
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,196
- BGG rating
- 7.6
The Lord of the Ice Garden
- 1–4 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 4.1/5
- 2014

2016
Rules assistance for Martians: A Story of Civilization
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Martians: A Story of Civilization is a board game released in 2016 for 1–4 players, 90–120 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Krzysztof Wolicki and Grzegorz Okliński and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Cooperative Game, and Team-Based Game.
The first expedition to Mars ended with a heroic fight by the astronauts for survival and initiated the first mission aimed at colonizing the planet, which was financed by four corporations. Now in Martians: A Story of Civilization the human colony on Mars, managed by leaders of the corporations, has to explore the planet in search of necessary resources, build new constructions, and develop technologies adjusted to planetary conditions. Such effort is necessary not only to survive, but also to create better living standards for future generations raised by colonists.
Martians: A Story of Civilization supports 1–4 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 Martians: A Story of Civilization is 90–120 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 Martians: A Story of Civilization for ages 14 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.
Martians: A Story of Civilization has a complexity rating of 3.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Martians: A Story of Civilization belongs to these categories: Economic, Exploration, and City Building. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Cooperative Game, and Team-Based Game. 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 Martians: A Story of Civilization are: Krzysztof Wolicki and Grzegorz Okliński. 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 Martians: A Story of Civilization 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.