In the beginning, you will be dependent on supplies from Earth and will have to travel often between the Mars Space Station and the planet's surface. As the colony expands over time, you will shift your activities to construct mines, power generators, water extractors, greenhouses, oxygen factories, and shelters. Your goal is to develop a self-sustaining colony independent of any terrestrial organization. This will require understanding the importance of water, air, power, and food — the necessities for survival.

Do you dare take part in humankind’s biggest challenge?

On Mars is played over several rounds, each consisting of two phases - the Colonization Phase ​and the Shuttle Phase​.

During the Colonization Phase, each player takes a turn during which they take actions. The available actions depend on the side of the board they are on. If you are in orbit, you can take blueprints, buy and develop technologies, and take supplies from the Warehouse. If you are on the surface of the planet, you can construct buildings with your bots, upgrade these buildings using blueprints, take scientists and new contracts, welcome new ships, and explore the planet’s surface with your rover. In the Shuttle Phase, players may travel between the colony and the Space Station in orbit.

All buildings on Mars have a dependency on each other and some are required for the colony to grow. Building shelters for Colonists to live in requires oxygen; generating oxygen requires plants; growing plants requires water; extracting water from ice requires power; generating power requires mining minerals; and mining minerals requires Colonists. Upgrading the colony’s ability to provide each of these resources is vital. As the colony grows, more shelters are needed so that the Colonists can survive the inhospitable conditions on Mars.

During the game, players are also trying to complete missions. Once a total of three missions have been completed, the game ends. To win the game, players must contribute to the development of the first colony on Mars. This is represented during the game by players gaining Opportunity Points (OP). The player with the most OP at the end of the game is declared the winner.

SLEEVING:

36 cards size 63,5x88mm (standard)

43 cards size 45x68mm (mini euro)

30 cards size 63,5x63,5mm

COMPONENTS:

1 Main board

4 Player boards

1 Reference book and 4 Player aids

5 Starting Building tiles

30 Building tiles

20 Shelter Building tiles (5 in each player color)

1 Building tiles display

1 Scientists and Earth Contracts Board

8 Research tiles

19 Discovery tiles

16 Tech tiles

4 Shelter Tech tiles

3 Mission tracker cubes and 1 Remaining Missions marker

3 Mission markers (A, B and C)

8 LSS Reward tiles

1 Shuttle and 1 Colony level marker

12 First Colonist cards and 6 First Colonist tiles

6 Scientist markers

20 Resource tiles of each type and 30 Crystals

4 LSS Track markers

48 Colonists (12 in each player color)

4 Rovers (1 in each player color)

20 Ships and 20 Progress cubes (5 in each player color)

16 Bots (4 in each player color)

4 Player markers and 4 OP markers (1 in each player color)

32 Advanced Building markers (8 in each player color)

24 Blueprint cards

6 Scientist cards

12 Earth Contract cards

16 Private Goal cards

9 Mission cards

12 Solo cards

Rules

The On Mars Upgrade Pack is a bundle of extras from the On Mars Kickstarter campaign.

Contents:

Blueprint Board

12 Additional Contract Cards

6 Private Goal Cards

AWARDS & HONORS:

2020 Golden Geek Heavy Game of the Year Nominee

2020 Golden Geek Best Thematic Board Game Nominee

2020 Golden Geek Best Board Game Artwork & Presentation Winner

2020 Golden Geek Best Board Game Artwork & Presentation Nominee

2020 Board Game Quest Awards Best Strategy/Euro Game Nominee

2019 Cardboard Republic Architect Laurel Nominee

BGG Link