2021 · Card Game
Ark Nova
Players plan and operate a modern, scientifically managed zoo, building enclosures, housing animals, and supporting conservation projects worldwide. Gameplay centers on a personal tableau and five action cards whose effects depend on their slot: draw new zoo cards, construct enclosures and facilities, place animals, send association workers on tasks, and play sponsor cards or fundraise. A large deck of animal, specialist, special enclosure, sponsor, and conservation cards provides unique abilities to boost appeal and scientific reputation. Players balance income, appeal, and conservation points to make their zoo successful and advance global conservation efforts.
- Players
- 1–4 best 2
- Playing time
- 90–150 min
- Age
- 14+
- Complexity
- 3.8 / 5
About the game
- Design
- Publisher
Expansions
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On Ludoya's tables
Full stats in Ludoya- 6,049
- Plays logged
- 2,183
- Players
- 1h 49m
- Average play
- 702
- In collections
- 96
- On wishlists
8.3/10
from 299 Ludoya reviews
zim zhang6.0 The unbalanced unique cards and odd interactions ruined the experience for me. I admit the game integrates its systems skillfully, but the cards—the core of any card game—are its downfall: poorly designed UI, lack of variety, and effects that barely connect to the animal names. Combined with other shortcomings in the components, I can't give it more than a 6/10.
No plays logged
Garfield2.0 Not yet sure if I should buy this. It's very thematic but unfortunately a multiplayer solitaire. It took us 2:45h to finish a 3player game! Beside it's not a very complicated game, but you easily can forget something because you have to keep an eye on so many things. The chance that you play it 100% correctly is about 0,001% [c] Theme: ★★★★☆ <!-- size 7]Very good --> Gameplay: ★★★★☆ <!-- size 7]A good amount of choices but it's getting repetitive --> Interaction: ★☆☆☆☆ <!-- size 7]I would say almost zero --> Artwork: ★★★★☆ <!-- size 7]Very nice cards --> Luck: ★★★☆☆ <!-- size 7]Random cards --> Strategy: ★★★☆☆ <!-- size 7]Not many possibilities --> Components: ★★★☆☆ <!-- size 7]Ok, nothing special --> Play duration: ★☆☆☆☆ <!-- size 7]Far too long --> Easy to teach: ★☆☆☆☆ <!-- size 7]A lot to explain --> Rules quality: <!-- size 7]not read --> Setup time: ★★☆☆☆ <!-- size 7]A lot to setup --> No downtime: ★★★★☆ <!-- size 7]Not much downtime --> Replay value: ★★☆☆☆ <!-- size 7]Random cards --> [/c]
No plays logged
Mestremuten7.0 Rating: 4/5 Production value: 2/4 Is the game in my collection/Love to have?: 1/1
Played it 7 times
Rules questions
Answered from the rulebook by Ludoya's rules assistant.
Do animals have to be next to water/rock or match special-enclosure requirements to be placed?
You must meet all enclosure conditions printed on the Animal card (minimum enclosure size, any water/rock adjacency, and whether it can/should go into a special enclosure); flip or mark the enclosure when placed and execute the animal’s immediate effects (Rulebook p10–11). If you later move animals into a newly built special enclosure, follow the errata rule about flipping the smallest occupied enclosure that meets the requirements (FAQ p1).
What exactly counts as a kiosk being "adjacent" for income, and how much do kiosks pay?
Each break you get 1 money per unique building, special enclosure, occupied standard enclosure, and pavilion that shares at least one side with that kiosk (an empty standard enclosure gives no income) (Rulebook p18). Kiosks must also obey build-placement rules (including the 3-space minimum distance between kiosks) when you place them (Rulebook p9).
When does a break happen and how do the Break track and X-tokens work?
Advance the Break token whenever actions specify; when it reaches the last space you finish your current action and trigger a break where hand limits, worker returns, display replenishment and income are resolved, then the Break token is returned to the start (Rulebook p6, p17–18). You gain an X-token when you move the Break token to the last space, and X-tokens may be spent before performing an action to increase its strength (Rulebook p6–7).
How does Snapping and the reputation/display range work when taking cards?
On the Cards action you always advance the Break token then draw per the action table or, if your slot strength is high enough, you may 'snap' to take exactly one card from the display regardless of reputation (Rulebook p8). If your Cards action is upgraded you may draw within your reputation range (and snap from a lower strength), and your Reputation track determines which folders in the display are within range (Rulebook p8).
Can I gain a third partner zoo (or build on upgrade spaces) from a bonus tile or map ability even if I haven't upgraded Association/Build?
No — requirements printed on your zoo map (e.g., needing an upgraded Association or Build action to take a 3rd partner zoo or to build on upgrade-icon spaces) always apply, regardless of whether the effect comes from a Bonus tile or other source (FAQ p1–p2; Rulebook p6, p13).
Can I play Sponsor cards from the display if I get a bonus that says I may play a Sponsor?
No — you may only play Sponsor cards from your hand unless an action specifically allows playing from the display; when you do play from the display you must pay the folder cost and the card must be within your reputation range (Rulebook p16; FAQ p1).
Score sheet by Ludoya
Ark Nova score sheet
Every scoring category, from the Ludoya kit. On your phone the totals add up by themselves.
Free, on web, Android and iOS
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Game facts (players, playing time, age, credits) from BoardGameGeek.