‘Mission: Red Planet – 20th Anniversary Edition’ Board Game Review
Mission: Red Planet – 20th Anniversary Edition, designed by Bruno Cathala and Bruno Faidutti and published by Matagot, is a reprint of a modern classic that first landed in 2005. This new edition doesn’t reinvent the wheel, nor does it need to. Instead, it refines, repackages, and reintroduces one of the most elegant, chaotic and cutthroat area control games of the past two decades – complete with modular board setup, refreshed artwork, and the same deliciously chaotic gameplay that made the original such a standout.
For those unfamiliar, Mission: Red Planet is a steampunk-themed game of Martian colonisation, resource extraction, and ruthless sabotage. Players take on the role of rival mining corporations, each vying for control of Mars’ various regions by deploying astronauts via rocket ships and leveraging a hand of nine character cards to manipulate turn order, movement, and special abilities. It’s a game of bluffing, timing, and tactical opportunism—where the right character played at the wrong time can be disastrous, and the wrong character played at the right time can be brilliant.
The Mission: Red Planet – 20th Anniversary Edition keeps the core gameplay intact. You’ll still be loading astronauts into ships, launching them to different zones on Mars, and scoring points based on control and resource majority. The character deck remains unchanged, with each role offering a unique twist—like the Saboteur who blows up ships, or the Explorer who can redirect landings. The game’s rhythm is tight and satisfying, with ten rounds of action that escalate in tension as the board fills and options narrow. It’s still one of the best examples of simultaneous action selection in the genre, and it still rewards clever play and calculated risk.
What’s new here is mostly cosmetic and structural. The artwork has been updated with a cleaner, more modern aesthetic that still retains the steampunk charm of the original. The character illustrations are sharper, the iconography is clearer, and the overall presentation feels more cohesive. We liked the new look – it’s easier to parse at a glance, and it gives the game a fresh coat of polish without losing its identity.
The biggest mechanical change is the modular board. In previous editions, the Martian surface was fixed, with regions and bonuses locked in place. In this edition, the board is made up of interlocking tiles that can be arranged in different configurations, allowing for varied setups and replayability. It’s a smart addition that doesn’t complicate the rules but does add a layer of strategic variety. Some setups favour early aggression, others reward long-term planning, and the ability to mix and match keeps the game feeling fresh even after multiple plays.
Component quality is solid across the board. The astronaut miniatures are sturdy, the ship tokens are clear and colourful, and the modular tiles fit together snugly. The rulebook is well-organised and includes variant setups and clarifications for newer players. That said, we were disappointed to find a few spelling errors on some of the cards – nothing game-breaking, but noticeable enough to pull us out of the otherwise polished experience. For a 20th Anniversary release, it’s a shame to see such avoidable mistakes slip through.
Mission: Red Planet still supports two to six players, and while it’s playable at all counts, it truly shines at four or five. With more players, the chaos ramps up and the bluffing becomes more intense. With fewer, the game leans more tactical and less reactive. Either way, the simultaneous card play and rocket deployment keep things moving briskly, and downtime is minimal. The game’s length – about 60–90 minutes – is spot on for what it offers: enough time to build tension and execute plans, but not so long that it overstays its welcome.
Mission: Red Planet – 20th Anniversary Edition is a respectful and well-executed reprint of a beloved classic. The modular board and updated artwork are welcome improvements, and the core gameplay remains as sharp and satisfying as ever. It’s unfortunate that a few spelling errors mar an otherwise high-quality production, but they don’t detract from the strategic depth and thematic charm that make this game a perennial favourite. Whether you’re returning to Mars or landing for the first time, this is a mission worth launching.
