Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition – Discovery

About this expansion

Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition – Discovery is an expansion for 1–4 players that adds four mechanics to the base game, with a play time of 60 minutes. Released in 2023, it introduces new ways to score, enhance phase cards, and use project cards.

At the beginning of the game, three awards are drawn. These define what players will be rewarded for at the end of the game. The player with the most of the relevant item earns 5 VP, while second place earns 2 VP.

Milestones provide scoring opportunities during the game. Each milestone is awarded to the first player who achieves it, and is worth 3 VP at the end of the game.

• Awards: Three are drawn at the start, with 5 VP for first place and 2 VP for second place.
• Milestones: The first player to achieve one receives 3 VP at the end of the game.
• Upgraded phase cards: Some new project and corporation cards let players upgrade their phase cards.
• Wild tags: Some new project cards can take the tag chosen by the player who reveals them.

Each phase card has two different versions to choose from when it is upgraded. The upgraded card provides a better bonus when that phase is chosen, giving new project and corporation cards an important role in phase selection.

Wild tags add flexibility to project cards. When a player reveals one from the deck due to an effect, or from their hand because they are going to play it, they choose the tag it will have. Tokens track that choice for the rest of the game.

With awards, milestones, upgraded phase cards, and wild tags, Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition – Discovery expands the decisions and scoring possibilities of Ares Expedition.