Ark Nova
About the Game
In Ark Nova, you will plan and design a modern, scientifically managed zoo. With the ultimate goal of owning the most successful zoological establishment, you will build enclosures, accommodate animals, and support conservation projects all over the world. Specialists and unique buildings will help you in achieving this goal. Each player has a set of five action cards to manage their gameplay, and the power of an action is determined by the slot the card currently occupies. The cards in questio
Reviews
Ark Nova
Ark Nova has lived up to the hype for me – but be warned, it’s a beast of a game. It’s a complex engine-builder where you must balance attracting zoo visitors with conservation efforts, and I love that dual scoring system because you can’t ignore either aspect of your strategy. The gameplay is deep, yet each turn is fairly quick thanks to a clever action-card system, so even though my games have lasted 2-3 hours, they haven’t felt sluggish. That said, Ark Nova is heavy in both rules and table space. Our first play felt overwhelming, and the rulebook didn’t explain some icons as clearly as we hoped. Once the iconography clicked, things flowed much better, but teaching this to new players is still daunting. Also, with over 200 unique cards, luck of the draw can influence your fate – I’ve had a game where I just couldn’t draw animals that fit my plan and had to adapt on the fly. There are ways to mitigate bad draws, but it can still sting. And yes, it devours table space and a solid afternoon to play. For me, the payoff is worth it: few games let you build something so rewarding and thematic.
✓ Pros
- • Rich, complex engine-building gameplay with a thematic zoo and conservation twist
- • Brilliant action selection system keeps turns quick and decisions interesting, even in a long game
- • Enormous card variety ensures no two games feel the same and offers endless strategic combos
✗ Cons
- • Very long playtime (often 2-3 hours) and requires a large table space
- • High complexity – steep learning curve and a rulebook that isn’t always clear on iconography
- • Card draw luck can impact progress – sometimes you just don’t draw the cards you need
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