
- BGG rank
- BGG #31,174
- BGG rating
- 5.2
The Legacy of Mars
- 1–5 players
- 150–300 min
- Complexity 2.2/5
- 2027

Rules assistance for Terraforming Mars: Colonies
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Terraforming Mars: Colonies is an expansion for Terraforming Mars released in 2018 for 1–5 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jacob Fryxelius and Jonathan Fryxelius and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Set Collection.
Our world has widened before us. Corporations expand their operations to all corners of the solar system in pursuit of minerals and resources. Most places are not suited for terraforming, but building colonies may greatly improve your income and your possibilities in achieving that higher goal — the terraforming of Mars. Send your trade fleet to distant moons! Colonize the clouds of Jupiter! And let your Earth assets propel you to success! Terraforming Mars: Colonies, an expansion for Terraforming Mars that can be played with only the base game or with any combination of expansions, lets you visit the outer solar system. It features colony tiles where you can build colonies and send your trade fleet. It also includes new cards and corporations.
Terraforming Mars: Colonies supports 1–5 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 Terraforming Mars: Colonies is 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 Terraforming Mars: Colonies for ages 12 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.
Terraforming Mars: Colonies has a complexity rating of 3.0 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.
Terraforming Mars: Colonies belongs to these categories: Economic, Territory Building, and Science Fiction. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Set Collection. 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 Terraforming Mars: Colonies are: Jacob Fryxelius and Jonathan Fryxelius. 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 Terraforming Mars: Colonies as an expansion for Terraforming Mars. Expansions add new content, rules or scenarios to the base game and usually cannot be played on their own, so you need Terraforming Mars to use it. Check that your edition of Terraforming Mars is compatible, as some expansions were revised between editions.