As a testament to the game, almost everyone I’ve played with has wanted to own the game after the first play. There is an awful lot of content here including variety and a solo mode. The solo mode is simple to run and doesn’t require a lot of upkeep. For me, I prefer that to a full AI you must run as well as your own turns.

Ark Nova - Wikipedia Ark Nova - Wikipedia

With the return of Essen Spiele after a few covidy years away, we also saw the return of the game’s convention hype train. Allow with the impressive Boonlake and the gorgeous Bitoku, Ark Nova was one of the chosen ones. Early reports coined the phrase ‘Terraforming Zoo’ commenting on the heavy use of cards and the sheer amount included.While this is a simple system, it has an enormous impact on what you play when, rewarding players who enjoy squeezing maximum efficiency out of their every move.

Ark Nova board game review: whip-smart strategy with an enchanting - T3 Ark Nova board game review: whip-smart strategy with an

One thing you will likely get annoyed with at the start of Ark Nova is your limited hand size. This makes it hard to plan any large moves or search for cards to fit your strategy, as the starting hand size of 3 is very restrictive, given the high frequency of breaks near the start of the game. This is why it is a good plan to work the association action up to 4 and take the reputation and increased hand size as soon as possible, as this not only helps you retain more cards, but also stops the other players from being able to build up cards. This is also a good thing to aim for, as one way to take it to the break is with the cards action, which will force your hand count up higher than you may have liked. ConclusionThe Build action allows you to construct an empty enclosure in your Zoo ready to be populated by an animal. The stronger the position of this card will allow you to build bigger enclosures. And this beauty is much more than skin deep. Tactically speaking, it offers a rich and rewarding play, with more than enough variability to keep each playthrough fresh and confounding. Novel systems like its variable-power Action cards also mean it feels distinct from most other titles you can buy and should see you reaching for it on the shelf time and again. Also, despite a gameplay loop built around filling empty enclosures with your unique menagerie, Ark Nova doesn’t feature any components to actually show this. When an enclosure is filled, you simply flip the tile to show it is now occupied or, in the case of aviaries, reptile houses and petting zoos, place a cube on one of the remaining spaces. I can’t help but feel that adding some animal meeples for this purpose would have really helped bring zoos to life – especially as the game already divides its critters up into seven handy categories.

Ark Nova | Board Games | Gathering Games Ark Nova | Board Games | Gathering Games

If you are wondering how you could achieve this and also beat your opponents in the process, this article may help you to get through your first game. Let’s Plan Your Zoo!

Despite you being focused on your zoo there is a healthy amount of interaction through the card display and the association’s board. There are cards and advantages you will need to prioritise. There are also some cards that can have small negative impacts on the other players, but these are easily removed if those sorts of shenanigans don’t float your boat. Lastly, the Sponsors card lets you play sponsor cards which allow you to play sponsor cards, which can give permanent upgrades, unique buildings, end game scoring and so on. A Fish Called Wanda

Ark Nova | Board Game | BoardGameGeek Ark Nova | Board Game | BoardGameGeek

The Sponsorship card allows you to take on new sponsors who might provide more income, discounts on certain animals etc and other very useful benefits. These sponsors have requirements for the strength of your sponsor card. Wingspan designer Elizabeth Hargrave gets a cameo as Ark Nova’s ornithologist. Photo: Charlie Hall/Polygon Once the game end condition is triggered, all players other than the one triggering the end condition will play another round. Once this last round is played, the final scoring will take place. Unbox Ark Nova and you’ll likely be greeted by one thought: the artwork and components are stunning. Every card features captivating artwork – I still descend into paroxysms of cute aggression every time I encounter the slumbering fennec fox or floofy alpaca. And while the images aren’t as unique as Wingspan’s inimitable avian illustrations, they do create the feeling of populating a vibrant, three-dimensional zoo. The Animal Action allows you to place new animals in your empty enclosures. You can even play two animals if this card is in the strongest position.

4 Reviews

Ark Nova is easily one of the best board games I have played in the last few years. I have been driven to it by its beautiful graphics and game mechanics but, most important, as it allows you to build a zoo! Ark Nova is “heavier” than Terraforming Mars, with a weight of rules complexity that is comparable to Gloomhaven, probably the two most commercially successful complex games in the hobby’s modern history. Ark Nova has earned widespread acclaim since its debut at the Essen Game Fair in October, with much of the discussion online revolving around how fast the game has sold out in stores. I’ve played Ark Nova, and it is as good as the hype would have you believe, with plenty of strategy and long-term planning and brief turns to keep it moving. But it’s not one I’ll be breaking out with new or inexperienced board gamers. There are a few niggles here though. The one exception to the generally high production values are the zoo mats themselves: as in Terraforming Mars, they’re constructed from a flimsy, lightweight card that feels destined to get damaged. Given the game generally has such high production values, this seems like an odd misstep on Feuerland’s part. All cards are very self-explanatory and all conditions and effects are listed on them very clearly. A brief summary: 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.