Board Game Geek Avg Player Rating: 8.44. Players: 2 to 4. Published in 2019. This is the Kickstarter Edition of the On Mars Board Game by Eagle Gryphon Games. It includes the core game in Deluxe Edition, an Upgrade Pack, a Beacon Promo Card, and all other unlocked stretch goals. Note that paid add - ons from the Kickstarter Campaign are not included unless stated otherwise.
The game starts after the success of unmanned rover missions when the United Nations set up the Department of Operations and Mars Exploration (D.O.M.E.). In 2037, the first settlers landed on Mars. After the establishment of Mars Base Camp, private exploration companies started building a self - sustaining colony.
As the chief astronaut of one of these companies, you aim to be a pioneer in creating the biggest and most advanced colony on Mars. You need to meet both D.O.M.E. mission goals and your company's private agenda.
At the beginning, you rely on supplies from Earth and often travel between the Mars Space Station and the planet's surface. As the colony grows, you'll focus on constructing mines, power generators, water extractors, greenhouses, oxygen factories, and shelters. Your ultimate goal is to build a self - sustaining colony independent of Earth, understanding the importance of water, air, power, and food for survival.
Designed by Vital Lacerda, On Mars is played over multiple rounds with two phases in each round: the Colonization Phase and the Shuttle Phase. In the Colonization Phase, actions vary depending on whether you're in orbit or on the planet's surface. In orbit, you can get blueprints, buy and develop technologies, and take supplies from the Warehouse. On the surface, you can build buildings with bots, upgrade them using blueprints, recruit scientists, get new contracts, welcome new ships, and explore with your rover. In the Shuttle Phase, you can travel between the colony and the Space Station.
All buildings on Mars are interdependent. For example, building shelters needs oxygen, generating oxygen needs plants, growing plants needs water, extracting water needs power, generating power needs mining minerals, and mining minerals needs Colonists. Upgrading the colony's resource - providing ability is crucial. As the colony expands, more shelters are required for Colonists to survive the harsh Martian environment.
During the game, players try to complete missions. The game ends when three missions are completed. To win, players must contribute to the colony's development, represented by gaining Opportunity Points (OP). The player with the most OP at the end wins.
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How to play: On Mars is played over several rounds, each with a Colonization Phase and a Shuttle Phase. In the Colonization Phase, your actions depend on whether you're in orbit or on the planet's surface. If in orbit, grab blueprints, buy and develop technologies, and take supplies from the Warehouse. On the surface, use your bots to construct buildings, upgrade them with blueprints, get scientists and new contracts, welcome new ships, and explore with your rover. In the Shuttle Phase, you can travel between the colony and the Space Station.
The goal of the game is to develop a self - sustaining colony on Mars. You need to understand the dependencies between different resources like water, air, power, and food. As the colony grows, you'll need to build more shelters for the Colonists.
The game ends when a total of three missions are completed. To win, gain as many Opportunity Points (OP) as possible by contributing to the colony's development.
Note: This is the Kickstarter Edition but paid add - ons from the Kickstarter Campaign are not included unless otherwise stated. Keep the game components in a dry and clean place to avoid damage. If you have any issues or questions while playing, feel free to contact The Game Steward for help.
