Ark Nova is quite a heavy strategy game that rewards good planning ahead. It’s made it’s way into the top 10 rated board games on BGG as I write this.
So here’s a quick look at what Ark Nova is like along with several board games that you may enjoy that are similar to it!
What is Ark Nova and Why is it a Top 10 Rated Board Game?
Here’s some quick info about Ark Nova along with several of it’s accolades.
Ark Nova – Board Game Overview
Designer: Mathias Wigge
Publisher: Feuerland Spiele / Capstone Games
Players: 1–4
Play Time: 90–150 minutes
Complexity: Heavy Eurogame
Released: 2021
What Type of Game Is Ark Nova?
Ark Nova is a strategic Eurogame centered on zoo building, conservation, and engine-building. Players act as modern zoo managers, balancing financial growth with ecological responsibility — a theme that’s both fresh and deeply integrated into the gameplay.
Core Gameplay Mechanics
- Action Selection System:
Each player has five multi-use action cards (e.g., Build, Animals, Cards, Sponsors, Association) that become stronger the longer they’re left unplayed. Timing when to trigger each action is key. - Tile Placement:
Players design and expand their zoo on a personal board by placing enclosures, pavilions, and kiosks to optimize space and bonuses. - Hand Management & Card Drafting:
Animal, sponsor, and project cards form a massive deck (~200 unique cards), so choosing the right combos is crucial. - Engine Building:
Every decision strengthens your “zoo engine” — improving income, card efficiency, and conservation scoring opportunities. - Conservation Theme:
Instead of pure point-scoring, Ark Nova uses two tracks — Appeal (public attraction) and Conservation (ecological impact). The game ends when these two tracks meet, a clever twist that keeps scores tight and pacing dynamic.
Why It’s Popular
- Deeply strategic but intuitive once learned
- Hugely replayable due to hundreds of unique cards
- Strong thematic integration — you feel like you’re managing a zoo
- Solo and multiplayer modes both shine
- Often described as a blend of Terraforming Mars, Wingspan, and Gloomhaven in terms of strategic depth and card variety
Ark Nova’s Top Board Game Awards & Recognition
- Golden Geek Game of the Year (2022)
- BoardGameGeek Rank: Consistently in the Top 5 of all time since 2023
- Spiel des Jahres Kennerspiel nominee (Expert Game of the Year)
Ark Nova Boar Game Genre Summary
| Category | Type |
|---|---|
| Primary Genre | Eurogame |
| Sub-genres | Engine Building, Tile Placement, Hand Management |
| Theme | Modern Zoo Management & Conservation |
| Complexity | Heavy Strategy |
| Best For | 1–4 players who enjoy long, thoughtful games with synergy and planning |
9 Strategy Board Games Like Ark Nova
1. Terraforming Mars
Build corporations, play unique cards, and develop Mars into a habitable planet. The closest cousin to Ark Nova — same sense of long-term engine-building and synergy discovery.
2. Wingspan
Collect and play bird cards to build powerful ecosystems. It’s lighter but shares the same peaceful, nature-based theme and combo-driven mechanics.
3. Everdell
A gorgeous forest city-building game using cards, resources, and worker placement. It’s like a more approachable, fantasy-flavored version of Ark Nova’s engine-building.
4. Underwater Cities
Build undersea metropolises by linking cards with actions. From designer Vladimír Suchý, it’s often called “Terraforming Mars underwater.”
5. Earth
A newer nature-themed engine-builder with hundreds of unique plant and animal cards. Quick to play, incredibly synergistic, and clearly inspired by Ark Nova and Wingspan.
6. Viticulture: Essential Edition
Run a vineyard—plant vines, harvest grapes, and fulfill wine orders. A thematic Eurogame about efficient planning and economic growth.
7. The Castles of Burgundy
Classic Stefan Feld Euro about tile placement and optimizing your estate. Tight, puzzle-like gameplay with strong engine and spatial planning elements.
8. Ecos: First Continent
Build and shape a shared world with card-based powers. Combines nature theme with simultaneous engine-building.
9. Maracaibo
Design trade routes, explore the Caribbean, and develop your career. Deep, card-driven Euro with multi-turn planning, similar to Ark Nova’s strategic flow.
My Thoughts on Ark Nova and Board Games Like it
It’s hard to argue with the countless times Ark Nova stays in the top 10 of board gaming lists. If you have the time to learn this deep strategy game, then I think it’s worth it!
The theme seems really fun given how much Zoo Tycoon I played on PC as a kid.
I hope you enjoy Ark Nova and some games like it!
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