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Description
Built on the core of the award-winning Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island, First Martians: Adventures on the Red Planet pits players against the hostile Martian environment and a whole host of new adventures and challenges. The immersive experience is further enhanced with an integrated app that maintains the balance and challenge throughout. Players have the option of taking on the design as a series of separate games, in a custom campaign mode in which each successive game builds on the last.
Year Published
2017
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 6
This page: 6
Sentiment:
pos 3 ·
mix 2 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–6 of 6
Video eT7JwFvyHjs
Under the Hood analysis at 12:15
video_pk 12475 · mention_pk 36402
Click to watch at 12:15 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Mars colonization
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- custom dice used as playing pieces / dice pools — dice carry information and drive multiple actions without charts
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- dice are probably the first board game mechanic
- the more sides of the dice the more extreme their variables will be
- dice can add uncertainty to actions and while you may recall vividly the fistful of ones you rolled in an important battle the overall distribution of rolls in the game should balance out over time
- there's really no such thing as luck there's just probability
- get better and stop blaming the dice when you lose
- friction is all the random things that happen in war that turn it from a mathematical challenge into the messy chaotic experience
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video DDTMfdMWdQ4
Unknown game_review at 2:27 sentiment: positive
video_pk 9921 · mention_pk 29187
Click to watch at 2:27 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Strong, immersive Mars theme with a believable, science-forward feel
- Solid app integration that reduces bookkeeping and drives narrative events
- Rich content, multiple scenarios, and a campaign/legacy option for long-term play
- High-quality components and a visually appealing, control-panel style presentation
- Excellent solo play experience and strong support for two players
Cons
- Rulebook can be difficult to learn from; early editions had issues, though the Almanac improves this
- Not ideal with three or four players; best experiences are solo or two-player games
- Not a gateway game; heavy text and complexity can overwhelm new players
- Setup and learning curve can be lengthy; the Almanac is essential for easier learning
- Some players may desire more expansive Mars exploration than the game provides
Thematic elements
- Mars exploration, science-driven survival, terraforming-adjacent challenges.
- Mars base-building and survival on the Red Planet, with base infrastructure and exploration-style objectives.
- scenario-driven with app-controlled events and evolving play through a campaign/legacy structure.
Comparison games
- Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- app integration — A companion app sets up scenarios, manages events, tracks progress, and handles in-game bookkeeping that would traditionally be deck-building or card-based.
- Cooperative problem solving — Players work together to achieve objectives per scenario, dealing with systems failures, plant growth, rover tracking, and narrative events.
- scenario-based progression with legacy-style elements — Six core scenarios with envelope-based progression and a campaign mode; some content evolves or changes as you play.
- tile/board setup with resource tracking — Board uses tiles and color-coded cubes (green for functioning, red for malfunction) to signal system status and resource availability.
- worker placement — Players allocate pawns to base facilities and outpost actions; multiple pawns can be used to improve task success, with drones acting as substitutes when playing with fewer players.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the app is dictating your story so you ain't getting past that
- this is the future for board games to integrate apps into them
- solo fantastic
- it's not a gateway game no way ever will I introduce this to new players
- the Almanac is a much better rule book you can play the game from that almanac itself
- I think I prefer it from a science aspect; I learned a few things and it feels very realistic
- now I can pick it up I can teach it to players without any issues whatsoever
- the app integration is solid and enables a lot of content to be explored over time
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video HV1Kd3IA5K0
Jits Games playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 5442 · mention_pk 16197
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Integrated exploration with tight base-management constraints
- Scenario-driven variability through events and upgrades
- Autonomous helpers and upgrades meaningfully affect planning
Cons
- Steep learning curve and high complexity
- Dice-driven luck can dominate certain outcomes and push games toward volatility
Thematic elements
- cooperative survival and scientific exploration under scenario constraints
- Mars, base settlement and exploration campaign
- scenario-driven, event and consequence oriented
Comparison games
- Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Adventure and event chaining with dice — Events trigger adventures with varied outcomes; dice determine success, damage, and potential penalties.
- cooperative play — All players work together to achieve mission objectives and manage station resources.
- Morale tokens and character skills — Morale can be spent to boost actions and grant improvements; each astronaut has unique skills that influence play.
- Resource management — Oxygen, energy, and food production/consumption must be balanced across blocks and actions.
- Rovers and autonomous helpers — Rovers like Froggy and Scorpio, plus autonomous repair/build robots, provide extra pawns or assist actions.
- Signal tokens and ring-path exploration — Signals are placed in concentric rings to form a seven-spot chain needed to locate the probe; exploration moves along this path.
- Three-block malfunction tracks — Systems, Living, and Working blocks each have malfunction tracks that escalate with events and require repairs.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- this game borrows several mechanics from Robinson cruso but definitely has its own tweak on many of these things
- we're not playing this game from the particular perspective of one of the players
- exploration oriented Probe on the loose scenario long story short one of our probes is caring off in the distance
- Amazing fossil we just found
- you found the probe and the samples
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video FeTAVPnP-_0
Watch It Played top_10_list at 2:23 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4807 · mention_pk 14105
Click to watch at 2:23 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Compelling crisis management
- Makes you feel like a commander
- Good value currently as game did not perform well
Cons
- Cumbersome rulebook
- Significant time investment to learn
- Compared unfavorably to Robinson Crusoe
Thematic elements
- Crisis management simulation
- Mars base
- Tense system management
Comparison games
- Robinson Crusoe
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- crisis management — Manage gremlins and systems breaking down
- risk management — Balance pushing forward with dealing with system failures
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I've played about 300 solo games so this represents the top of all the solo games I've played
- These are entirely my opinions based on my personal play experience
- I think this is one of the cleverest solo modes on the market
- When you win a game of Robinson Crusoe there are very few things in solo board gaming more satisfying
- The closest experience in board gaming to being the captain on a bridge in a sci-fi movie where everything is going to shit
- I'm probably a solo board gaming masochist
- I just love Thunderbirds as a solo game
- It feels like Legendary Encounters was built for the Alien theme and was built as an upgrade to the original Legendary system
- Probably the best AI opponent in all of board gaming
- Few games have that genuine sense of exploration
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video PWj2VyDRwRw
Unknown Channel game_review at 0:04 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 4175 · mention_pk 12244
Click to watch at 0:04 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- deep, multi-layered systems with meaningful tension
- high level of depth and strategic planning
- strong solo play options
- ongoing support with new scenarios and app updates
- legacy campaigns add long-term replayability
- captures authentic space-survival vibe
Cons
- very high complexity and learning curve
- can be brutally unfair in some scenarios
- rulebook not well written; app has awkward wording
- base can look dry and intimidating
- no cinematic or flashy presentation
Thematic elements
- cooperative survival, resource scarcity, and system management under stress
- Mars frontier base; crew living in close quarters under early space-colonization pressures
- system-driven with institutional dashboards; tense, procedural storytelling via events and app feedback
Comparison games
- Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island
- This War of Mine
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- App-driven turn management — An accompanying app guides turn order, events, wound/complication tracking, and system status, tying digital to physical play.
- Complication and wound handling via app — The app records complications and assigns impacts to the appropriate astronaut/role, integrating feedback loops.
- Dice-based action resolution — Four specialized actions use dice for success/failure; higher risk actions increase potential complications.
- Event-driven progression — Random or scenario-based events occur routinely, testing morale, stress, and base resilience.
- Exploration, gathering, research, and building — Actions labeled Explorer, Gather, Research, and Build enable outside exploration, resource collection, analysis, and repairs/builds.
- Resource management — Critical resources (power, oxygen, food) must be monitored and balanced; shortages trigger penalties and shutdowns.
- worker placement — Each astronaut uses action markers to perform tasks in different base workspaces, shaping turn economy and specialization.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Apollo 13 it's not flashy and overly dramatic but there's a great deal of tension when a system light flicks over from green to red
- the ongoing support the game is getting
- the rulebook as written is not great and the app continues to have some awkward writing in it
- two legacy campaigns as well which contain additional links scenarios
- this game would appeal to a group who appreciates the very real feeling of space exploration
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 6Q-u0ySJC84
Watch It Played general_discussion at 2:16 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 2775 · mention_pk 8112
Click to watch at 2:16 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Cooperative gameplay with strong thematic fit
- Rich scenario variety and replay potential
- Engaging table presence and components
Cons
- Complex setup and rulebook can be heavy for new players
- Steep learning curve and potential downtime between turns
Thematic elements
- cooperative space exploration with survival and resource management
- Mars exploration and settlement
- scenario-driven, episodic narrative with ongoing campaign feel
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection — Choose actions to perform across modules or cards
- cooperative play — Players work together to complete mission objectives
- Resource management — Oxygen, energy, and materials must be allocated and conserved
- scenario-based challenges — Story-driven scenarios guide each session
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- we have funded the seventh season of watch it played
- this is very important to me to me personally this is really the goal that I want the fundraiser to reach
- I'll send you an email to get your full mailing address
- we are back and we are back to work
- so far not very
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–6 of 6