Ark Nova – The best zoo builder ever?

Ark Nova Review: 

Build Your Dream Zoo in This Deep Card-Driven Strategy Game

Why the Game Works

Ark Nova is a zoo-building game with a huge amount of strategy under the cute animals. You build enclosures, bring in animals, support conservation projects and attract visitors. It feels like a tycoon game and a puzzle at the same time.

Each turn you play one of five action cards: Cards, Build, Animals, Association or Sponsors. The strength of the card depends on where it sits in your row. After you use it, it goes back to the weakest spot. So you plan when to use powerful actions.

In my first game, I built a lovely zoo. Then I looked at my opponent’s conservation projects and realized I was behind. My zoo looked great and I still lost. Painful. Fun.

It is very deceiving in looks. Ark Nova looks very cute and approachable. But it is a game with a lot of moving pieces and tags all over the place and small rules that needs to be remembered. A lot of condtions to be meet before some actions can be done rightfully.
I have played around 200 games of Ark Nova and are still missing rules or misinterpreting rules.

The production is top nootch and you get a huge amount of for the price.

The variability and how much a game is the same every play. My around 200 games played of Ark Nova is a testament to why I´ve it doesnt get boring and repetitive.

Although a tip is to make sure you watch for the Global Projects. try to complete them as fast as possible and before the other players.
Projects are extremely good and gives you a good boost.
Upgrading cards and getting new Assosiation worker is vital for victory.

Some times just take a project for its smallest value to give you that early boost.

Gameplay & Rules in a Nutshell

Teach this one in layers. Start with the action cards. They are the engine of the game.

• Cards: Draw animal and sponsor cards, or take from the display.
• Build: Place enclosures on your zoo map. They cost money and fill the grid.
• Animals: Play animal cards into enclosures. You gain appeal and sometimes conservation points.
• Association: Do partner zoo, university or conservation project tasks.
• Sponsors: Play sponsor cards for money and special effects.

The game ends when a player’s appeal and conservation points cross on the score track. The player with the best score then wins. It takes a few turns to get the flow.

Who Is This Game For?

• Players: 1–4
• Playing time: roughly 90–150 minutes
• Complexity: heavy, around 3.7 out of 5 on BGG weight
• Age: 14+

It suits strategy fans and animal lovers who do not mind a big rulebook. Beginners should expect a learning curve and plenty of card text.

By my experience. It is good 3 or 4 players. But it really excels as a 2 player game.
The head to head competition for the global projects is very fun and easier to grasp the game and turns are very quick.

A 2 player game could be played in under 1 hour. While at higher player counts you are looking at 1,5-2 hours of play.

Why Is This Game Good?

Players praise the card-driven engine building and the many ways to score. Replay value is huge, because there are hundreds of cards. Reviewers also love the theme, which matches the mechanics, and the solo mode gets good marks too.

And a big plus is the theme. Who havent thought about having and building a Zoo in their life? I for sure has and I know my wife has also. She saw the game and said yeeeeessss. I want to try it, it looks soooo cute.
but knowing her and her limited attention span and rules overhead that this game has. I have been hessitated to play it with her…. for now. Some day.

As this is a very involved and complex game. At least if you want to play it well.

Downsides: lots of icons, a long first game, and downtime with slower players. Some also find the card text overwhelming at first.

My Verdict

Ark Nova is rich, clever and charming. It asks a lot from you, and it pays back. If you want a deep game that will last for years, get it. Highly recommended for heavy-game lovers.

And for 2-players which in my opinion is where it really shines

Buy at Amazon