Ark Nova

Ark Nova is a complex, strategic board game for 1-4 players designed by Mathias Wigge. Published by Capstone Games in 2021, it presents players with the challenge of building and managing a modern, scientifically managed zoo. Players compete to achieve the highest score by contributing to conservation efforts and attracting visitors to their zoo.

The game is played over a variable number of rounds, with players taking turns selecting action cards to perform various tasks. These actions include building enclosures, adding animals to the zoo, sponsoring conservation projects, attracting sponsors, and advancing the zoo's research.

A key element of Ark Nova is the hand of action cards. Each player has a set of action cards that are ranked in strength based on their position in the player's hand. Playing an action moves that card to the leftmost position, weakening it until it is cycled back to the rightmost position for a stronger play.

The game features a dual-track scoring system. Players earn points based on their progress on both a Conservation track and an Attraction track. These tracks intersect, and the game ends when a player's Conservation marker and Attraction marker meet or cross on the score track. The player with the highest score at the end of the game wins.

Ark Nova is notable for its depth and complexity, offering a wide range of strategic options and requiring careful planning and resource management. The game's theme of conservation and animal welfare is integrated into the gameplay, encouraging players to make choices that benefit both their zoo and the environment. The game's length and intricate ruleset typically appeal to experienced board game enthusiasts.