Terraforming Mars: Turmoil Expansion

• Designer: Jacob Fryxelius
• Artists: Isaac Fryxelius
• Publisher: FryxGames, Stronghold Games
• Player Count: 1-5
• Recommended Age: 12+
• Playing Time: 120 minutes
• Year Published: 2019

Overview: “Terraforming Mars: Turmoil” is an expansion for the highly acclaimed board game Terraforming Mars. This expansion introduces a new layer of strategy and complexity by adding a political aspect to the game. Players must navigate the turbulent political landscape of Mars, influencing the Terraforming Committee to gain benefits and hinder their opponents.

Key Components:

• Terraforming Committee Board: A new board that represents the political factions vying for control over the terraforming process.
• Delegates and Policies: Players send delegates to the Terraforming Committee to influence policies and gain political clout.
• Global Events: New event cards introduce random global events that affect all players, adding an element of unpredictability.
• New Project Cards and Corporations: The expansion includes new project cards and corporations that integrate with the new political mechanics.

Gameplay:

• Political Influence: Players can assign delegates to different parties in the Terraforming Committee, which impacts which party is in power and which policies are active.
• Global Events: At the end of each generation, a global event is revealed, affecting gameplay in various ways. Players must plan and adapt to these events.
• Policies: The ruling party in the Terraforming Committee enacts policies that provide benefits or impose restrictions, influencing players’ strategies.
• Integration with Base Game: The expansion integrates seamlessly with the base game, adding depth and new strategic options without overwhelming the core mechanics.

Pros:

• Increased Complexity and Depth: The political aspect adds a new dimension to the game, providing more strategic choices and replayability.
• Thematic Immersion: The expansion enhances the thematic experience of terraforming Mars, making the political struggle feel integral to the overall narrative.
• Balanced Gameplay: The new mechanics are well-balanced, offering benefits and challenges that require careful planning and adaptation.

Cons:

• Steeper Learning Curve: The additional complexity may be daunting for new players or those who prefer the streamlined gameplay of the base game.
• Longer Game Time: The new mechanics can extend the game’s duration, which might be a downside for groups looking for a quicker game.

Conclusion: “Terraforming Mars: Turmoil” is a rich and engaging expansion that adds a political layer to the already deep strategic gameplay of Terraforming Mars. It is ideal for experienced players looking for new challenges and greater thematic immersion. With its well-integrated mechanics and increased replayability, Turmoil is a valuable addition to the Terraforming Mars series.