Ark Nova

Dire Wolf Digital

About this game

In Ark Nova, you will plan and design a modern, scientifically managed zoo. With the ultimate goal of owning the most successful zoological establishment, you will build enclosures, accommodate animals, and support conservation projects all over the world. Specialists and unique buildings will help you in achieving this goal.

At the heart of Ark Nova are 255 cards featuring animals, specialists, unique enclosures, and conservation projects, each with a particular ability. Use them to increase the appeal and scientific reputation of your zoo and to collect conservation points. Each player has a set of action cards, which you will use and upgrade to carry out your plans.

Each player has a set of five action cards to manage their gameplay, and the power of an action is determined by the slot the card currently occupies. The cards are:

BUILD: Allows you to build standard or special enclosures, kiosks, and pavilions.

ANIMALS: Allows you to accommodate animals in your zoo.

CARDS: Allows you to gain new zoo cards (animals, sponsors, and conservation project cards).

ASSOCIATION: Allows your association workers to carry out different tasks.

SPONSORS: Allows you to play a sponsor card in your zoo or to raise money.

With high replayability and rich components, Ark Nova provides a remarkable gaming experience that will bring the game to the table again and again.

Ratings and reviews

This works so well on mobile and on tablet. The interface is smooth, but the tutorial is awful. No really. I went into the digital game having played the board game, once, and I mostly struggled with the interface. My human partner almost rage quit twice because the tutorial taught her nothing. And I did the tutorial too and yeah, it's bad. we play often now. You can mix AI with human players too in MP. It's great fun. YouTube a play through on the board game to get the nuisance of the cards.

I'd planned on not purchasing anymore of these games because none of them fit the screen of my phone. I figured I'd try this newer game, simply getting a refund if it also didn't fit. I started the game and was extremely happy I was still seeing the game fit the screen perfectly... I turned off the game and the reasonable time to get a refund pass me by. I turned on the game today, happy it seemed to still fit. That is, up until the 2nd scene of the tutorial, and also during every game.

It's a convenient way to play the game, however, there isn't enough challenges (let alone being remotely even challenging at all). The Special Exhibit single player is trash, as it uses Solo rules. No one likes the solo shortened game. The challenges would be good if there were twice as much and they got harder and harder. Multiplayer just takes too long to bother about. I have similar complaints with the Dune game from these guys. Add way more challenges please!