Head to head
Terraforming Mars vs The Search for Planet X
Which one is for you? Community verdicts, player-count fit, and taste contrasts, side by side.
Pick Terraforming Mars if you want…
- Long-arc planning where early choices pay off late
- Short-horizon optimization and clever combos
- A longer, meatier session (about 120 min)
Pick The Search for Planet X if you want…
- Crunchy individual problem-solving
- Short-horizon optimization and clever combos
- Shorter sessions (about 75 min vs 120)
Quick facts
| Terraforming Mars | The Search for Planet X | |
|---|---|---|
| Players | 1–5 | 1–4 |
| Play time | 90–120 min | 60–75 min |
| Complexity | Medium | Medium |
| Age | 12+ | 13+ |
| Year | 2016 | — |
Common questions
Which plays faster, Terraforming Mars or The Search for Planet X?
The Search for Planet X runs up to about 75 minutes; Terraforming Mars up to about 120. For a weeknight slot, The Search for Planet X is the quicker table.
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