Terraforming Mars: Prelude Expansion

• Designer: Jacob Fryxelius
• Artists: Isaac Fryxelius
• Publisher: FryxGames, Stronghold Games
• Player Count: 1-5
• Recommended Age: 12+
• Playing Time: 90-120 minutes
• Year Published: 2018

Overview: “Terraforming Mars: Prelude” is the third expansion for the critically acclaimed board game Terraforming Mars. This expansion provides players with a unique opportunity to jumpstart the terraforming process and shape their corporation’s strategy from the outset. Prelude focuses on the early stages of the terraforming timeline, offering new dynamics and enhancing the base game’s strategic depth.

Key Components:

• Prelude Cards: These cards are the core of the expansion, providing early boosts to help set the direction for your corporation’s development.
• New Corporations: Five new corporations add diversity and new strategic options to the game.
• New Project Cards: Seven new project cards that fit thematically with the early stages of terraforming, integrating seamlessly with the base game.

Gameplay:

• Prelude Phase: At the start of the game, players draw and select Prelude cards that will give them significant starting boosts. These cards can enhance their income, provide resources, or even place tiles on the board.
• Strategic Decisions: The selection of Prelude cards adds a layer of strategic decision-making at the beginning of the game, influencing the direction and focus of your corporation’s efforts.
• Enhanced Early Game: Prelude accelerates the early game, allowing players to see more progress sooner and reducing the ramp-up time typically needed in the base game.

Pros:

• Accelerated Start: The Prelude cards provide a quicker start to the game, which can be particularly appealing to players who enjoy seeing early progress.
• Increased Variety: The new corporations and project cards add more variety, making each game session feel fresh and different.
• Deeper Strategy: The early decisions made with the Prelude cards add depth and can significantly influence long-term strategy and gameplay.
• Integration: Prelude integrates smoothly with the base game and other expansions, making it a versatile addition to any Terraforming Mars setup.

Cons:

• Complexity for New Players: While the expansion enriches the gameplay, it may add complexity that could be overwhelming for new players.
• Balance Concerns: Some players might feel that certain Prelude cards offer stronger benefits, potentially leading to balance issues.

Conclusion: “Terraforming Mars: Prelude” is a highly praised expansion that adds significant depth and variety to the base game. By jumpstarting the terraforming process and introducing strategic early-game decisions, it enhances the overall experience and keeps the gameplay engaging from the start. Whether you are a seasoned Terraforming Mars player or new to the game, Prelude offers exciting new dynamics that can enrich your terraforming journey. With its smooth integration and additional content, this expansion is a valuable addition to the Terraforming Mars universe, providing endless replayability and strategic opportunities.