Terraforming Mars: Prelude – The Must-Have TM Expansion

35 Prelude cards, 5 new corporations, and the fastest, most satisfying start in Terraforming Mars history — the expansion every TM fan should own first.

Terraforming Mars: Prelude is the most universally praised expansion in the entire Terraforming Mars library — and the answer to the one criticism players most frequently level at the base game: the slow start. In standard Terraforming Mars, the first few generations feel like setup — building income, establishing production chains, waiting for the engine to fire.

Prelude eliminates that problem entirely. At the start of the game, each player selects two Prelude cards from a hand of four — powerful one-time effects that immediately boost production, place tiles, or provide resources. The engine fires from generation one. The game feels engaging from the very first turn.

Players who add Prelude consistently describe the same experience — every session of Terraforming Mars feels better with it. The early game transforms from a slow ramp-up into an immediate strategic battle, and nobody wants to go back to playing without it.

What Does Prelude Add?

How Does the Prelude Phase Work?

After selecting corporations and dealing starting cards, each player draws four Prelude cards and chooses two to keep. These are played immediately before generation one begins — before anyone takes a single action.

Prelude cards are significantly more powerful than standard project cards. They might instantly boost your energy production by three steps, place a greenery tile on Mars, provide 15 megacredits, or give you a free corporation tag. The two Prelude cards you choose effectively define the opening direction of your entire game.

Should you take the cards that synergize with your corporation? The ones that complement your hand of project cards? The ones that block your opponents from the resources they need? Every Prelude selection is a meaningful strategic decision made before the game even begins — and it changes how every session feels from the ground up.

Rating Breakdown

Pros & Cons

Who Is This Expansion For?