Board Game Review: Terraforming Mars Expansion: Venus Next

Terraforming Mars: Venus Next, designed by Jacob Fryxelius and published by FryxGames, expands the universe of Terraforming Mars by introducing Venus as a new terraforming target. While Mars remains the primary focus, players now have the option to help make Venus more habitable, adding another layer of strategic options to the game. Thematically, the expansion explores the futuristic challenge of terraforming Earth’s toxic, cloud-covered neighbor. Players can take actions to raise the Venus scale, build floating cities, and take advantage of new project cards related to Venus, all while balancing their efforts on Mars.

Pros:

1. New Strategic Options: Venus Next expands the strategic possibilities without overwhelming the base game. The Venus track adds another avenue to score points and develop your engine, offering a fresh layer of decision-making. Do you focus on Mars, Venus, or try to balance both? This adds depth for seasoned players looking for more variety.
2. Thematic Fit: Venus Next integrates well into the overall theme of Terraforming Mars. While not as central as Mars, the notion of expanding humanity’s terraforming efforts to other planets feels like a natural progression of the game’s futuristic, scientific setting. The idea of building floating cities and controlling Venus’ climate provides thematic richness for players who enjoy the idea of expansive planetary colonization.
3. More Corporations and Cards: The expansion includes new corporations, projects, and milestones that add variety to each playthrough. These additional elements increase the replayability of the game, giving players more tools and strategies to experiment with. The new project cards are well-balanced and integrate into the base game’s mechanics without feeling tacked on.
4. Global Parameter Variety: The introduction of the Venus global parameter brings some relief from the base game’s focus on oxygen, heat, and oceans. For players who enjoy optimizing their play around these parameters, the Venus scale offers an additional outlet for points and bonuses.
5. Modular Design: Venus Next can be easily slotted into the base game without complicating the mechanics too much. It’s an expansion that can coexist with others (like Prelude or Hellas & Elysium), allowing you to tailor the game experience to your group’s preferences.

Cons:

1. Diluted Focus on Mars: One of the main criticisms of Venus Next is that it dilutes the core focus of Terraforming Mars. The expansion’s inclusion of Venus, while thematic, doesn’t mesh perfectly with the core goal of terraforming Mars. It can feel like an unnecessary distraction, especially since Venus cannot be fully terraformed, and players only advance the Venus scale up to a certain point.
2. Adds Complexity Without Depth: While Venus Next introduces more options, some players feel it doesn’t add enough depth to justify its inclusion. The Venus track and new cards are interesting but may feel redundant compared to the more integrated mechanics of the base game. The expansion doesn’t radically alter gameplay, so it might feel more like a minor detour than a true game-changer.
3. Longer Playtime: With the addition of the Venus track and new cards, the game’s playtime can stretch out even further. Terraforming Mars is already a long game, and Venus Next can make it feel even longer, especially if players start focusing too much on Venus, spreading their attention across more objectives. For groups looking to shorten or streamline the game, this expansion may be counterproductive.
4. Less Impactful than Other Expansions: Compared to other expansions like Prelude, which drastically accelerates the pace of the game, or Turmoil, which adds a whole new political layer, Venus Next can feel underwhelming. It doesn’t change the core gameplay enough to stand out for some players, making it feel like an optional, rather than essential, addition to the Terraforming Mars experience.
5. Venus Cannot Be Fully Terraformed: Unlike Mars, Venus cannot be fully terraformed in the game. The Venus scale caps out at 30%, which may leave players feeling unsatisfied compared to the full terraforming of Mars. This limitation can feel like a missed opportunity, particularly for players hoping to engage in another full-scale planetary transformation.

Summary:

Terraforming Mars: Venus Next is a solid expansion that broadens the scope of the game by introducing a new planet and new strategic options. For players who are looking for more variety in their Terraforming Mars experience, Venus Next offers an intriguing thematic expansion that adds layers to the decision-making process without dramatically altering the core mechanics.

However, for some players, the Venus track and new cards may feel like a distraction from the base game’s primary focus—terraforming Mars. The fact that Venus cannot be fully terraformed may leave some players feeling like the expansion is incomplete, while others may feel the added complexity doesn’t justify the longer playtime. Compared to more impactful expansions like Prelude, Venus Next is a “nice-to-have” rather than an essential part of the Terraforming Mars experience. For experienced players who enjoy having more options and a thematic expansion, it’s worth adding to the collection—but it may not be the first expansion you reach for.

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