Port of Mars is an online, game-based, social science experiment set on the first human community on the Red Planet. You are 1 of 5 residents at the Port of Mars, the first long-term habitat on the planet. Each game consists of 8—12 rounds, each with phases of investing, trading, purchasing, discarding, and reacting to Mars events. Chance and player actions impact system health. If system health falls to zero all players die.

Your mission is to stay alive and achieve the most Victory Points. In each round you will usually receive 10 time blocks that you can invest in System Health or Influence resources. System Health keeps your team alive. Influence resources are used to purchase Accomplishments that earn you Victory Points.

As one of the first settlers on Mars, you must work with your fellow residents to survive the harsh, unforgiving landscape while also pursuing your own unique goals. Use your time and resources wisely to weather unforeseen events while also striving to achieve accomplishments and build your legacy as one of the founders of the Port of Mars. Will you and your peers be able to withstand the unknown and change the course of human history in space?

This game was designed as part of the Interplanetary Initiative at Arizona State University.