Terraforming Mars / Similar games

18 games like Terraforming Mars

The best games like Terraforming Mars are Gaia Project, Race for the Galaxy and Underwater Cities — the closest of 18 ranked alternatives, scored by shared mechanics and category. Gaia Project shares economic, science fiction, space exploration with Terraforming Mars.

Every alternative below links to its own Terraforming Mars-style fact page, drawn from MeeplePick’s economic / environmental shelf.

Ranked by shared category (3 pts) and mechanics (2 pts), bonus within 0.7 of Terraforming Mars’s 3.2 weight, then BoardGameGeek’s Bayesian rating — one entry per series, 18 shown.

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1. 

   1. Gaia Project (2017)

   1–4 players · 60–150 min · ★ 8.5 · Heavy · See Gaia Project alternatives →

   Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Science Fiction, Space Exploration, Territory Building, End Game Bonuses, Hexagon Grid, Income · 7 shared tags · 3 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (50%)

   vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 1–4 players · ~15 min shorter · +1.1 heavier

   Check price for Gaia Project →
2. 

   2. Race for the Galaxy (2007)

   2–4 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium · See Race for the Galaxy alternatives →

   Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Science Fiction, Space Exploration, Hand Management, Set Collection · 5 shared tags · 2 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (33%)

   vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~75 min shorter · 0.3 lighter

   Check price for Race for the Galaxy →
3. 

   3. Underwater Cities (2018)

   1–4 players · 80–150 min · ★ 8.1 · Medium-heavy · See Underwater Cities alternatives →

   Shares with Terraforming Mars: Industry / Manufacturing, Science Fiction, End Game Bonuses, Hand Management, Income · 5 shared tags · 3 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (50%)

   vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 1–4 players · about the same length · +0.3 heavier

   Check price for Underwater Cities →
4. 

   4. Brass Birmingham (2018)

   2–4 players · 60–120 min · ★ 8.7 · Medium-heavy · See Brass Birmingham alternatives →

   Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Industry / Manufacturing, Hand Management, Income · 4 shared tags · 2 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (33%)

   vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~30 min shorter · +0.7 heavier
5. 

   5. Scythe (2016)

   1–5 players · 90–115 min · ★ 8.2 · Medium · See Scythe alternatives →

   Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Science Fiction, Territory Building, Hexagon Grid · 4 shared tags · 1 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (17%)

   vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 1–5 players · ~17 min shorter · +0.2 heavier
6. 

   6. Hallertau (2020)

   1–4 players · 50–140 min · ★ 8.2 · Medium

   Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Industry / Manufacturing, End Game Bonuses, Hand Management, Income · 5 shared tags · 3 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (50%)

   vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 1–4 players · ~25 min shorter · same complexity
7. 

   7. Keyflower (2012)

   2–6 players · 90–120 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium · See Keyflower alternatives →

   Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Territory Building, End Game Bonuses, Hexagon Grid · 4 shared tags · 2 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (33%)

   vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 2–5 players · scales to 6 · ~15 min shorter · same complexity
8. 

   8. Dinosaur Island (2017)

   1–4 players · 90–120 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium · See Dinosaur Island alternatives →

   Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Science Fiction, Income, Set Collection · 4 shared tags · 2 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (33%)

   vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 1–4 players · ~15 min shorter · 0.2 lighter
9. 

   9. Barrage (2019)

   1–4 players · 60–120 min · ★ 8.2 · Medium-heavy · See Barrage alternatives →

   Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Environmental, Industry / Manufacturing, End Game Bonuses, Income · 5 shared tags · 2 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (33%)

   vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 1–4 players · ~30 min shorter · +0.8 heavier
10. 

    10. It's a Wonderful World (2019)

    1–5 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.9 · Medium-light · See It's a Wonderful World alternatives →

    Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Science Fiction, Drafting, End Game Bonuses, Hand Management, Set Collection · 6 shared tags · 4 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (67%)

    vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 1–5 players · ~75 min shorter · 0.9 lighter
11. 

    11. The Manhattan Project Energy Empire (2016)

    1–5 players · 60–120 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium · See The Manhattan Project Energy Empire alternatives →

    Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Environmental, Industry / Manufacturing, End Game Bonuses · 4 shared tags · 1 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (17%)

    vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 1–5 players · ~30 min shorter · 0.2 lighter
12. 

    12. Terra Mystica (2012)

    2–5 players · 60–150 min · ★ 8.1 · Medium-heavy · See Terra Mystica alternatives →

    Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Territory Building, End Game Bonuses, Hexagon Grid, Income · 5 shared tags · 3 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (50%)

    vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 2–5 players · ~15 min shorter · +0.7 heavier
13. 

    13. Maracaibo (2019)

    1–4 players · 30–120 min · ★ 8.3 · Medium-heavy · See Maracaibo alternatives →

    Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, End Game Bonuses, Hand Management, Income · 4 shared tags · 3 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (50%)

    vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 1–4 players · ~45 min shorter · +0.6 heavier
14. 

    14. Pandemic Legacy Season 1 (2015)

    2–4 players · 60 min · ★ 8.6 · Medium · See Pandemic Legacy Season 1 alternatives →

    Shares with Terraforming Mars: Environmental, Hand Management, Set Collection · 3 shared tags · 2 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (33%)

    vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~60 min shorter · 0.4 lighter
15. 

    15. Clash of Cultures (2012)

    2–4 players · 180–240 min · ★ 7.6 · Medium-heavy · See Clash of Cultures alternatives →

    Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Territory Building, Hand Management, Hexagon Grid · 4 shared tags · 2 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (33%)

    vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~90 min longer · +0.4 heavier
16. 

    16. A Feast for Odin (2016)

    1–4 players · 30–120 min · ★ 8.2 · Medium-heavy · See A Feast for Odin alternatives →

    Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Industry / Manufacturing, Income · 3 shared tags · 1 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (17%)

    vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 1–4 players · ~45 min shorter · +0.6 heavier
17. 

    17. Space Empires 4X (2011)

    1–4 players · 180 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium · See Space Empires 4X alternatives →

    Shares with Terraforming Mars: Science Fiction, Space Exploration, Hexagon Grid, Income · 4 shared tags · 2 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (33%)

    vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 1–4 players · ~60 min longer · same complexity
18. 

    18. Tigris & Euphrates (1997)

    2–4 players · 90 min · ★ 7.7 · Medium-heavy · See Tigris & Euphrates alternatives →

    Shares with Terraforming Mars: Territory Building, Hand Management, Income, Set Collection · 4 shared tags · 3 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (50%)

    vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~30 min shorter · +0.3 heavier

Looking for the original? See the full Terraforming Mars fact page — players, play time, age and complexity.