Which Terraforming Mars expansion after the base game?

1-5 players (base) Engine building / tableau About 90-150 min

The game

Already own Terraforming Mars? Prelude is the closest thing to a mandatory expansion. After that, each box is a flavour: pick the one your table is asking for.

1-5 players with the base game. Everything below needs it; Prelude 2 also needs Prelude. New maps are boards, not new card decks.

Prelude 2 needs Prelude 1. Its cards lean on the other expansions too: the more of Venus, Colonies and Turmoil you own, the more of Prelude 2 makes sense.

Map packs are boards only. Hellas & Elysium, Amazonis & Vastitas and Utopia & Cimmeria change the map and its milestones. They add no project deck.

The Big Box holds nothing playable alone. It is storage, 3D tiles and promos. Neither the base game nor any expansion is inside.

Which boxes do you already own?

Put on the table what you already have, and how many of you play.

You usually play with

1-5

Release timeline

Base 2016, Hellas & Elysium and Venus Next 2017, Prelude and Colonies 2018, Turmoil 2019, Big Box 2021, Prelude 2, Amazonis & Vastitas, Utopia & Cimmeria, Milestones & Awards and Automa 2024. Ares Expedition (2021) and the Dice Game (2023) are separate games; The Legacy of Mars is announced for 2027.

The graph

How the Terraforming Mars boxes connect, plus the mechanics. An arrow starts at the expansion and points to the box it needs.

needs another box
contains this box
part of the line
game mechanic

Depending on what you want

You want	Get
A faster start	Prelude
A different Mars	Hellas & Elysium, or a 2024 map pack
More places to trade	Colonies
Politics and global events	Turmoil
A floating Venus track	Venus Next
A real solo opponent system	Automa

Tick your boxes at the top and the answer follows.

At the table

Box	What it brings
Terraforming Mars	1-5 players. The base game and the Corporation Era.
Prelude	Jump-start cards for every corporation.
Hellas & Elysium	Two new Mars maps with new milestones and awards.
Venus Next	A Venus board, floaters and a fourth parameter.
Colonies	Moons and colonies to trade with, and a fleet.
Turmoil	Politics, a committee and global events. The heavy one.
Prelude 2	More Prelude cards, tied to the other expansions.
Amazonis & Vastitas	A double map pack; Amazonis plays longer, for 4-5.
Utopia & Cimmeria	A second double map pack.
Milestones & Awards	Randomise the milestones and awards of any map.
Automa	A proper solo opponent system.

Compatibility

Box	Needs	Players
Terraforming Mars	standalone base	1-5
Prelude	needs base	with the base game
Hellas & Elysium	needs base	with the base game
Venus Next	needs base	with the base game
Colonies	needs base	with the base game
Turmoil	needs base	with the base game
Prelude 2	needs base + Prelude	with the base game
Amazonis & Vastitas	needs base	with the base game
Utopia & Cimmeria	needs base	with the base game
Milestones & Awards	needs base	with the base game
Automa	needs base	1

The Big Box (storage), Ares Expedition, the Dice Game and the announced Legacy of Mars campaign are separate products, outside the picker.

FAQ

Which Terraforming Mars expansion first?

Prelude. Four cards that jump-start every corporation. Then Hellas & Elysium for a fresh map, or Colonies for interaction.

Does Prelude 2 need Prelude?

Yes, and it shines with Venus, Colonies or Turmoil in the mix.

What is Turmoil like?

The heaviest box: a political committee and global events. Buy it last of the big ones.

Is the Big Box an expansion?

No. Storage and 3D tiles only.

Who publishes Terraforming Mars in English?

FryxGames, with Stronghold Games in English. Designer: Jacob Fryxelius.