Who goes first in On Mars?
Eagle-Gryphon English Preview rulebook, ©2019
The player with the most viewings of The Martian chooses a turn-order space first. After everyone chooses, the lowest occupied numbered space takes the first Colonization turn.
Rule details
Turn-order spaces are chosen clockwise from that initial chooser. The first chooser is not necessarily first to take a Colonization action.
The First Colonists variant assigns spaces using randomly dealt tiles instead of letting players choose their spaces.
Solo setup assigns Lacerda’s space with a random First Colonists tile, then lets you choose your own space or randomize it.
Source & edition
- On Mars: Eagle-Gryphon Games rulesEagle-Gryphon Games · Starting turn-order spaces; Colonization Phase; Solo Game; First Colonists variant and credits; PDF pages 7, 8, 22, 24 · Checked 2026-09-23Printed page references: 7, 8, 22, 24Cited PDF pages: 7, 8, 22, 24
Image: © Eagle-Gryphon Games · Eagle-Gryphon Games
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say.
More starting rules
Browse available game rulesFree game-night tools: score keeper · turn timer · dice roller · all tools
Found a different instruction in your edition? Send a correction with the game, edition, and source.