Ark Nova
Ark Nova
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Free delivery on orders over €70
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Perfect gift
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| 1 to 4 players | 90 to 120 min | 14 years and older |
Ark Nova is an expert board game focused on management, strategy, and zoo simulation, where each player designs and develops a modern, scientifically managed zoological park. In this iconic title from Super Meeple, you will need to plan your actions, welcome animals, build enclosures, gain the support of patrons, and support global conservation projects. Thanks to deep mechanics of hand management, engine building, and action optimization, each game is a rich and immersive strategic challenge that rewards long-term planning.
How to play the game Ark Nova?
Game Setup
- Take out all components:main board,association board,double-sided player mats,255 cards (animals, sponsors, conservation projects, specialists, etc.),enclosure tiles,buildings,money tokens,volunteers and markers, as well as thefinal objective cards.
- Each player takes apersonal zoo mat(front or back for a different challenge), as well as the tracking markers.
- Place shared elements (available Zoo cards, enclosures, conservation modules, etc.) within reach of everyone; determine the play order and prepare thePause/Breaktrack.
Gameplay outline
Ark Novais played in successive rounds, where each player activates an action by placing one of their Action cardsin the corresponding position of their personal area. The effectiveness of each action depends on the position of the Action card, which progresses as you reuse it.
The actions include:
- Buildingenclosures, kiosks, and unique buildings in your zoo, necessary to house animals and attract visitors.
- Playing cardsto obtain new animals, sponsors, or conservation projects that give you strategic advantages and objectives to fulfill.
- Housing animalsin appropriate enclosures, generating attractivenessand synergies with other cards and objectives.
- Association, which allows sending volunteers to universities or partners to gain scientific reputation, unlock bonuses, or help validate projects.
- Sponsors, to play patron cards offering resources, income, or specific objectives.
Each action impacts the race between the Appeal track (visitors) and the Conservation track (protection projects): when they cross, the game will soon end, but good planning will have maximized your conservation and appealpoints.
Win/Loss Condition
La partie prend fin lorsque les marqueurs des pistes d’Attractivité et de Conservation se croisent ou que tous les joueurs ont épuisé leurs possibilités d’actions significatives. On comptabilise alors :
- Les points d’Attractivité obtenus en attirant visiteurs grâce à vos installations et animaux.
- Les points de Conservation obtenus en complétant des projets à l’échelle mondiale.
- Les bonus fournis par certains sponsors ou cartes spéciales.
Le joueur avec le meilleur équilibre entre attractivité et conservation remporte la partie, devenant le directeur de zoo le plus performant.
Our Tips for Winning
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Plan your long-term actions
Choosing when to activate each Action card is crucial: anticipate how your engine will evolve before focusing solely on immediate gains.
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Seek the balance between attractiveness and conservation
Focusing too much on attractiveness (visitors) can lead you to neglect conservation points, and vice versa. A balanced strategy will maximize your end points.
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Leverage synergies between maps
Intelligently combine animals, sponsors, and conservation projects to create powerful combosthat produce additional effects or shorten your progression.
FAQ – All about Ark Nova
What makes Ark Nova unique among management games?
It's an elegant fusion of resource management, deck-building, and spatial placement, all centered around creating a modern zoo, with mechanics that intertwine deeply to form a rich strategic engine.
What's the typical game length?
Prepare for sessions lasting approximately 90 to 150 minutesdepending on the pace of your decisions and the number of players at the table.
Does the game offer good replayability?
Yes: with 255 unique cards, different strategic combinations and varied objectives, each game offers new dynamics and unprecedented challenges.
Can one optimize their score according to objectives?
Some games add final Objective cardsor bonus conditions; adjusting your strategy based on these objectives can strongly influence your final score.