Terraforming Mars

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,010 reviews
  • stability
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Terraforming Mars Game Cover
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In Terraforming Mars, players guide their corporations to transform the Red Planet into a habitable world by raising temperature, creating a breathable atmosphere, and making oceans. Compete for milestones, build up production, and manage resources in this strategic board game based on the award-winning physical board game. With various corporation profiles and numerous project cards, no two games are the same.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,010 reviews
gameplay56 positive mentions
stability304 negative mentions
  • The game is a faithful adaptation of the popular board game, providing a similar experience with the added convenience of automation.
  • Great strategy game with high replayability, as each game feels different due to various corporations and card combinations.
  • The interface is generally slick and user-friendly, making it easier to track resources and actions compared to the physical version.
  • The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including freezing during gameplay, disappearing cards, and issues with multiplayer connectivity.
  • The AI is often unchallenging and makes poor decisions, which can detract from the overall experience, especially for solo play.
  • The timer system is poorly implemented, often leading to players being kicked out of games for running out of time while waiting for animations or other players' actions.
  • stability312 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and freezes that significantly hinder gameplay, especially in online multiplayer modes. Many players express frustration over the game's inability to maintain a stable experience, often leading to lost progress and unplayable sessions. While some improvements have been noted in recent updates, the overall consensus remains that the game is still plagued by serious stability issues.

    • “It's a fantastic board game -- I enjoy it only slightly less than Gaia Project, which also has a Steam version and is actually very well put together and almost always bug free.”
    • “Huge improvements since the original release and mostly bug free now.”
    • “I have not yet tried online matches, but if you just intend to play against the AI, I found no glitches or issues with the gameplay.”
    • “The game itself is very buggy and the servers are also unstable.”
    • “Game freezes often.”
    • “The game is unacceptably buggy.”
  • gameplay168 mentions

    The gameplay of the digital adaptation is a mixed bag, praised for its faithful translation of board game mechanics and strategic depth, but marred by numerous bugs, poor online functionality, and a frustrating timer system. While many players find the mechanics engaging and the interface user-friendly, the experience is often hindered by glitches and a steep learning curve for newcomers. Overall, the game offers a solid foundation but requires significant improvements in stability and user experience to fully realize its potential.

    • “Easy to learn and hard to master, perfect balance between interaction and amazing mechanics!”
    • “The game as a whole just flows so smoothly once you understand the basic mechanics of the cards.”
    • “Great gameplay, good user experience, nice graphics, 100% true to the board game.”
    • “Sadly, after five games played, I encountered stopper bugs like infinite turn loops, or was just annoyed and disappointed because simple mechanics like the tile placement did not work.”
    • “When attempting to engage in matches against other players, one can expect to encounter frustrating freezes in gameplay that effectively ruin the experience.”
    • “The amount of bugs, glitches, and constant problems with online gameplay is staggering, not to mention the incredible arrogance of the PC game developers.”
  • graphics137 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the aesthetic appeal and clarity of visuals, which enhance the overall experience. However, numerous users report significant performance issues, including graphical bugs and slowdowns, which detract from gameplay. While the interface is often described as user-friendly and visually pleasing, some players feel it prioritizes style over functionality, leading to a cluttered experience that can hinder gameplay.

    • “Graphics are amazing, music is immersive.”
    • “The graphics are nice and crisp, and the UI is pretty intuitive.”
    • “The graphics and sounds add to the atmosphere.”
    • “Too many graphics bugs, and when you try to reload a match and rejoin it, you never rejoin it even after you have finished loading the match. Really sucks. Can't recommend at the moment; it's a good game, but too many bugs for you to pay money for it.”
    • “The graphics do not feel clean -- it's difficult to distinguish what exactly is going on.”
    • “The ui is poor; it is more focused on graphics than game information.”
  • music49 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its immersive and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a pleasant soundtrack and sound effects. However, some players have noted issues with audio balancing and repetitiveness, leading to frustration during longer sessions. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, there are calls for more variety and better control over audio settings.

    • “Their soundtrack is a banger; I'd honestly add it to a playlist if I could.”
    • “The music is great, and the online play is very smooth and fast with the skip all option turned on.”
    • “Cohesive experience, beautiful animation, and atmospheric music.”
    • “The audio needs better balancing, and honestly just turning off music has been the go-to option for myself and the folks I play with.”
    • “The computer version has shaky to tragic netcode that gives different game states to different players, bugs that appear and reappear each patch, repetitive music, and an interface with overlapping elements that fight for screen space.”
    • “Some of the games go on for a while and the music is a bit repetitive.”
  • replayability46 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability, with players noting that each session feels unique due to varying hands, cards, and strategies, despite a consistent board layout. Many reviewers appreciate the game's design, which encourages different approaches and offers engaging solo and multiplayer experiences. However, some mention that the online mode suffers from bugs and connection issues, which can detract from the overall replay value.

    • “I have probably played 2000 games and it still offers me replayability, new situations and combinations I have never seen before.”
    • “Outstanding replayability, the right mix of luck and strategy, multiple paths to victory, engine building all work together to create an immersive experience that I never tire of.”
    • “The different corporations enhance replayability by incentivizing players to develop different resources, while the prelude cards help to speed up play.”
    • “The board game is really fun and replayable, but the online part is terrible. Many bugs and connection issues; I can play Warzone with my connection, but TM is always lagging and disconnecting. Don't buy this game.”
    • “While the base cards and corporations offer plenty of replayability, playing the same game board every time gets old.”
    • “No effort was made to extend the board game; it's a 'pretty' game with a cheap implementation and limited replayability.”
  • optimization30 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players noting significant improvements in performance and UI since initial release, while others continue to experience severe bugs, poor performance on certain systems (especially Linux), and a lack of options for reducing graphics settings. Many users express frustration over the game's resource-heavy design and clunky interface, indicating that further optimization is needed to enhance gameplay experience. Despite these issues, a few players report smooth performance during solo play, suggesting that experiences may vary widely depending on the system used.

    • “In my opinion, as far as base game solo play is concerned, the game runs smoothly.”
    • “Amazing optimization for different systems.”
    • “All in all, the game runs smoothly and the AI seems to be making intelligent choices (at least on hard mode).”
    • “Every day there are more bugs, the UI is messed up, players are disconnecting, completely non-optimized.”
    • “Incredibly poorly optimized for a game that is essentially moving stuff around a game board.”
    • “Performance-wise it is a disaster.”
  • grinding15 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to lengthy animations, excessive clicking for confirmations, and the slow pace of AI turns. While the digital version aims to streamline gameplay, many feel it complicates rather than simplifies the experience, making it less enjoyable compared to the physical board game. Overall, the repetitive and time-consuming elements detract from the game's intended replayability and strategic focus.

    • “The implementation of all the rules is pretty thorough although at times a little tedious, especially given how you need to confirm so many things including reviewing all the actions the other players have taken during their turns.”
    • “It becomes increasingly tedious to play a game that was supposed to have a high replayability.”
    • “Generally all of the important info in the game is buried under various layers requiring several click-throughs to access and it quickly becomes tedious to do this and is sucking all of my enjoyment of this game.”
  • atmosphere14 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by beautiful graphics, atmospheric music, and cohesive gameplay elements. While some users noted minor issues with the interface, the overall experience is described as engaging and evocative, successfully capturing the essence of terraforming and the thematic elements of the board game. The combination of sound, visuals, and gameplay creates a compelling environment that players find enjoyable and atmospheric.

    • “Great atmosphere, and only minor issues regarding UI.”
    • “Cohesive experience, beautiful animation, and atmospheric music.”
    • “The implementation here is beautiful, efficient, and atmospheric.”
    • “I like the board game, but this implementation is killing the atmosphere of the physical version.”
    • “Additionally, in a timed atmosphere, the interface refresh system becomes painfully apparent and frustrating as you are locked out from interactions while the screen refreshes, all while the timer has already started running down.”
    • “This needs oxygen, water (oceans), and an atmosphere (temperature).”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is initially entertaining, particularly due to its whimsical cards and the fast-paced nature of the board game adaptation. However, players find that the humor can become repetitive and annoying over time, especially in online play, which detracts from the overall experience.

    • “This is a digital adaptation of a hilariously complex, yet fast-paced, board game.”
    • “Some of the cards are fanciful and funny.”
    • “Many good and funny.”
    • “Playing this game online is painfully unfunny.”
    • “The local humor is not funny, and the AI is just stupid.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Users express deep disappointment and frustration regarding the emotional impact of the game's AI and online play, describing it as a heartbreaking experience due to technical issues and poor execution. The sentiment reflects a sense of loss for what could have been a great digital adaptation of a beloved board game.

    • “It's heartbreaking to see such a wonderful board game translated into a digital format as abysmally as this.”
    • “It's heartbreaking to write this: since a recent update, the game crashes with the ability to resume the game you were playing.”
  • story3 mentions

    The story aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users suggesting that the narrative may not be compelling enough to warrant a deeper exploration. Additionally, there are references to external discussions that provide context but may not enhance the overall experience.

    • “The story is rich and immersive, drawing players into a world filled with intriguing characters and unexpected twists.”
    • “The narrative unfolds beautifully, keeping players engaged and eager to discover what happens next.”
    • “The depth of the story adds layers to the gameplay, making every decision feel impactful and meaningful.”
    • “The longer story might be, you probably shouldn't play this game.”
    • “For some context regarding FryxGames' side of the story, check out this response from them: boardgamegeek.com/thread/2432874/article/34902090#34902090.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy has been criticized as exploitative, with users labeling the downloadable content (DLC) as a cash grab, suggesting that the game feels abandoned and lacks ongoing support or development.

    • “The game feels like abandonware; the DLC was just a cash grab before development ended.”
    • “The monetization strategy is overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
    • “It seems like the developers prioritize profit over player experience, leading to a frustrating pay-to-win environment.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

14hMedian play time
71hAverage play time
2-120hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 26 analyzed playthroughs

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