Ark Nova

ARK NOVA is a 2021 HEAVY EURO BOARD GAME designed by MATHIAS WITTIG + published by FEUERLAND SPIELE (Germany, 2021 German edition) + CAPSTONE GAMES (2022 English edition worldwide). It is one of the most acclaimed board games of the 2020s — held TOP-3 ON BOARDGAMEGEEK since 2022 (peaked at #2 behind Brass: Birmingham; still #2-3 in 2026). THEME: Each player runs a MODERN SCIENTIFIC ZOO with dual missions: (a) build attractions + house animals to attract VISITORS (APPEAL score) + (b) fund + partner with GLOBAL CONSERVATION PROJECTS (CONSERVATION score). Game ends when Appeal + Conservation tracks CROSS on a central scoring track. GAMEPLAY: 1-4 players (best 2-3) manage a personal zoo tableau + shared card market. Turn structure: on your turn, ADVANCE ONE OF 5 ACTION CARDS from your bottom-of-mat row (Animals, Association, Build, Cards, Sponsors) — the card at strongest slot 5 gives maximum action; slots 1-4 give weaker versions. Then move card to slot 1 + shift others up. This 'ROLE ROTATION' engine forces careful action-order planning. ACTIONS: (1) BUILD zoo enclosures on your hex-based zoo map (small, medium, large; requires money + hexes); (2) ANIMALS (play animal cards into matching enclosures — cost money, gives Appeal + effects); (3) CARDS (draw + choose from display or discard-restock); (4) ASSOCIATION (advance on Association track for extra actions + partners + workers + reputation); (5) SPONSORS (play sponsor/scientist/expert cards for ongoing benefits). CONSERVATION PROJECTS: separate deck of world-conservation projects (Save the Panda, Amur Leopard, Save the Rhino, etc.) — spend animal-count + money to complete + score BIG Conservation VP + immediate bonuses. UNIVERSITY + WORKERS + REPUTATION: side systems that unlock advanced actions. VICTORY: game ends when your APPEAL cube on scoring track meets/crosses your CONSERVATION cube (they start at opposite ends). Final score = difference — highest total wins. HIGHLY INTERACTIVE via shared card display + conservation project competition + market timing. RECEPTION: (1) BGG #2 overall multiple months 2022-2024; (2) DEUTSCHER SPIELE PREIS 2022 (Germany's connoisseur award — top German game); (3) SPIEL DES JAHRES 2022 (Kennerspiel nominated but not won); (4) GOLDEN GEEK BEST STRATEGY 2022 winner; (5) DICE TOWER Game of the Year 2022. EXPANSIONS: (a) ARK NOVA: MARINE WORLDS (2024) adds aquatic enclosures, dolphins, orcas, deep-sea creatures + new conservation projects; (b) small promos + fan-made scenarios. DIGITAL VERSION planned but not yet released (as of 2026). Board Game Arena implementation available.

Game ends when APPEAL cube + CONSERVATION cube meet on central Break track. Final score = spread between them (Conservation - Appeal typically; can be negative).

Win condition · Player with highest final spread wins. Ties broken by remaining money.

Player zoo mats are hex-grid maps with pre-printed rock/water features; enclosures placed as multi-hex tiles; central display shows 6 face-up cards + Association track + Break scoring line; conservation project deck + display separate.

• Base game (Capstone/Feuerland edition)

  $70-90 USD; premium quality; ~200 unique animal + sponsor cards

• Central shared board + card display

  Break scoring track + Association track

• Player zoo mats (hex grids) × 4

  Pre-printed rocks + waterways

• Enclosure tiles + kiosk/pavilion/reptile-house tiles

  Multi-hex shapes

• 300+ cards: 128 animal + sponsor + conservation projects

  Unique effects on each

• Money + reputation cubes + workers + partner tokens

  Standard cubes

• Rulebook + Appendix (card clarifications)

  Extensive; digital wiki maintained by fans

• Ark Nova: MARINE WORLDS expansion (2024)

  Adds aquatic enclosures + marine animals

• Balance Appeal + Conservation carefully

  Getting too far ahead on one delays end-game and lets opponents catch up on the other. Ideal = both advance together.

• Action card order matters

  Plan slot-5 usage 2-3 turns ahead; the card at slot 5 gives max power, but rotating expensive cards to slot 1 costs turns.

• Rock enclosures for high-Appeal animals

  Big cats + apes need specific enclosure types + continents; plan zoo map early.

• Conservation projects have deadlines (top 3 in display)

  Focus on ones you can realistically complete first — 1st completion often gives biggest reward.

• Workers + partners multiply actions

  Association track climb amplifies late-game efficiency.

• Card synergies (tags)

  Cards with matching tags (mammal + Africa + herbivore) unlock discount + effect chains.

Appeal

Zoo attractiveness track — scored via animals + attractions.

Conservation Points (CP)

Scoring track from conservation projects.

Break

End-game trigger — when Appeal + Conservation cubes meet on central track.

Association

Track granting workers, partners, universities, reputation.

X-Token

Universal action modifier from Association.

Kiosk / Pavilion / Reptile House

Special buildings that grant Appeal or effects.

Partner Zoo

Association benefit; helps complete conservation projects.

Tag / Continent / Diet

Animal card properties for synergies + requirements.

• BGG Top-3 Ranked Game 2022-2026

  ongoing · worldwide · since 2022

• Deutscher Spiele Preis 2022 Winner

  annual · Germany · since 2022

• Golden Geek Best Strategy 2022 Winner

  annual · worldwide · since 2022

• Dice Tower Game of the Year 2022

  annual · USA · since 2022

• Kennerspiel des Jahres 2022 Nominee

  annual · Germany · since 2022

• Board Game Arena online

  ongoing · worldwide · since 2023

• 🇩🇪Germany
• 🇺🇸United States
• 🇬🇧United Kingdom
• 🇫🇷France
• 🇮🇹Italy
• 🇪🇸Spain
• 🇵🇱Poland
• 🇳🇱Netherlands
• 🇯🇵Japan
• 🇦🇺Australia
• 🇨🇦Canada

• Feuerland Spiele (German publisher)

  Founded 2009 · Germany

• Capstone Games (English publisher)

  Founded 2015 · USA

• BoardGameGeek (community rating authority)

  Founded 2000 · USA

• BoardGameGeek — Ark Nova— BGG
• Capstone Games — Ark Nova— Capstone Games
• Feuerland Spiele — Ark Nova— Feuerland Spiele
• Wikipedia — Ark Nova— Wikipedia