In "Ark Nova," you’ll plan and develop a modern, scientifically oriented zoo. To do this, you’ll build enclosures tailored to animals’ lifestyles and support conservation projects for various species.

About the Board Game "Ark Nova"

This is a complex Eurogame packed with details and nuances. The game impresses with its scale and mechanics. It currently ranks 3rd in the world’s best board games and 3rd among strategy games according to "BoardGameGeek."

Game Overview

By collecting a variety of animals, you’ll boost your zoo’s popularity, advancing along the appeal track and earning more income. Caring for your animals lets you support conservation projects, like breeding programs, which helps you progress on the conservation track and unlocks corresponding bonuses. These tracks move in opposite directions—once your markers meet, the game ends.

The player with the best balance of appeal and conservation scores becomes the owner of the most successful zoo—and the winner! You can collaborate with zoos and universities worldwide through various zoo associations.

Specialists and unique buildings aid you in this goal. Each player has a set of five action cards to manage their gameplay, with the action’s strength determined by the slot the card currently occupies. These cards include:

• Cards: Lets you draw new cards (animals, sponsors, or projects).
• Build: Allows you to construct standard or special enclosures, kiosks, and pavilions.
• Animals: Lets you place animals in your zoo.
• Association: Enables association workers to perform various tasks.
• Sponsors: Allows you to play a sponsor card in your zoo or earn money.

The heart of "Ark Nova" lies in its 255 cards—depicting animals, specialists, special enclosures, and conservation projects—each with unique abilities. Use them to enhance your zoo’s appeal and scientific reputation.

We recommend watching the video rules in the “Video” section and, if desired, exploring the illustrated PDF rules in detail in the “Files” section.

One Last Note

Gallu the Rooster might not recommend this massive, intricate Eurogame with its slew of components and mechanics to beginners, but if you’re unafraid of a challenge or an experienced board game enthusiast, you should absolutely add the brilliant "Ark Nova" to your collection.

If you prefer thematic Eurogames with a gentler learning curve, check out "Distilled", where you’ll restore a rundown distillery and compete for the title of "Master Distiller."