- BGG rating
- 5.5
Mars Needs Mechanics: Kickstart
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- 2013
- BGG rank
- BGG #16,431
- BGG rating
- 5.7
Mars Needs Mechanics
2013
Rules assistance for Mars Needs Mechanics
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- 10+
- Complexity 2.0/5
Rules assistant for Mars Needs Mechanics
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Mars Needs Mechanics is a board game released in 2013 for 2–4 players, 45 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Ben Rosset and its main mechanics are Set Collection and Commodity Speculation.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 5.0
Mars Needs Mechanics: Prototype
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- 2014
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About the game
Game description from the publisher: London, 1873 – The Royal Academy of Space Exploration has announced its intention to launch a mission to Mars by year's end. In its quest to claim, fully explore, and map the great red planet, the Academy is holding recruitment competitions for various positions on the crew. A position central to the crew's mission, the Astronautical Engineer must be resourceful and efficient in his construction of various mechanisms and ship maintenance. In Mars Needs Mechanics, players represent engineers and tinkerers from all over the Empire who have come to compete for this prodigious opportunity. Starting the game with only 30 cogs (currency), players will utilize unique game mechanisms that emphasize timing to collect sets of components and build steampunk mechanisms aimed at earning even more cogs. At the end of the competition, the engineer with the most cogs will earn his place as Astronautical Engineer on the crew of the H.M.S. Victoria VII.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Nevermore Games (I)
Questions and answers
Mars Needs Mechanics supports 2–4 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Mars Needs Mechanics is 45 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Mars Needs Mechanics for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Mars Needs Mechanics has a complexity rating of 2.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Mars Needs Mechanics belongs to these categories: Economic and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Set Collection and Commodity Speculation. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Mars Needs Mechanics are: Ben Rosset. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Mars Needs Mechanics as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.