- BGG rating
- 1.8
Project Mars: Mini Expansion
- 2–4 players
- 50–75 min
- 2018
- BGG rank
- BGG #30,100
- BGG rating
- 4.4
Project Mars
2016
Rules assistance for Project Mars
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 50–75 min
- 14+
- Complexity 2.2/5
Rules assistant for Project Mars
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Project Mars is a board game released in 2016 for 2–4 players, 50–75 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Brian Kumanchik and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Auction / Bidding, and Open Drafting.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 2.6
Project Mars: Moving Forward
- 2–4 players
- 50–75 min
- 2018
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About the game
In Project Mars you work as a space industry contractor racing to be the first company with the technology and engineering levels to send humans to Mars. It's not going to be easy as there are a number of challenges to overcome in order to accomplish a manned trip to the red planet, for one, it's only feasible to make an attempt every 2 years (actually closer to 26 months) for the most optimal alignment of Earth and Mars. Next there is the challenge of getting all the necessary items you'll need for the trip free of Earth's atmosphere. This can't be done in one shot - so multiple missions will be necessary, taking fuel and modules up to low Earth orbit (LEO) on separate trips where they can then be assembled into a spacecraft that has everything needed to do the job. And let's not forget money – it costs a lot to make all this happen! Place your modules in low Earth orbit by increasing your engineering level, while managing your resources, expanding your office space, working with the best vendors and hiring the most capable employees for the job. Objective Be the first player to place 2 fuel depots and 3 modules in low Earth orbit and have the engineering level necessary to acquire the Launch Date card.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Point 'n Click design
Questions and answers
Project Mars 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 Project Mars is 50–75 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 Project Mars 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.
Project Mars has a complexity rating of 2.2 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.
Project Mars belongs to these categories: Card Game and Space Exploration. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Auction / Bidding, and Open Drafting. 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 Project Mars are: Brian Kumanchik. 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 Project Mars 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.