Tips & Strategy

Practical advice for timing shuttle trips and planning a growing colony.

Plan around the shuttle

Choose your next location before spending Colonists on an action. Traveling to the Colony can collect Research and Discovery tiles and retrieve Colonists, while returning to Orbit triggers production from advanced buildings and Mines. Private Ships provide a way to travel without waiting for the Shuttle, but they are also part of final scoring.

Build with the LSS race in mind

LSS buildings can score when they are the first of their type and can advance the colony. Check how a build changes Colony level, the mission end threshold, and Shuttle timing before committing resources. Progress cubes are most valuable when they are in place before the colony reaches levels 2 or 3.

Connect upgrades to your plans

Blueprints can score when built and lose points when left unbuilt, so take one when you can realistically construct or upgrade its building. Keep the required Technology, Minerals, Bot range, and building space in view together; a strong Blueprint is only useful if you can complete its requirements.

Videos

• How to Play On Mars — Official Tutorial — Gaming Rules!
• On Mars — How-to-play — Start here
• On Mars: Alien Invasion — Scenario 1 Tutorial & Playthrough — Gaming Rules!