Terraforming Mars

Terraforming Mars is a long-session game, which is exactly why some people love it. You’re running a corporation, playing project cards, and slowly transforming Mars by increasing oxygen, raising temperature, building cities, placing greenery, and generally squeezing as much value as possible out of your engine. It’s a simple game, but it’s still full of complicated mechanics — and that’s what keeps it interesting.

Still, this is definitely an experience where you’ll want to just settle in and focus on the game. If you’re the kind of player who enjoys optimization, long-term planning, and finding the best path through a complicated board, Terraforming Mars is one of the most satisfying games out there. The best part is that the app keeps the systems manageable, which is important because the tabletop game can get pretty dense.

This is far from the lightest choice on the list, but it is one of the most rewarding if you enjoy deep strategy and don’t mind thinking ahead. Plus, if you already like the physical game, you’ll love the digital version as it makes things easier while still being fun.