Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition Review - After 10+ Plays

Published by Stronghold Games (Review copy provided)
Designed by Sydney Engelstein, Jacob Fryxelius, Nick Little
1-4 players
45- 60 minutes
14+ years of age
Ryan reviews Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition, the streamlined card game version of Terraforming Mars.
3 Plays at 4 Player
2 Plays at 3 Player
5+ Plays Solo
Find it on Bgg: boardgamegeek....

[@namelessfire]

TM is in my top 5 favorite games. I've played AE about a dozen times. It's brilliant. Merging TM with Puerto Rico's lead/follow mechanism was an excellent design choice. I appreciate that you don't fall into the hyperbolic trap that many other reviewers do: claiming that AE replaces TM. The lack of drafting, direct player interaction, area control, milestones, and the tension of properly timing your actions throughout the turn order, makes this a far cry from replacing TM. However, AE as a more accessible, quicker, simplified variant of TM, which is wonderful. Sometimes you want a longer, meatier experience; other times you want a quicker, less strategic experience. There's plenty of room in my collection for both, and I'm happy I let AE into mine.

[@meeple]

I agree I think there is absolutely room for both games. They are similar but ultimately deliver different experiences.

[@larrye]

Plus, I imagine there will be some expansions soon if it does well. I'm surprised Achievements & Goals weren't included so that's an easy possibility.

[@Dometooplz]

It is based on Race For The Galaxy, not Porto Rico, which itself takes inspiration from PR. The main difference is that it uses cards (meaning several people can choose the same "role"), and the fact the phases always activate in the same order, and each phase happens simultaneously.

[@Jeff_Pusch]

Excited to get my copy! I think AE will be taken to game nights, while my 3D TM will be kept for special sessions at home.

[@meeple]

See, now there's a good idea!

[@ConsummateGamer]

Great review, Ryan. I agree 100%: Great game and room on the shelf for both this and the original!

[@meeple]

Thanks a ton!

[@rodneydunn9611]

I agree with everything you said. I've enjoyed my playthroughs so far. It does not replace Terraforming Mars, but is is a great game in its own right. It provides the same satisfaction as it's big brother in a package that is easier to get to the table and set up. I also imagine it is easier to teach to new players. I plan to test that theory out this coming Sunday when my brother in law and I get my sister to play.

[@meeple]

Let us know how that goes! I've had great success teaching it to new players so far.

[@rodneydunn9611]

@@meeple that’s great to hear! I’ll follow up after we give it a try. 👍🏻

[@69robtaylor]

Looking forward to this one. Great job Ryan.

[@shanefrancis34]

Played this at the weekend and was shocked at how good it is. For me, it replaces TFM hence why I have just ordered a kickstarter version of the game.

[@meeple]

Yeah I couldn’t get enough

[@olliyrjana9857]

Ares expedition is great, but I miss the interactivity between players for example the meteors to destroy opponent's "flowers" and achievement races. What do you think?

[@meeple]

I'm not the biggest fan of "take that" elements so I don't miss those aspects as much, but I should note that they are important to some players.

[@gregkleinfall1901]

I would think that the 2 player game might be better if both players played 2 phase cards instead of one. This is something that Twilight Imperium does at lower player counts and it works well. Of course, not having played this game, I may be missing something.

[@meeple]

Yeah, its a little interesting. I'll be honest that I've avoided playing it at 2, but the solo mode is quite the challenge because of it!

[@ErekLich]

You could also use a "dummy" player like the solo game does. That's how Roll for the Galaxy handles 2p.

[@gregkleinfall1901]

@@ErekLich That's definitely another good idea. That would create a third "mystery" phase.

[@meeple]

I like this idea

[@TheSludgeMan]

or to steal from 2p San Juan, the "governor" chooses two actions and the other player chooses one, with the governorship swapping each round. seems like a pretty simple fix?

[@budsticky]

From most reviews I've been reading and viewing the game generally takes much longer than the 60 minutes advertised on the box, but you guys are saying about an hour as well. Is that after your 10 plus plays or are you finding it played about an hour from the beginning?

[@tedduby2346]

Thought it's not intuitive, higher player counts will probably go faster since there will be more people bumping up the parameters and also the chance for more unique phases to be played each round.

[@meeple]

I guess it’s all going to depend on how much AP is at your table. It’s simultaneous play and meant to move pretty quickly. But there are players who could drag down any game. And yes the game goes pretty past at 4 if everyone is working to terraform.

[@meeple]

Jeremy: some people play TM for 3 hours. My games last 90 min tops. The card game plays in about 60, two hours is waaaaaaay too long.

[@Jeff_Pusch]

My guess is that there are game groups who don't do things simultaneously -- I know that members of my group refuse to play some games simultaneously, because they want to know what everyone is doing.

[@SanjuroSan]

I can't wait to get my copy, thank you for the great video!

[@ThrehaneMiniatures]

I love Terraforming Mars, but the comparison between Ares Expedition and Race for the Galaxy is keeping me away from this one. I eagerly culled Race for the Galaxy from my collection years ago. Thanks for the thorough coverage of this game!

[@meeple]

It all depends on why you didn't like Race for the Galaxy. This isn't a TM skin over Race's gameplay. It still FEELS very much like Terraforming Mars. I'd say at least give it a try if someone has it at a game day.

[@austinr4405]

wait, for the action phase you don't trigger all of your blue card actions, you can only do 1 action (and an additional action if you played the phase 3 card) as well as much standard projects as you want and are able to do

[@meeple]

You can do each card action once. So you can trigger every blue card plus the standard projects. The bonus let’s you trigger one card one additional time.

[@austinr4405]

@@meeple oh you're right. Sorry mate. Can't believe I missed that

[@gooddaysgames586]

Thanks Ryan!

[@meeple]

Thank you!

[@ChristopherSmithNYC]

Great video!

[@meeple]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@hatchimmmmm]

Oceans don't give a TR, i dont see that in the manual

[@orbesteanu4tsa]

Nice intro there, Ryan! Well done!

[@meeple]

Thanks!

[@Booneface]

epic intro!! noice!

[@chadstilson8804]

I have also found that it's a very "Quiet" Game. Not a lot of conversations or interactions with people as you play. Also, you cannot tell if people are cheating, whether intentionally or not.

[@meeple]

Chad, are you cheating at Ares Expedition? You can tell us. This is a safe space. 🤣

[@chadstilson8804]

@@meeple Maaaaaybe unintentionally 😬 But who would know?! lol

[@AaronWilsonDreams]

A card game version of um... a card game. Terraforming Mars is a card game. A somewhat complex card game.

[@meeple]

I'm not sure its fair to call it a card game. Yes, it uses cards (lots of them) but it also uses so much more than just cards. The card game version is almost entirely just cards.

[@tyabide]

I would say if like me, the card play is your favorite part of TM then AE shines. Cards are easier to get (more draws and no cost to keep them) and useful even if you don't play them (all worth 3 mc if discarded). I always lose hard in TM mostly because all I want to do is the card play. This is the game I wanted TM to be.

[@MikeDV34]

I see 10 angry KS backers have decided to thumbs down everything to do with this game. Classy bunch.

[@meeple]

Yeah, thats been happening sadly :(

[@thomasromanelli2561]

There's probably more than 10 now, and considering the manner in which SHG has communicated poorly, provided unprofessional responses to backer queries and provided "unsolicited refunds" to a few of the more vocal individuals during the TMBB campaign to remove them from the KS forum, there might be some substance to the frustration and dissatisfaction expressed in various places. More recently, the announcement on June 19th that TMAE was going to be released nationwide by Target the next day was not well received when KS backers were still waiting for their games. Let me be clear- there's no established rule requiring a company to deliver to backers before retail, but I think it's fair to say it is a common and traditionally expected practice. I don't think any backer would begrudge any company from seeking financial security with sales to a big box retailer, but the messaging on this was poorly done. I do not condone any rude or derogatory comments by the backers, but having followed the TMBB campaign closely I've concluded SHG is a "classy bunch", too. Happy gaming!

[@MesieurOjete]

I just hate the theme, Mars can't hold it's atmosphere, it had water while a fuckton of volcanoes where active, any attempt to terraform would be wasted materials. Let's play "Terraform the Earth (into Venus)"

[@meeple]

Well there’s certainly an element of fiction in the science fiction.

[@MesieurOjete]

@@meeple Yeah, it's dumb to complain about the lack of realism, but Frankestein and many other sci fi tales tell more about the human condition than science, this is Star Trek levels of optimism. Idk, I'm probably just a bitter mule and not giving it a chance, maybe I could turn Mars into a factory filled dystopia.