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 · games like Gaia Project →
   Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Science Fiction, Space Exploration, Territory Building, End Game Bonuses, Hexagon Grid, Income · 3 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (50%)
   vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 1–4 players · ~15 min shorter · +1.1 heavier
   View Gaia Project on Amazon →
2. 2. Race for the Galaxy (2007)
   2–4 players · 30–60 min · ★ 7.8 · Medium · games like Race for the Galaxy →
   Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Science Fiction, Space Exploration, Hand Management, Set Collection · 2 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (33%)
   vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 2–4 players · ~75 min shorter · 0.3 lighter
   View Race for the Galaxy on Amazon →
3. 3. Underwater Cities (2018)
   1–4 players · 80–150 min · ★ 8.1 · Medium-heavy · games like Underwater Cities →
   Shares with Terraforming Mars: Industry / Manufacturing, Science Fiction, End Game Bonuses, Hand Management, Income · 3 of Terraforming Mars’s 6 mechanics (50%)
   vs Terraforming Mars: overlaps at 1–4 players · about the same length · +0.3 heavier
   View Underwater Cities on Amazon →
4. 4. Brass Birmingham (2018)
   2–4 players · 60–120 min · ★ 8.7 · Medium-heavy · games like Brass Birmingham →
   Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Industry / Manufacturing, Hand Management, Income · 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 · games like Scythe →
   Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Science Fiction, Territory Building, Hexagon Grid · 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 · 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 · games like Keyflower →
   Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Territory Building, End Game Bonuses, Hexagon Grid · 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 · games like Dinosaur Island →
   Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Science Fiction, Income, Set Collection · 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 · games like Barrage →
   Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Environmental, Industry / Manufacturing, End Game Bonuses, Income · 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 · games like It's a Wonderful World →
    Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Science Fiction, Drafting, End Game Bonuses, Hand Management, Set Collection · 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 · games like The Manhattan Project Energy Empire →
    Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Environmental, Industry / Manufacturing, End Game Bonuses · 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 · games like Terra Mystica →
    Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Territory Building, End Game Bonuses, Hexagon Grid, Income · 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 · games like Maracaibo →
    Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, End Game Bonuses, Hand Management, Income · 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 · games like Pandemic Legacy Season 1 →
    Shares with Terraforming Mars: Environmental, Hand Management, Set Collection · 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 · games like Clash of Cultures →
    Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Territory Building, Hand Management, Hexagon Grid · 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 · games like A Feast for Odin →
    Shares with Terraforming Mars: Economic, Industry / Manufacturing, Income · 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 · games like Space Empires 4X →
    Shares with Terraforming Mars: Science Fiction, Space Exploration, Hexagon Grid, Income · 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 · games like Tigris & Euphrates →
    Shares with Terraforming Mars: Territory Building, Hand Management, Income, Set Collection · 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.