The Ares Project

About this board game

The Ares Project is a 2011 board game for 2–4 players, with games lasting about 60 minutes. Each player leads a faction competing to determine which group will guide mankind into the future.

Every faction has its own deck of cards, including buildings, upgrades, attacks, and special powers. Players also use a screen to hide their cards as they develop their bases and plans, so opponents do not know exactly what is being built.

The central contest is the Frontier, located in the center of the table. When a player plays an attack card, they choose an opponent. The players then drop their screens and battle for control of this contested area.

• Develop a faction with buildings, upgrades, attacks, and special powers.
• Keep your construction and plans hidden behind a player screen.
• Battle opponents for control of the Frontier.
• Use the Frontier to score points and attack enemy bases directly.

Controlling the Frontier is crucial. The player who holds it earns points and gains the ability to attack opposing bases directly, turning each successful battle into an opportunity to press the advantage.

In The Ares Project, victory can come in two ways. Eliminate an opponent to win immediately, or finish the game with more points than the other factions. Concealed development and direct conflict combine to create a focused struggle for control of the future.