Today, we delve into the realm of Ark Nova. In this review, we will explore the intricacies of Ark Nova, examining its gameplay mechanics, theme, replayability, and production quality. Whether you’re a seasoned board game enthusiast or a newcomer to the hobby, join us as we embark on this journey into the captivating world of Ark Nova. Get ready to build the best zoo!
Let’s do a brief overview of Ark Nova:
Ark Nova, created by renowned game designer Mathias Wigge, takes players on an epic adventure set in a post-apocalyptic world teeming with danger and opportunity. In this section, we will provide a comprehensive overview of Ark Nova, delving into its background, theme, target audience, and components.
Ark Nova is first board game designed by Mathias Wigge. An outstanding one at that. At the moment of writing this review it is ranked 4th all time. And to be honest, that rank sounds about accurate (IMO).
In Ark Nova, players will plan and design a modern, scientifically managed zoo. With the ultimate goal of owning the most successful zoological establishment, players will build enclosures, accommodate animals, and support conservation projects all over the world.
Ark Nova is designed for players aged 12 and above, making it suitable for both seasoned gamers and families looking for an engaging experience. Due to the complexity of the game, I would NOT recommend this to someone who is new to the board gaming hobby. The game accommodates 1 to 4 players, striking a balance between competitiveness and engine building.
Ark Nova provides a variety of components, though none of them stand out. A game board, zoo maps, pips, cubes, etc. The highlight of the game are the 255 cards featuring animals, specialists, special enclosures, and conservation projects, each with a special ability, are at the heart of Ark Nova. Use them to increase the appeal and scientific reputation of your zoo and collect conservation points.
As we delve deeper into this review, we will explore the gameplay mechanics, theme immersion, strategic elements, and other vital aspects that make Ark Nova a standout title in the world of board gaming.
Metrics and Breakdown
Fun (10/10)***
This game is an absolute blast. Often requested to hit the table (especially by my wife and her friends). After playing this over 10 times, it’s still in the top 5.
Replayability (10/10)***
Alluded to above – we’ve played this game around 15-20 times. It’s a lot of fun and has a wide variance. There are 255 cards, multiple different zoo maps, and variance in player chosen actions. No game will be the same (albeit with some similarities). It will take quite a while to see every card (unless you try to). Just learned as of 5/26/23 that an expansion should be coming in Oct 2023!
Art (5/10)**
OK, this is the ding on the game. It’s basically stock art on all the cards/box. The game boards are fine, but everything else looks AI/cheapest route taken for photos/design/art.
Design (8/10)***
A solid mix of card draft, player actions, and puzzle. Nearly every turn matters. Every action has a consequence. Every turn may create a fun engine or chain. It is a basic and an extremely satisfying design .
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 question are:
- CARDS: Allows you to gain new zoo cards (animals, sponsors, and conservation project cards).
- BUILD: Allows you to build standard or special enclosures, kiosks, and pavilions.
- ANIMALS: Allows you to accommodate animals in your zoo.
- ASSOCIATION: Allows your association workers to carry out different tasks.
- SPONSORS: Allows you to play a sponsor card in your zoo or to raise money.
Theme (8/10)***
Who doesn’t love making a zoo? Not only do you design the layout of the park, but also the animals that go in it, what to research, which scientists, and what preservations/donations to make. What a fun experience that takes in to account a wide variety of things a zoo may need to invest in (including attraction) to succeed.
Multiplayer/Interactivity (6/10)*
Similar to Wingspan – there’s very little player interaction in this game. I give it a 6/10 as there are a few things that may create some player interaction (though I do not think it’s in the rules). Kind of like trading (i.e. I’ll play reptiles mainly if you play avian). Overall, it’s definitely not the focus/play of the game.
Originality (6/10)*
I’m not going to say that this is an original game by any means. This game is VERY similar to Dinosaur Island (albeit improved in some ways). It also has similarities to other card based action games like Wingspan or even Scythe. While it is an improvement – and fantastically fun, it is not an original idea.
Quality (5/10)*
Similar to the Art, the quality of the game leaves much to be desired. Nothing stands out by any means. Box, components, cards, etc. All pretty basic. Would love some more featured components. Maybe give each color a bit more identity?
Rules (7/10)*
The rules are a bit dense and not the easiest to get through – but they are fine. It does feel at times that this was a translated rule book vs. native in English. There are several rules and instances that need clarification and more explanation. There are a lot of areas that can also be streamlined. But overall, it’s fine.
Difficulty (5/10)*
Definitely not the game to introduce your new board-gamers to – but also not an insanely complex game either. The rules and setup are a little daunting, but, once you get playing – it becomes relatively simplistic. So I’d definitely put it at around a 50% (5/10) level.
Price (7/10)**
Priced at $65 – Ark Nova is in a good category for affordability compared to the primary (***) categories.
Based on the 10 categories above, Ark Nova generates a score of 70/100. Now remember, this is taking additional factors in to account that some players may not care about when it comes to gaming. The asterisks represent primary concerns for most board gamers when deciding what game to invest in (based on cost per use aka how often it hits the table) – Ark Nova ranks high at 86/100.
Note that the weighted score above (85/100) follows a similar rank as what BGG has it – 8.5.
Impartial Reviews 