---
product_id: 75749060
title: "Terraforming Mars: Prelude Expansion by Stronghold Games | Engine-Building Card Module with Accelerated Start | Add Corporations and Projects | 1-5 Players Ages 12+ | Requires Base"
brand: "stronghold games"
price: "R866"
currency: ZAR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
category: "Stronghold Games"
url: https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/75749060-terraforming-mars-prelude-expansion-by-stronghold-games-engine-building-card
store_origin: ZA
region: South Africa
---

# Accelerated start with Prelude cards 5 new corporations for fresh starts 7 early-game project cards to boost engines Terraforming Mars: Prelude Expansion by Stronghold Games | Engine-Building Card Module with Accelerated Start | Add Corporations and Projects | 1-5 Players Ages 12+ | Requires Base

**Brand:** stronghold games
**Price:** R866
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 🚀 Ignite your Mars conquest with Prelude — where every turn counts!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Terraforming Mars: Prelude Expansion by Stronghold Games | Engine-Building Card Module with Accelerated Start | Add Corporations and Projects | 1-5 Players Ages 12+ | Requires Base by stronghold games
- **How much does it cost?** R866 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.za](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/75749060-terraforming-mars-prelude-expansion-by-stronghold-games-engine-building-card)

## Best For

- stronghold games enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted stronghold games brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Seamless Integration:** Effortlessly combine Prelude with the base game and other expansions for endless replayability.
- • **Compact Yet Impactful:** Lightweight expansion (5.6 oz) with minimal setup, perfect for busy professionals craving deep gameplay.
- • **Solo & Multiplayer Ready:** Challenge yourself with a new solo mode or compete with up to 5 players in intense strategic races.
- • **Jumpstart Your Mars Mission:** Prelude cards give your corporation a powerful early boost, accelerating your engine-building from turn one.
- • **Expand Your Strategic Arsenal:** Add 5 unique corporations and 7 project cards designed to deepen early-game tactics and variety.

## Overview

Terraforming Mars: Prelude Expansion by Stronghold Games supercharges your base game experience by introducing 5 new corporations and 7 early-game project cards that accelerate engine-building and strategic depth. Designed for 1-5 players aged 12+, this lightweight expansion integrates smoothly with existing setups, offering fresh solo challenges and multiplayer variety without complicating gameplay. Perfect for strategy enthusiasts seeking a faster, more dynamic start to their Mars terraforming journey.

## Description

As the mega corporations are getting ready to start the terraforming process, you now have the chance to make those early choices that will come to defi ne your corporation and set the course for the future history of Mars - this is the prelude to your greatest endeavors! In Terraforming Mars: Prelude, you get to choose from Prelude cards that jumpstart the terraforming process, or boost your corporation engine. There are also 5 new corporations, and 7 project cards that thematically fi t the early stages of terraforming. Terraforming Mars: Prelude is the third expansion to the smash-hit game, Terraforming Mars, and can be combined with any other expansion or variant.

Review: AMAZING game, solo and multiplayer - Terraforming Mars (TM) is absolutely fantastic. I'd give it 6 stars if I could. It's that good. Definitely a gamer's game (ie. not intended for newcomers/nongamers), but worth every penny. With that said, TM has a bit of a learning curve. TM also has a wonderful solo variant, so if you're looking for a challenge, and you like to play solo (or at least have that option), look no further. That's actually the main reason I bought this game, and yet now I can't wait to try it multiplayer. And since it has the solo mode, I'll be able to teach it no problem and help move the game along as well. Another huge plus for me. At its core, TM is an engine builder, with cards and projects to help increase 6 main resources and production of said resources (MegaCredits=money, Steel, Titanium, Plants, Energy, and Heat). I won't go into great detail, but it's from these resources and a set amount of starting resources depending on which Corporation (think player) you play as that you start your engine building. There are 5 beginner corporations that are generic and all the same, and then there are an additional 12 that each have their own special ability(ies) and amount of starting credits, and possibly resources and/or resource production. I recommend starting with a beginner corporation, as knowing which cards to keep during setup also has a learning curve. Throughout the game, the player(s) are attempting to gain victory points (known as Terraform Rating, or TR) while simultaneously terraforming the planet. This terraforming includes 3 main elements: increasing temperature, oxygen levels, and water/ocean tiles. In the solo mode, you are attempting to complete all 3 of these before the end of your 14th turn. If you do so, you win. You can also keep track of your best scores, though TM isn't simply just a beat your own score solo mode. You actually have to WIN first (ie. complete the 3 elements to terraforming by end of turn 14), which is NOT easy. It's very clever, and very fun. Games typically take me 1-2 hours. In multi mode, you are trying to accrue the highest TR at the game end, signified by the completion of all 3 elements of terraforming. However, you score not only points from your base TR, cards, city tiles, and plant tiles (as in the solo mode), but also from any awards or milestones that you claimed. In that regard TM is somewhat of a point salad game...which I think is great. Again, looking forward to trying it multiplayer. While initially there is some luck of the draw, this is mitigated each turn during the refresh phase, as each player gets to look at 4 new cards from the deck and decide how many to keep, paying 3 credits per card. It is also and perhaps more so mitigated by the standard projects listed on the board, which every player has access to every turn regardless of which cards they may or may not have. These can be key in the solo mode if you don't get the best starting cards, which I assume would be true multiplayer. At a $41 price point, I can't recommend this game enough. It has numerous expansions (I think around 5 or 6), so even if you tire of the base game at some point (I haven't yet), there is much more you can add to TM. The Hellas & Elysium expansion is a double sided board with 2 new and different faces of Mars to terraform (ie different maps), so you have the option of 3 maps total. The Prelude expansion has additional cards and more importantly additional corporations, for even more variety. I have yet to get to either of these, but am looking forward to it when the time comes. There are also several others that I do not have yet. All this being said, the replayability is quite high on TM. And it's tons of fun if you like to think. There is a reason it's been in the top 20 on BGG the last 4 years since it's inception. EDIT: I forgot to mention that I highly suggest buying at least the 2 pack of wooden player boards from Smonex. They are great quality and completely take care of the problem of accidentally bumping/moving your production markers from the player boards that come with the game. Though not as vibrant or colorful, the wooden boards work so much better. Game on! EDIT 10/1/22: I have all the expansions except Turmoil, and I still love it. Favorite game of all time. Even better with the expansions; so much replayability.
Review: 2 hours of T.V. or TM? - Great strategic game. Not hard to learn. Watched plenty of YouTube videos on how to play before purchasing so I would know whether or not this is game is for me. Learned all the basics and beyond just from watching. Reading the instructions further reinforced my knowledge of how to play. There have been a lot of complaints about component quality and the pictures on the cards which to me are unfounded. I have no major complaints about the component quality. The player cubes are good enough for what they are intended. The cardboard cutout tiles are durable enough. As for the artwork or picture on the project cards, who cares? It is all about what the cards allow you to do. I don’t care if it is AI or stock footage or art work. I am not paying attention to the pictures, rather the outcome of playing the cards. I only wish the cards were a little bigger like the cards in Trekking the National Parks because there is a lot of information written on the card. It would make for easier reading. But no big deal. What about the player boards? A lot of complaints about the flimsiness, size and potential for jostling the pieces around. Well, you can spend 10 bucks apiece for 1 special player board cutout with indents or you can do what I did for a fraction of the cost. See picture. Photo copy the player board at 120x magnification and using clear packing tape, tape it to some cardboard. (Cover entire player board with the packing tape) The enlarged player board allows more space for cube placement on the resource area and production track. Thus allowing more room for potential accidental movement of cubes. Plus the non sticky side of the packing tape is not as slippery as the original glossy player board so the cubes are less prone to sliding around. Plus with the cardboard backing, the player board is instantly durable. What about cube storage? I used the cardboard storage trays from my old risk game which I no longer play and use it to store the 5 most used cubes. See photo. You can be creative and make your own storage trays. Overall, I can see why TM is rated high. A lot of thought and science and science fiction went into making this game. The game is fun and satisfying when you start to see the global parameters move up as you and your opponent work together to achieve the goal of terraforming mars. I like the fact this is not a cutthroat, obliterate your opponent game like Monopoly and Risk. It is long, but so is Risk and Monopoly. If you can spend 2 hours or more watching TV, Terraforming Mars is a better alternative. Good for cognitive function!

## Features

- Jump start your Terraforming Mars sessions with Prelude, a focused expansion that gives each corporation powerful early cards, shaping your engine from the first turn and tightening the race to make Mars habitable.
- Draft and play unique Prelude cards that either accelerate terraforming milestones or boost your production engine, giving asymmetric openings and new paths to victory that reward planning and long term strategy.
- Add 5 new corporations and 7 project cards tuned to the early game, plus an additional solo challenge to reach 63 TR in time, increasing variety for repeat plays without adding complex rules overhead.
- Prelude integrates smoothly with the Terraforming Mars base game and any other expansion or variant, slotting into existing setups so dedicated players can refresh familiar maps and modules with minimal extra setup.
- Designed for 1–5 experienced or aspiring strategy gamers ages 12+, this expansion requires the Terraforming Mars base game and is ideal for groups who enjoy engine building, tableau growth, and deep replayability.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B07F4J9MFZ |
| Best Sellers Rank | #9,318 in Toys & Games ( See Top 100 in Toys & Games ) #292 in Board Games (Toys & Games) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars (7,444) |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Weight | 5.6 ounces |
| Item model number | STG07202 |
| Language | English |
| Manufacturer | Stronghold Games |
| Manufacturer recommended age | 12 years and up |
| Product Dimensions | 4.5 x 1.2 x 6.5 inches |
| Release date | August 22, 2018 |

## Images

![Terraforming Mars: Prelude Expansion by Stronghold Games | Engine-Building Card Module with Accelerated Start | Add Corporations and Projects | 1-5 Players Ages 12+ | Requires Base - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71NuQY0-QnL.jpg)

## Available Options

This product comes in different **Style** options.

## Questions & Answers

**Q: Difference between the basic and premium versions besides price and seller?**
A: Thad,

When you say the basic and the premium versions, I see now on Amazon the same as when I bought one each of the two "versions".
There is NO difference at all, except the price.
Both offers of this addition to the basic Terraforming Mars board game include the exact same things: 35 new Prelude cards to use at the start of the game, 5 new Corporation cards to add to the regular Corporation cards in the basic game, and 7 new project cards to add to the deck of project (playing) cards in the basic game.
If you visit Stronghold games web site, they offer their Terraforming Mars Prelude expansion for $19.95.
If you visit the Amazon.com website they are offering the same Terraforming Mars Prelude expansion for two different prices, one at $17.19 and the other at $14.00.
Pick the $14.00.
It is a great addition to the basic Terraforming Mars board game and worth the money.
But pay the lower price on Amazon.com and get the same great addition to the game.
By the way if you do NOT have the basic game it is cheaper on Amazon too. On Amazon it is $45.68 and at Stronghold games website it is $69.95.
Paul Hann

**Q: How much does this speed up the game? Is the average playtime much shorter with this expansion?**
A: Yes and no, you can control this with prelude. For example, my friends and I play 5 prelude cards before the game begins, I think the rules say pick only 2, but we deal 5 cards and play the 5 cards, this makes the game end around gen 6 for 5/6 players, it takes just a bit more for 2/3 players, gen 7 or 8. For me it's a matter of time and making the beginning of the game more fun than what it is, I couldn't live without this expansion, I love it.

**Q: Can you play this game with just these cards (I just bought these without any knowledge of the game) ? Is there a good tutorial?**
A: You absolutely can not play this game with only these cards. You literally don't even have the Mars game board. Lol 

This is by far the best expansion, but you have to get the base game first.

**Q: Can you point me to the original game on amazon? I am not able to find the right one for this expansion.**
A: Hi I have attached a link here to the original game.  If you do get the game. I recommend getting the prelude expansion as well.  Its been great! Cheers.

https://www.amazon.com/Indie-Boards-Cards-Terraforming-Board/dp/B01GSYA4K2/ref=sr_1_14?crid=1KJB06TUTUVOP&dchild=1&keywords=terraforming+mars&qid=1616062566&sprefix=terrafo%2Caps%2C350&sr=8-14

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ AMAZING game, solo and multiplayer
*by R***O on October 26, 2020*

Terraforming Mars (TM) is absolutely fantastic. I'd give it 6 stars if I could. It's that good. Definitely a gamer's game (ie. not intended for newcomers/nongamers), but worth every penny. With that said, TM has a bit of a learning curve. TM also has a wonderful solo variant, so if you're looking for a challenge, and you like to play solo (or at least have that option), look no further. That's actually the main reason I bought this game, and yet now I can't wait to try it multiplayer. And since it has the solo mode, I'll be able to teach it no problem and help move the game along as well. Another huge plus for me. At its core, TM is an engine builder, with cards and projects to help increase 6 main resources and production of said resources (MegaCredits=money, Steel, Titanium, Plants, Energy, and Heat). I won't go into great detail, but it's from these resources and a set amount of starting resources depending on which Corporation (think player) you play as that you start your engine building. There are 5 beginner corporations that are generic and all the same, and then there are an additional 12 that each have their own special ability(ies) and amount of starting credits, and possibly resources and/or resource production. I recommend starting with a beginner corporation, as knowing which cards to keep during setup also has a learning curve. Throughout the game, the player(s) are attempting to gain victory points (known as Terraform Rating, or TR) while simultaneously terraforming the planet. This terraforming includes 3 main elements: increasing temperature, oxygen levels, and water/ocean tiles. In the solo mode, you are attempting to complete all 3 of these before the end of your 14th turn. If you do so, you win. You can also keep track of your best scores, though TM isn't simply just a beat your own score solo mode. You actually have to WIN first (ie. complete the 3 elements to terraforming by end of turn 14), which is NOT easy. It's very clever, and very fun. Games typically take me 1-2 hours. In multi mode, you are trying to accrue the highest TR at the game end, signified by the completion of all 3 elements of terraforming. However, you score not only points from your base TR, cards, city tiles, and plant tiles (as in the solo mode), but also from any awards or milestones that you claimed. In that regard TM is somewhat of a point salad game...which I think is great. Again, looking forward to trying it multiplayer. While initially there is some luck of the draw, this is mitigated each turn during the refresh phase, as each player gets to look at 4 new cards from the deck and decide how many to keep, paying 3 credits per card. It is also and perhaps more so mitigated by the standard projects listed on the board, which every player has access to every turn regardless of which cards they may or may not have. These can be key in the solo mode if you don't get the best starting cards, which I assume would be true multiplayer. At a $41 price point, I can't recommend this game enough. It has numerous expansions (I think around 5 or 6), so even if you tire of the base game at some point (I haven't yet), there is much more you can add to TM. The Hellas & Elysium expansion is a double sided board with 2 new and different faces of Mars to terraform (ie different maps), so you have the option of 3 maps total. The Prelude expansion has additional cards and more importantly additional corporations, for even more variety. I have yet to get to either of these, but am looking forward to it when the time comes. There are also several others that I do not have yet. All this being said, the replayability is quite high on TM. And it's tons of fun if you like to think. There is a reason it's been in the top 20 on BGG the last 4 years since it's inception. EDIT: I forgot to mention that I highly suggest buying at least the 2 pack of wooden player boards from Smonex. They are great quality and completely take care of the problem of accidentally bumping/moving your production markers from the player boards that come with the game. Though not as vibrant or colorful, the wooden boards work so much better. Game on! EDIT 10/1/22: I have all the expansions except Turmoil, and I still love it. Favorite game of all time. Even better with the expansions; so much replayability.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 2 hours of T.V. or TM?
*by J***Y on February 5, 2026*

Great strategic game. Not hard to learn. Watched plenty of YouTube videos on how to play before purchasing so I would know whether or not this is game is for me. Learned all the basics and beyond just from watching. Reading the instructions further reinforced my knowledge of how to play. There have been a lot of complaints about component quality and the pictures on the cards which to me are unfounded. I have no major complaints about the component quality. The player cubes are good enough for what they are intended. The cardboard cutout tiles are durable enough. As for the artwork or picture on the project cards, who cares? It is all about what the cards allow you to do. I don’t care if it is AI or stock footage or art work. I am not paying attention to the pictures, rather the outcome of playing the cards. I only wish the cards were a little bigger like the cards in Trekking the National Parks because there is a lot of information written on the card. It would make for easier reading. But no big deal. What about the player boards? A lot of complaints about the flimsiness, size and potential for jostling the pieces around. Well, you can spend 10 bucks apiece for 1 special player board cutout with indents or you can do what I did for a fraction of the cost. See picture. Photo copy the player board at 120x magnification and using clear packing tape, tape it to some cardboard. (Cover entire player board with the packing tape) The enlarged player board allows more space for cube placement on the resource area and production track. Thus allowing more room for potential accidental movement of cubes. Plus the non sticky side of the packing tape is not as slippery as the original glossy player board so the cubes are less prone to sliding around. Plus with the cardboard backing, the player board is instantly durable. What about cube storage? I used the cardboard storage trays from my old risk game which I no longer play and use it to store the 5 most used cubes. See photo. You can be creative and make your own storage trays. Overall, I can see why TM is rated high. A lot of thought and science and science fiction went into making this game. The game is fun and satisfying when you start to see the global parameters move up as you and your opponent work together to achieve the goal of terraforming mars. I like the fact this is not a cutthroat, obliterate your opponent game like Monopoly and Risk. It is long, but so is Risk and Monopoly. If you can spend 2 hours or more watching TV, Terraforming Mars is a better alternative. Good for cognitive function!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ New favorite game!
*by C***R on January 8, 2026*

We were very pleasantly surprised by how fun this game is. I can see why it was on the top ten modern board games list. The art on the box never would have turned my head in a store. Don't judge this game by its cover!

## Frequently Bought Together

- Terraforming Mars Prelude
- Stronghold Games - Terraforming Mars Prelude 2 - Strategy Board Game Expansion - for 1 to 5 Players and Ages 12+

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/75749060-terraforming-mars-prelude-expansion-by-stronghold-games-engine-building-card](https://www.desertcart.co.za/products/75749060-terraforming-mars-prelude-expansion-by-stronghold-games-engine-building-card)

---

*Product available on Desertcart South Africa*
*Store origin: ZA*
*Last updated: 2026-03-11*