Terraforming Mars: Turmoil – Politics Comes to Mars

Navigate the turbulent Terraforming Committee, influence global policy, and adapt to unpredictable events in the political expansion for Terraforming Mars.

Review — Watch First

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

The Terraforming Committee board is the centerpiece of the expansion — a new board representing the political factions vying for control over the terraforming process. Players send delegates to the Committee to influence policies and gain political clout, while global events reveal new randomized effects that impact all players at the end of every generation.

Reviewers have consistently praised Turmoil for how organically its political layer fits the theme — commanding influence in the Terraforming Committee feels like a natural extension of the corporate rivalry already at the heart of Terraforming Mars, rather than a bolted-on system.

What Does Turmoil Add?

How Does It Play?

Players can assign delegates to different parties in the Terraforming Committee, which impacts which party is in power and which policies are active. At the end of each generation, a global event is revealed, affecting gameplay in various ways — players must plan and adapt to these events rather than simply optimizing their own engine in isolation.

The ruling party in the Terraforming Committee enacts policies that provide benefits or impose restrictions, directly influencing every player's strategy. This political influence layer adds a new dimension to the game, providing more strategic choices and meaningfully increasing replayability compared to the base game alone.

The expansion integrates seamlessly with the base game, adding depth and new strategic options without overwhelming the core mechanics — though the additional complexity and extended playing time may be a downside for groups looking for a quicker game.

Rating Breakdown

Pros & Cons

Who Is This Expansion For?