 2018. It is currently available on macOS and Windows operating systems, as well as on iOS, iPadOS and Android.

Background
Humanity has begun to spread throughout the solar system. On Mars, a few small colonies have been built. These offer protection from the environment, from a planet which is terribly cold, dry, and with almost no atmosphere.

To be able to increase immigration from Earth, Mars needs to be terraformed by altering its environment until humans can live there without expensive protective gear, and without even minor accidents becoming lethal. Therefore the World Government has decided to support any organization that contributes to this vast undertaking.

The generous funding attracts gigantic corporations that compete to expand their businesses and emerge as the most influential force behind the terraforming. In this era, great opportunities lie in the taming of the Red Planet.

The Terraforming Announcement

 * "Since its inception in 2174, the World Government has continually strived for global unity and peace. Our mission is to be humanity’s shared tool for shaping a better future.


 * Earth is overpopulated and resources are dwindling. We now face the choice either to recede, or to expand into space to find new homes for humanity. For this reason, we need to turn Mars into a habitable planet.


 * The terraforming of Mars is an endeavor so great that it will take the united effort of mankind to accomplish. The World Government will therefore inaugurate a Terraforming Committee, and instate a universal tax for this purpose. Any corporation or enterprise contributing to the terraforming process will be generously rewarded by the Committee. We believe that these measures will, eventually, result in a habitable planet for our descendants.


 * Thank you for your attention!"


 * – Levi Uken, World Government communicator (January 16, 2315 AD)

Awards
The game won or was nominated for multiple awards and accolades:
 * "2016 Game of the Year" award by Board Game Quest in 2017.


 * "As d'Or – Jeu de l'Année (Expert)" award at the Festival International des Jeux in 2018.


 * Digital version received "2018 Best Digital Board Game" award by Board Game Quest in 2019.

The game has been well received by fans and critics and currently holds overall rank #4 on BoardGameGeek.