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Following the success of unmanned rover missions, the United Nations established the Department of Operations and Mars Exploration (D.O.M.E.). The first settlers arrived on Mars in the year 2037 and in the decades after establishment Mars Base Camp, private exploration companies began work on the creation of a self-sustaining colony. As chief astronaut for one of these enterprises, you want to be a pioneer in the development of the biggest, most advanced colony on Mars by achieving both D.O.M.E. mission goals as well as your company’s private agenda.
In the beginning, you will be dependent on supplies from Earth and will have to travel often between the Mars Space Station and the planet's surface. As the colony expands over time, you will shift your activities to construct mines, power generators, water extractors, greenhouses, oxygen factories, and shelters. Your goal is to develop a self-sustaining colony independent of any terrestrial organization. This will require understanding the importance of water, air, power, and food — the necessities for survival.
Do you dare take part in humankind’s biggest challenge?
On Mars is played over several rounds, each consisting of two phases - the Colonization Phase ?and the Shuttle Phase?.
During the Colonization Phase, each player takes a turn during which they take actions. The available actions depend on the side of the board they are on. If you are in orbit, you can take blueprints, buy and develop technologies, and take supplies from the Warehouse. If you are on the surface of the planet, you can construct buildings with your bots, upgrade these buildings using blueprints, take scientists and new contracts, welcome new ships, and explore the planet’s surface with your rover. In the Shuttle Phase, players may travel between the colony and the Space Station in orbit.
All buildings on Mars have a dependency on each other and some are required for the colony to grow. Building shelters for Colonists to live in requires oxygen; generating oxygen requires plants; growing plants requires water; extracting water from ice requires power; generating power requires mining minerals; and mining minerals requires Colonists. Upgrading the colony’s ability to provide each of these resources is vital. As the colony grows, more shelters are needed so that the Colonists can survive the inhospitable conditions on Mars.
During the game, players are also trying to complete missions. Once a total of three missions have been completed, the game ends. To win the game, players must contribute to the development of the first colony on Mars. This is represented during the game by players gaining Opportunity Points (OP). The player with the most OP at the end of the game is declared the winner.
AWARDS & HONORS
2021 MinD-Spielepreis Complex Game Nominee
2021 Jogo do Ano Nominee
2021 Goblin Magnifico Nominee
2021 Geek Media Awards Game of the Year for Experienced Gamers Nominee
2021 Geek Media Awards Best Production Winner
2021 Geek Media Awards Best Production Nominee
2021 American Tabletop Complex Games Nominee
2020 Kanga Best Visuals Finalist
2020 Golden Geek Heavy Game of the Year Nominee
2020 Golden Geek Best Thematic Board Game Nominee
2020 Golden Geek Best Board Game Artwork & Presentation Winner
2020 Golden Geek Best Board Game Artwork & Presentation Nominee
2020 Board Game Quest Awards Best Strategy/Euro Game Nominee
2020 5 Seasons Best Solo Mode Nominee
2020 5 Seasons Best Portuguese Complex Game Nominee
2019 Cardboard Republic Architect Laurel Nominee
On Mars: Alien Invasion
On Mars: Alien Invasion is the much-anticipated Somewhat Cooperative Expansion to Vital Lacerda’s best-selling and highly-rated On Mars base game. Though this expansion was originally going to be named Surviving Mars, Eagle-Gryphon Games made the decision to change the name to On Mars: Alien Invasion to better reflect the theme and content of this expansion. The game narrative is contained in four chapters of a story written by Nathan Morse. Gameplay contains four new and different ways to expand upon and play the base game. You will play one versus many; completely cooperatively; and even solo if you wish, depending on the chapter. Included are four fresh and completely replayable ways to establish colonies On Mars!
For instance, here is the narrative that opens the first chapter and sets the stage for all of the following action:
Alert! Sensors indicate that aliens are invading the famous red planet! Long have the conspiracy theorists predicted this. The threat to your mission is too great; you must take action. Will you be able to prevent the infectious spread of these beings bent on expanding to every habitable planet in the galaxy? Or will you play for the other side, a species trying to establish a colony on Mars, blithely oblivious to the danger their expansion represents, unaware that there are others out there eager to keep humans “where they belong” on Earth.
On Mars: Alien Invasion is a short story expansion to On Mars made in 4 chapters with 4 different modes of play.
The short story is called Alien Invasion and contemplates the following Chapters and modes of play:
Chapter 1 - Invasion - 1 vs All - 3 to 5 players
Chapter 2 - Outbreak - Co-Op - 2 to 4 players
Chapter 3 - Blackout - Co-Op - 2 to 4 players
Chapter 4 - Monolith - Solo - 1 player
AWARDS & HONORS
2022 Golden Geek Best Board Game Expansion Nominee
2022 5 Seasons Best Solo Mode Nominee
2022 5 Seasons Best Portuguese Expansion Nominee
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