Key Differences Between Terraforming Mars and Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition

Introduction

Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition is a standalone board game that has been making waves in the gaming community since its release in 2021. The designers, Jacob Fryxelius and Nick Little, aimed to create a streamlined version of the original Terraforming Mars game that would be faster to play and easier to learn, while still retaining the strategic depth and complexity that made the original game so popular. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at what makes Ares Expedition unique, the similarities and differences it has with the original game, and whether or not it's worth playing.

While Ares Expedition was designed to be more accessible than its predecessor, it's not a game that everyone will enjoy. My friend Ryan, who I greatly respect, completely hated this game, which really concerned me before I played my first game. Ryan is a seasoned board gamer who loves deep and complex games, so his dislike of Ares Expedition surprised me. He found the game to be too simplified and lacking in strategic options, seeing no need to play Ares Expedition if you've ever played the original game. However, I had a completely different experience when I played with a different group of friends. They were really intimidated by the seeming complexity of the game before we started, but by the end of the game, they really loved it and complimented it with how it wasn't boring and easy to play. This tells me that Ares Expedition isn't for everyone, but if it's for you, you're likely to really enjoy this game.

What is Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition?

Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition is a board game that simulates the process of making Mars habitable for human life. At the start of the game, each player chooses a corporation to represent and receives a player board, a deck of action cards, and a corporation card that gives them special abilities throughout the game. The board represents the red planet before any terraforming has taken place.

The objective of the game is to terraform Mars by generating heat, oxygen, and water through the use of project cards. Each project card has a cost in MegaCredits, which is the currency used in the game. Players take turns playing project cards and taking actions until all players have passed, at which point a new round (generation) begins.

Throughout the game, players compete against each other to be the most successful corporation in transforming Mars. The game features a corporate terraforming rating, which is based on how well you are able to terraform the planet. The higher your rating, the closer you are to winning the game. The game is designed for 1-4 players, with a playtime of around 60-90 minutes. With the inclusion of the infrastructure expansion, players are also able to work towards building a self-sufficient colony on the planet.

Do you need both games?

Do you need both versions of the game? The answer is yes and no. Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition and Terraforming Mars have their unique features that cater to different gaming experiences. Ares Expedition is faster-paced, with shorter game time and less downtime, while Terraforming Mars allows for more time to strategize and is more competitive. Both games share similarities in the terraforming tracks, corporations, project cards, and player boards.

Personally, I enjoy playing both versions. While I love the original Terraforming Mars and play it frequently, it can be frustrating at times due to its competitive nature. Ares Expedition, on the other hand, feels more like a Euro game where players focus on improving their own play and have fewer opportunities to interact with and frustrate other players. It's more of a marathon-like experience where players focus on their own goals and see who ends up in first place at the end of the game.

Ultimately, whether you need both versions of the game will depend on factors such as space, time, and personal temperament of your gaming group. If your group enjoys good games, they may love both versions and appreciate the ability to play in the same universe while changing things up to avoid getting bored.

What elements are similar?

Both Terraforming Mars and Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition share many common elements. Players work towards terraforming Mars by increasing the temperature, oxygen, and ocean levels in both games. The corporations in both games have unique abilities that give players an edge in their gameplay. The project cards are also similar in both games, providing players with ways to increase their terraforming levels or earn victory points. Lastly, the player boards in both games provide players with a visual representation of their progress in terraforming Mars.

A large part of the enjoyment in both games is building an efficient engine, where each round your combination of projects generates more resources and more points than other players. Players must also decide how much time they will invest in building up their engine versus using their engine to generate as many points as possible. Balancing these two objectives is crucial in both games, as players who invest too much time building up their engine may not have enough time to use it to generate points. Conversely, players who focus solely on terraforming and generating points may miss out on valuable engine-building opportunities that can lead to bigger point totals in the long run.

What are the differences?

One of the biggest differences between the two games is the action phases. In Ares Expedition, each player chooses which action phase they want to do that round and gets an advantage in that phase, but they also get to participate in the action phases the other players chose. The challenge is to guess which phases the other players will choose, take advantage of what they chose, and get more out of your chosen actions than they did. The original Terraforming Mars, on the other hand, has every phase every generation, so the strategy becomes more about playing your cards as well as possible while blocking other players from getting as many points on Mars itself.

Another significant difference is that Ares Expedition uses simultaneous gameplay, meaning all players take their turns at the same time, while Terraforming Mars has a detailed board and players take their turns one after the other. In Ares Expedition, you rarely know what the other players have done exactly unless you ask, because you all did your turns simultaneously. However, this doesn't matter as much because they can't block you, and everyone can do everything simultaneously. In the original Terraforming Mars, you have to keep a constant eye on other players and try to block them just when they're about to leverage their forests to get multiple points from multiple cities or get a big boost from raising their heat. Kicking the feet out from under a player just as they're about to do something amazing is a big part of the original Terraforming Mars. Finally, project cards work differently in Ares Expedition, where they are all free, but players have to choose which ones they want to sell for money versus which ones they want to put into play. In Terraforming Mars, players have to make the tough choice of which project cards to buy and which ones to pass on.

One of the biggest differences in gameplay between the two versions is the lack of a detailed board in Ares Expedition. In the original Terraforming Mars, players place tiles on the board representing different types of terrain, such as forests, oceans, and cities. The placement of these tiles can have a big impact on the game, blocking other players from getting points or creating opportunities for yourself. In Ares Expedition, the board is much simpler, with only a few spaces for players to place cards representing their projects. This change streamlines gameplay, making it faster and less cumbersome, but it also removes some of the strategic depth found in the original game. While some players may miss the complexity of the board, others will appreciate the simplicity and speed of Ares Expedition's gameplay.

Is it better?

While some players might miss the detailed board and the constant interactivity between players in the original game, Ares Expedition offers a more Euro-style experience, where players can focus on building their engines and generating points without being constantly interrupted by other players' actions. The simultaneous gameplay also means that downtime is significantly reduced, making Ares Expedition a great choice for those who want a shorter and more focused gaming experience.

In addition, Ares Expedition offers its own unique set of challenges and decisions to be made, such as guessing which action phases other players will choose, deciding which project cards to sell for money and which to keep for their own use, and figuring out the best strategy to gain the most terraforming points in the limited time available. These changes make Ares Expedition a fresh and exciting addition to the Terraforming Mars universe, and one that is definitely worth exploring.

In conclusion, whether you're a fan of the original game or just looking for a new and engaging board game to try out, Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition is a fantastic choice. With its streamlined gameplay, strategic depth, and beautiful artwork and components, it's sure to provide hours of fun for players of all skill levels.