Thursday, May 02, 2024

#39: Ark Nova (Mark's Top 100 2024)


Ark Nova

  • rank: 4
  • rating: 8.5
  • published: 2021
  • designers: Matthias Wigge
Print Status
  • in print
Why It's On The List
  • While Ark Nova has similarities to Terraforming Mars (i.e. buckets of cards, build your engine, resource management), it is very much its own entrancing creation. The puzzle of how to build my zoo while building conservation initiatives tickles my brain.
Tips & Tricks:
    • The solo game is absorbing and the multiplayer game (with 2-3 players) is great fun. (I’d avoid four players due to downtime.) 
    • While you can over-focus on developing an income stream, you can certainly err in the other direction and find yourself forced into helping the other players to generate enough $ to compete.
    • Don't let the perfect way to play a card become the enemy of the good - sometimes, it's better to get something on the table than delay in order to get the maximum benefit. (And sometimes, it's not. Life is like that.)
    Extras
    • The Marine Worlds expansion is highly recommended if you're a fan of the game - better bits, corrected cards, added marine animals without overwhelming the game system... and the enhanced action cards add some really interesting twists.
    • The Zoo Pack just adds a couple of new park blueprints - but as much as I've played this solo, I welcome the additional variety.
    • Zoo-themed games that were ranked from 101-200 on my list (seriously, I like zoo-themed games!):
      • #123 - O Zoo le Mio
      • #134 - Habitats
      • #146 - Drôles de Zèbres
      • #199 - Aquaretto

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