BoardGame Verdict
90

On Mars is a complex strategy game where players work to develop the biggest and most advanced colony on Mars by achieving DOME mission goals and completing private company agendas. Players alternate between being in orbit around Mars and on the colony surface, with different actions available depending on their location, connected by shuttle phases that allow movement between the two areas.

90

The Verdict

based on 19 reviews

Positive 0%
Deep, strategic, and rewarding gameplay with many paths to victory.
Strong integration of theme and mechanics that creates an immersive experience.
High-quality components and visually appealing art and graphic design.
Interesting and challenging dual-board system representing orbit and the planet's surface.
A well-implemented and challenging solo mode.
Extremely high complexity and a steep learning curve that is not suitable for casual gamers.
The potential for long playing times, especially with new players or those prone to analysis paralysis.
The numerous interconnected systems can be overwhelming to learn and teach.
100
Meeple Mountain, Justin BellArticle

This is pure strategy at its finest, with a theme I always enjoy. Everything matters. Everything is fun to explore.

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95
Drive Thru Games, Joel EddyVideo

The reviewer highly regards 'On Mars', placing it among his top Vital Lacerda games and potentially his favorite, praising its intricate and interconnected mechanisms as a pinnacle of game design.

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95
Boardgame-News, William AukesArticle

On Mars is bold. On Mars is ambitious. On Mars is extraordinary.

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95
Punchboard, AdamArticle

On Mars is one of the best games I’ve ever played, it’s as simple as that. The way the worker-placement has been merged with a tactical tile-placement game is so polished, and the various mechanisms so beautifully interwoven.

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90
The Dice Tower, Chris and Wendy YiVideo

The reviewers highly recommend On Mars, praising its satisfying engine building, diverse strategic paths, and high replayability due to the many different things to explore and upgrade within the game.

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90
Rahdo Runs Through, SheaVideo

The reviewer highly recommends the 'Alien Invasion' expansion for On Mars, noting that it effectively introduces cooperative elements and an improved solo mode, making the game more accessible and offering new ways to engage with the core experience without adding overwhelming complexity.

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90
Board of it, Sally and FarrellVideo

The reviewers praise "On Mars" as a beautifully designed and highly replayable game that excels in thematic integration, although they note its initial learning curve and express minor reservations about some complex design choices and the game's ending conditions.

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90
Joyful GamesArticleTop List

If you love the Martian setting of Terraforming Mars, On Mars offers an even more detailed and immersive strategic experience.

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90
Never Bored Gaming, Tom and WesVideo

The reviewer finds 'On Mars' to be a fun and highly strategic board game with immense replayability and a strong thematic feel, despite its high complexity and a challenging learning curve due to an imperfect rulebook.

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90
Before You Play, Monique & Naveen (Before You Play)Video

The reviewer provides an extensive playthrough and review, indicating a strong appreciation for 'On Mars' as a complex and engaging heavy Eurogame that offers a rewarding strategic experience.

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90
No Pun Included, Efka Bladukas (No Pun Included)Video

The reviewer praises 'On Mars' as an astoundingly complex yet cohesive Eurogame that brilliantly integrates its intricate mechanisms with a strong Martian theme, offering a deeply rewarding and delightful experience for those willing to embrace its steep learning curve.

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90
Everything DiceVideo

The reviewer from Everything Dice praises "On Mars" as an exceptionally heavy and complex board game that provides a highly rewarding and enjoyable challenge, despite its high complexity.

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