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On Mars
A gorgeous, brain-melting puzzle about building a Mars colony one interlocking system at a time.
Designed by Vital Lacerda · 2020
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One of the best heavy Euros ever made if your group can handle the weight. If "four hours of thinking" sounds like a threat instead of a treat, walk away smiling.
Best for: Experienced gamers who want a heavy thinky puzzle and a full evening to chew on it
What it is
Here's the pitch. You're running a company building the first real colony on Mars, splitting your attention between an orbiting station and the surface below. A shuttle bounces between the two, and if you're not on the right side when it leaves, you pay for the ride. You're hauling resources, training colonists, sending out rovers, and timing buildings so the colony grows on your turn. Vital Lacerda designed it, and the whole thing is one tight, interlocking machine.
The catch
Now the honest part. This is heavy. The BoardGameGeek weight sits around 4.6 out of 5, and that number is not lying to you. Reviewers openly admit it took a full play before they understood how the subsystems feed each other, and casual players will drown. It's long, often three hours or more, and it hogs a table with side boards everywhere. It also limps a bit at two players and shines at three or four, where people can actually block you and snatch the resource you needed.
Who it's for
So who's this for? Players who treat a four-hour thinky puzzle as the reward, not the punishment. If your group loves heavy Euros and respects each other's turns, On Mars is widely called Lacerda's best work, and the moment the systems click is genuinely thrilling. Newer players should cut their teeth on something lighter first. But if you want a deep, gorgeous brain-burner with a theme that earns every rule, this one delivers.
What other players say
This write-up is grounded in real reviews and player discussion, not just one opinion. A few worth reading:
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