[2] Players compete to earn the most victory points, which are measured by their contribution to terraforming and to human infrastructure.

[3] The object of the game is for players to complete three terraforming conditions: raise the atmosphere's oxygen level to 14%; raise the temperature from −30 to +8 degrees Celsius; and cover 9% of Mars' surface by ocean (represented in-game as having 9 ocean tiles placed on Mars).

Players accomplish these goals by playing cards that represent various technologies or buildings used to terraform Mars.

[11] Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition, a simplified card game version of the original, released in 2021.

[15][16] A video game adaptation of Terraforming Mars, developed by Asmodee Digital, was released in October 2018.

[17] However, in a list of Best Board Games On PC from the same site he later revised this opinion, saying "developer Asmodee Digital has stepped up the plate with a host of updates.

[30] Prelude has been received very well by critics for speeding up the beginning phase by giving each player extra abilities at the start of the game.

[12] Reviewing from Ars Technica, Aaron Zimmerman stated that the game was a combination of Race for the Galaxy and the original title, and complimented the engagement and engine-building mechanics.

[14] In 2021, a tie-in novel based on the game by author Jane Killick called In the Shadow of Deimos was published by Aconyte Books.