Ark Nova (2021)

How to Play Ark Nova

Ark Nova is played over many turns. During each turn, players pick one of five action cards to play from a slot numbered between one and five. Once played, the card moves to the first slot, and all other cards slide to the right. The higher the numbered slot, the more powerful the action.

The five actions (which can be upgraded to their more powerful version on the other side) are as follows:

Card – Advance the Break token and draw cards from the deck or the board

Build – Purchase and place one or more place building(s) of your choice on your zoo board

Animals – Play animal cards from your hand and/or the board next to your zoo

• In order to play an animal card, an appropriate unoccupied enclosure must be present on your zoo board

Association – Perform one or more association actions, based on the power of the card:

• Increase your reputation, allowing access to more animal cards on the board
• Gain a partner zoo, providing discounts for animals from the partner zoo’s region
• Gain a partner university, increasing your hand limit, reputation and/or research
• Play a green conservation card from your hand or the board

Sponsors – Play one or more blue sponsor cards next to your zoo OR advance the Break token and take money

Your zoo is measured by three tracks—the Reputation Track, as well as an Appeal track, and a Conservation Track. Similar to Rajas of the Ganges, the scoring counters on the Appeal Track and the Conservation Track move towards each other.

When a player’s Appeal and Conservation scoring counters meet, it triggers the endgame. Once the game is over and all bonuses and endgame scoring opportunities are calculated, the player with the highest score wins.

Ark Nova Review

"If you like tactical card games, do yourself a favor and play this game… What makes this game a classic is the way these different mechanisms were blended together to create a unique game that is a joy to play."

Brian Biewer, boardgamequest.com

"There’s no getting around it: Ark Nova is very good. It’s not perfect, and I’m not sure it is the best game to be released in 2021. But if you enjoy your games heavy, featuring lots of meaty decisions, quick turns, a personal zoo, and a buffet of combos available in mid- and late-game turns, you can’t really go wrong with Ark Nova."

Justin Bell, meeplemountain.com

The content of this article is originally from Board Game Geek and boardgamequest.com. For more information as well as a better understanding of the game, you can watch the videos below.