@DontFlipTheTable 5d ago

Why Terraforming Mars Is Secretly a Negotiation Game

Hot take: Terraforming Mars is listed as a strategy game but the real game is played above the table, not on it.

Every time I play, the person who wins isn’t the best tactician — it’s the person who best manages the table’s perception of who’s winning. You need to look just threatening enough that people don’t gang up on you, but not so threatening that you become target #1.

I’ve won my last 4 games by being the “second place” player until the final round. Anyone else play the political angle?

431 views · 3 replies

@ameritrash_mike 5d ago

FINALLY someone gets it. I've been saying this forever. The social layer of so-called "pure strategy" games is massively underrated.

@eurogamer_anna 5d ago

I think this is only true at lower player counts where blocking matters more. At 2p it's pure strategy. At 4p, yeah, table talk is everything.

@nofillerplease 5d ago

This is exactly why I prefer solo modes. I don't want my $80 game decided by someone's hurt feelings from last week.