---
product_id: 90161135
title: "Terraforming Mars The Colonies by Stronghold Games, Strategy Board Game"
brand: "stronghold games"
price: "€ 42.87"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
category: "Stronghold Games"
url: https://www.desertcart.ie/products/90161135-terraforming-mars-the-colonies-by-stronghold-games-strategy-board-game
store_origin: IE
region: Ireland
---

# 120 min average playtime, deep strategic immersion 1-5 players, flexible group size Compact 1.7x9.2x7.2 in, easy storage & setup Terraforming Mars The Colonies by Stronghold Games, Strategy Board Game

**Brand:** stronghold games
**Price:** € 42.87
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🚀 Terraform Mars, Own the Game Night!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Terraforming Mars The Colonies by Stronghold Games, Strategy Board Game by stronghold games
- **How much does it cost?** € 42.87 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ie](https://www.desertcart.ie/products/90161135-terraforming-mars-the-colonies-by-stronghold-games-strategy-board-game)

## Best For

- stronghold games enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted stronghold games brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Solo or Squad Mode:** Challenge yourself with a clever solo variant or compete with up to 4 players for ultimate bragging rights.
- • **Top-Ranked & Loved:** Join thousands of fans with a 4.8-star rating and a spot in the top 300 board games worldwide.
- • **Endless Replayability:** Multiple corporations, expansions, and maps keep every game fresh and fiercely competitive.
- • **Master the Red Planet:** Engage in a rich engine-building strategy to terraform Mars by balancing temperature, oxygen, and oceans.
- • **Strategic Depth Meets Accessibility:** Perfect for millennials craving a cerebral yet approachable game night experience.

## Overview

Terraforming Mars The Colonies by Stronghold Games is a critically acclaimed strategy board game for 1-5 players aged 12+, featuring 120 minutes of immersive gameplay. Players build resource engines and compete or cooperate to terraform Mars by raising temperature, oxygen, and ocean coverage. With multiple corporations, solo and multiplayer modes, and numerous expansions, it offers deep strategic complexity and high replay value, making it a must-have for serious board gamers and strategy enthusiasts.

## Description

Buy Terraforming Mars The Colonies by Stronghold Games, Strategy Board Game: Board Games - desertcart.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

Review: AMAZING game, solo and multiplayer - Terraforming Mars (TM) is absolutely fantastic. I'd give it 6 stars if I could. It's that good. Definitely a gamer's game (ie. not intended for newcomers/nongamers), but worth every penny. With that said, TM has a bit of a learning curve. TM also has a wonderful solo variant, so if you're looking for a challenge, and you like to play solo (or at least have that option), look no further. That's actually the main reason I bought this game, and yet now I can't wait to try it multiplayer. And since it has the solo mode, I'll be able to teach it no problem and help move the game along as well. Another huge plus for me. At its core, TM is an engine builder, with cards and projects to help increase 6 main resources and production of said resources (MegaCredits=money, Steel, Titanium, Plants, Energy, and Heat). I won't go into great detail, but it's from these resources and a set amount of starting resources depending on which Corporation (think player) you play as that you start your engine building. There are 5 beginner corporations that are generic and all the same, and then there are an additional 12 that each have their own special ability(ies) and amount of starting credits, and possibly resources and/or resource production. I recommend starting with a beginner corporation, as knowing which cards to keep during setup also has a learning curve. Throughout the game, the player(s) are attempting to gain victory points (known as Terraform Rating, or TR) while simultaneously terraforming the planet. This terraforming includes 3 main elements: increasing temperature, oxygen levels, and water/ocean tiles. In the solo mode, you are attempting to complete all 3 of these before the end of your 14th turn. If you do so, you win. You can also keep track of your best scores, though TM isn't simply just a beat your own score solo mode. You actually have to WIN first (ie. complete the 3 elements to terraforming by end of turn 14), which is NOT easy. It's very clever, and very fun. Games typically take me 1-2 hours. In multi mode, you are trying to accrue the highest TR at the game end, signified by the completion of all 3 elements of terraforming. However, you score not only points from your base TR, cards, city tiles, and plant tiles (as in the solo mode), but also from any awards or milestones that you claimed. In that regard TM is somewhat of a point salad game...which I think is great. Again, looking forward to trying it multiplayer. While initially there is some luck of the draw, this is mitigated each turn during the refresh phase, as each player gets to look at 4 new cards from the deck and decide how many to keep, paying 3 credits per card. It is also and perhaps more so mitigated by the standard projects listed on the board, which every player has access to every turn regardless of which cards they may or may not have. These can be key in the solo mode if you don't get the best starting cards, which I assume would be true multiplayer. At a $41 price point, I can't recommend this game enough. It has numerous expansions (I think around 5 or 6), so even if you tire of the base game at some point (I haven't yet), there is much more you can add to TM. The Hellas & Elysium expansion is a double sided board with 2 new and different faces of Mars to terraform (ie different maps), so you have the option of 3 maps total. The Prelude expansion has additional cards and more importantly additional corporations, for even more variety. I have yet to get to either of these, but am looking forward to it when the time comes. There are also several others that I do not have yet. All this being said, the replayability is quite high on TM. And it's tons of fun if you like to think. There is a reason it's been in the top 20 on BGG the last 4 years since it's inception. EDIT: I forgot to mention that I highly suggest buying at least the 2 pack of wooden player boards from Smonex. They are great quality and completely take care of the problem of accidentally bumping/moving your production markers from the player boards that come with the game. Though not as vibrant or colorful, the wooden boards work so much better. Game on! EDIT 10/1/22: I have all the expansions except Turmoil, and I still love it. Favorite game of all time. Even better with the expansions; so much replayability.
Review: 2 hours of T.V. or TM? - Great strategic game. Not hard to learn. Watched plenty of YouTube videos on how to play before purchasing so I would know whether or not this is game is for me. Learned all the basics and beyond just from watching. Reading the instructions further reinforced my knowledge of how to play. There have been a lot of complaints about component quality and the pictures on the cards which to me are unfounded. I have no major complaints about the component quality. The player cubes are good enough for what they are intended. The cardboard cutout tiles are durable enough. As for the artwork or picture on the project cards, who cares? It is all about what the cards allow you to do. I don’t care if it is AI or stock footage or art work. I am not paying attention to the pictures, rather the outcome of playing the cards. I only wish the cards were a little bigger like the cards in Trekking the National Parks because there is a lot of information written on the card. It would make for easier reading. But no big deal. What about the player boards? A lot of complaints about the flimsiness, size and potential for jostling the pieces around. Well, you can spend 10 bucks apiece for 1 special player board cutout with indents or you can do what I did for a fraction of the cost. See picture. Photo copy the player board at 120x magnification and using clear packing tape, tape it to some cardboard. (Cover entire player board with the packing tape) The enlarged player board allows more space for cube placement on the resource area and production track. Thus allowing more room for potential accidental movement of cubes. Plus the non sticky side of the packing tape is not as slippery as the original glossy player board so the cubes are less prone to sliding around. Plus with the cardboard backing, the player board is instantly durable. What about cube storage? I used the cardboard storage trays from my old risk game which I no longer play and use it to store the 5 most used cubes. See photo. You can be creative and make your own storage trays. Overall, I can see why TM is rated high. A lot of thought and science and science fiction went into making this game. The game is fun and satisfying when you start to see the global parameters move up as you and your opponent work together to achieve the goal of terraforming mars. I like the fact this is not a cutthroat, obliterate your opponent game like Monopoly and Risk. It is long, but so is Risk and Monopoly. If you can spend 2 hours or more watching TV, Terraforming Mars is a better alternative. Good for cognitive function!

## Features

- 1 to 5 players
- 120 minutes average playtime
- For ages 12 and up
- material type: Paper
- number of players: 4

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B07JJYYZKD |
| Best Sellers Rank | #7,843 in Toys & Games ( See Top 100 in Toys & Games ) #254 in Board Games (Toys & Games) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars (7,450) |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Weight | 10.6 ounces |
| Item model number | STG07203 |
| Language | English |
| Manufacturer | Stronghold Games |
| Manufacturer recommended age | 12 years and up |
| Product Dimensions | 1.7 x 9.2 x 7.2 inches |
| Release date | November 21, 2018 |

## Images

![Terraforming Mars The Colonies by Stronghold Games, Strategy Board Game - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71eAPSWPR-L.jpg)
![Terraforming Mars The Colonies by Stronghold Games, Strategy Board Game - Image 2](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91DNzaQGa5L.jpg)
![Terraforming Mars The Colonies by Stronghold Games, Strategy Board Game - Image 3](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/812XTl4FxGL.jpg)
![Terraforming Mars The Colonies by Stronghold Games, Strategy Board Game - Image 4](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71q1SdDf0mL.jpg)
![Terraforming Mars The Colonies by Stronghold Games, Strategy Board Game - Image 5](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71s8-B0b5zL.jpg)

## Available Options

This product comes in different **Style** options.

## Questions & Answers

**Q: Can this be played as a stand alone game or only as an expansion?**
A: It can not be played alone. You have to have the base game.

**Q: Product Information says 4+ players. Can this be used as 1 player with the main game?**
A: Yes it could be used in a solo game of Terraforming Mars if you wished. I have used it myself that way.

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ AMAZING game, solo and multiplayer
*by R***O on October 26, 2020*

Terraforming Mars (TM) is absolutely fantastic. I'd give it 6 stars if I could. It's that good. Definitely a gamer's game (ie. not intended for newcomers/nongamers), but worth every penny. With that said, TM has a bit of a learning curve. TM also has a wonderful solo variant, so if you're looking for a challenge, and you like to play solo (or at least have that option), look no further. That's actually the main reason I bought this game, and yet now I can't wait to try it multiplayer. And since it has the solo mode, I'll be able to teach it no problem and help move the game along as well. Another huge plus for me. At its core, TM is an engine builder, with cards and projects to help increase 6 main resources and production of said resources (MegaCredits=money, Steel, Titanium, Plants, Energy, and Heat). I won't go into great detail, but it's from these resources and a set amount of starting resources depending on which Corporation (think player) you play as that you start your engine building. There are 5 beginner corporations that are generic and all the same, and then there are an additional 12 that each have their own special ability(ies) and amount of starting credits, and possibly resources and/or resource production. I recommend starting with a beginner corporation, as knowing which cards to keep during setup also has a learning curve. Throughout the game, the player(s) are attempting to gain victory points (known as Terraform Rating, or TR) while simultaneously terraforming the planet. This terraforming includes 3 main elements: increasing temperature, oxygen levels, and water/ocean tiles. In the solo mode, you are attempting to complete all 3 of these before the end of your 14th turn. If you do so, you win. You can also keep track of your best scores, though TM isn't simply just a beat your own score solo mode. You actually have to WIN first (ie. complete the 3 elements to terraforming by end of turn 14), which is NOT easy. It's very clever, and very fun. Games typically take me 1-2 hours. In multi mode, you are trying to accrue the highest TR at the game end, signified by the completion of all 3 elements of terraforming. However, you score not only points from your base TR, cards, city tiles, and plant tiles (as in the solo mode), but also from any awards or milestones that you claimed. In that regard TM is somewhat of a point salad game...which I think is great. Again, looking forward to trying it multiplayer. While initially there is some luck of the draw, this is mitigated each turn during the refresh phase, as each player gets to look at 4 new cards from the deck and decide how many to keep, paying 3 credits per card. It is also and perhaps more so mitigated by the standard projects listed on the board, which every player has access to every turn regardless of which cards they may or may not have. These can be key in the solo mode if you don't get the best starting cards, which I assume would be true multiplayer. At a $41 price point, I can't recommend this game enough. It has numerous expansions (I think around 5 or 6), so even if you tire of the base game at some point (I haven't yet), there is much more you can add to TM. The Hellas & Elysium expansion is a double sided board with 2 new and different faces of Mars to terraform (ie different maps), so you have the option of 3 maps total. The Prelude expansion has additional cards and more importantly additional corporations, for even more variety. I have yet to get to either of these, but am looking forward to it when the time comes. There are also several others that I do not have yet. All this being said, the replayability is quite high on TM. And it's tons of fun if you like to think. There is a reason it's been in the top 20 on BGG the last 4 years since it's inception. EDIT: I forgot to mention that I highly suggest buying at least the 2 pack of wooden player boards from Smonex. They are great quality and completely take care of the problem of accidentally bumping/moving your production markers from the player boards that come with the game. Though not as vibrant or colorful, the wooden boards work so much better. Game on! EDIT 10/1/22: I have all the expansions except Turmoil, and I still love it. Favorite game of all time. Even better with the expansions; so much replayability.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 2 hours of T.V. or TM?
*by J***Y on February 5, 2026*

Great strategic game. Not hard to learn. Watched plenty of YouTube videos on how to play before purchasing so I would know whether or not this is game is for me. Learned all the basics and beyond just from watching. Reading the instructions further reinforced my knowledge of how to play. There have been a lot of complaints about component quality and the pictures on the cards which to me are unfounded. I have no major complaints about the component quality. The player cubes are good enough for what they are intended. The cardboard cutout tiles are durable enough. As for the artwork or picture on the project cards, who cares? It is all about what the cards allow you to do. I don’t care if it is AI or stock footage or art work. I am not paying attention to the pictures, rather the outcome of playing the cards. I only wish the cards were a little bigger like the cards in Trekking the National Parks because there is a lot of information written on the card. It would make for easier reading. But no big deal. What about the player boards? A lot of complaints about the flimsiness, size and potential for jostling the pieces around. Well, you can spend 10 bucks apiece for 1 special player board cutout with indents or you can do what I did for a fraction of the cost. See picture. Photo copy the player board at 120x magnification and using clear packing tape, tape it to some cardboard. (Cover entire player board with the packing tape) The enlarged player board allows more space for cube placement on the resource area and production track. Thus allowing more room for potential accidental movement of cubes. Plus the non sticky side of the packing tape is not as slippery as the original glossy player board so the cubes are less prone to sliding around. Plus with the cardboard backing, the player board is instantly durable. What about cube storage? I used the cardboard storage trays from my old risk game which I no longer play and use it to store the 5 most used cubes. See photo. You can be creative and make your own storage trays. Overall, I can see why TM is rated high. A lot of thought and science and science fiction went into making this game. The game is fun and satisfying when you start to see the global parameters move up as you and your opponent work together to achieve the goal of terraforming mars. I like the fact this is not a cutthroat, obliterate your opponent game like Monopoly and Risk. It is long, but so is Risk and Monopoly. If you can spend 2 hours or more watching TV, Terraforming Mars is a better alternative. Good for cognitive function!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ New favorite game!
*by C***R on January 8, 2026*

We were very pleasantly surprised by how fun this game is. I can see why it was on the top ten modern board games list. The art on the box never would have turned my head in a store. Don't judge this game by its cover!

## Frequently Bought Together

- Terraforming Mars The Colonies by Stronghold Games, Strategy Board Game
- Stronghold Games - Terraforming Mars Prelude 2 - Strategy Board Game Expansion - for 1 to 5 Players and Ages 12+
- Stronghold Games - Terraforming Mars Amazonis & Vastitas - Strategy Board Game Expansion - for 1 to 5 Players and Ages 12+

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*Product available on Desertcart Ireland*
*Store origin: IE*
*Last updated: 2026-02-25*