Ark Nova Board Game Review

Join us as we take a look a the zoo simulator board game Ark Nova

[@YetiInTheMist]

Just picked this up and am looking really forward to getting this to the table! Your reviews are always refreshing and I appreciate your honesty. Keep up the great work!

[@MisterAbysmul]

This became my favorite game after about 8 plays now, my wife said it’s her number 2. The rules clicked for us, half way through the rules we felt like we got the game. Great honest video as usual!

[@BoardGameBollocks]

I was sceptical due to the hype but turned out to be great.

[@mattgreenwood776]

The only review that I trust…..thank you.

[@SenseiDecay]

This is my wifes favorite board game even though I almost always win, and my wife really doesn't like to lose, so that speaks to the quality of this game.

[@dreamofempire2114]

I really do appreciate your no frills approach to your reviews. You’re a funny bleeder as well!

[@lawofgravity1979]

“The IQ of a cabbage” 😂 I think you sell yourself short tho - I always admire how you remember so many details in your opening breakdown of every game you cover. All that aside, I agree that this game is great. You’re always fair and call it how you see it so a thumbs up from you carries weight always. Great review! Cheers from the US

[@BoardGameBollocks]

👍🏻

[@MoriMemento117]

I think you're right about the comparisons between Ark Nova and Terraforming Mars being somewhat illogical. Wingspan is another one that comes to mind. These games only really share in common the concept of a large deck of cards. That and they are all engine builders (though that term is so broad, it is kind of meaningless). However, I will say that the feel of those three games are quite similar. If you like one, chances are you'll be inclined to like the others. My girlfriend has all three of them in her top 5 games of all time, for example. I will say though that the game design that went into Ark Nova is just stellar. They got a river-action selection system... a polynomial player board... a freaking worker placement mini-game up on the association board(!)... just a plethora of great game design and implementation. Oh, and the conservation cards are so brilliant. Unlike Terraforming Mars where you just spend money for the end game goals (milestones and awards). In Ark Nova you have to send your scientist worker to that spot - the hardest one to get to. AND you have to usually give up getting more alliances with other zoos and universities temporarily which can be a killer early game. It is such a tense decision!

[@ThisIDig]

They should make a dinosaur version of this game, where dinos can get loose and cause havoc…

[@ElephantTrap]

Check Dinosaur world ;)

[@21cabbage93]

Dinosaur Island and Dinosaur World are both Great games

[@oliverowenragg7186]

I thought my brain was going to explode when we first staring playing. So many icons grrrrrrrr. But what a game one of my favorite !!

[@JonoNZBoardGamer]

It is surprising how most videos/reviews on this game are positive even from people who don't expect to like it. It doesn't look like a game for me atm, but might pick up a copy in a couple years time

[@mrbovinejoni569]

that rulebook toss was 👌

[@michaelmueller260]

Yeah I'm always wary when the hype builds up so fast like it did for this game, but it looks like the real deal. Good stuff as always!

[@timjones990]

You had me worried for a bit with your "what we don't like". I just bought this yesterday without any major research but glad you give it the thumbs up. Also "KZbin channel toss fests" did me in. Lets see if it gets to the table.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

👍🏻

[@timjones990]

@@BoardGameBollocks had this on the table now for 2 days for a self teach, I see what you mean by about the learning curve. Id say out of all my collection this one has to have the most iconography to learn, some of which I found/find quite hard to find a working explanation for in the rulebook. spot on review as always.

[@mchamberlain7408]

I really wanna get this but all my mates zone out twenty seconds after a rules explanation 😂

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Pat for the course here

[@db5823]

I think I had a stroke at the 2 min & 30 sec mark. Somehow the subject changed to filling your coffee mug and having break times ... I feel like I spaced out for a minute and missed something. And then you recommend it. Damn it. I guess I'll have to see if there's someone who can bring it to a table.

[@shortydancer]

Whoa the hype is real?! I’m impressed. I’m going to have to try it.

[@angioman64]

I found it really hard to give a shit about conservation points - I fckn love ivory and the taste of swan. I just try to get as many appeal points as possible and keep the animals in tiny cages.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Conservation has a bigger ratio interns of appeal at the end of the game. Always worth chasing them imho

[@rurugby]

I'm still curious about this game but it sounds like a while to figure it out. I still can't understand Race for the Galaxy.

[@Wolcik3000]

I don't know why but I get my head around the rules as they don't click to me when I just hear them out

[@atomicall]

For me this game lasted so long, I suppose my group was playing it wrong but it took like an hour to hit the first break. Maybe I should play it solo and see what’s going wrong.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Takes us about 3-4 hours and I don’t mind that with this one as it’s that good.

[@MoriMemento117]

@@BoardGameBollocks I also feel that the speed of the game kicks up once you get a hold of the mechanics. The first play was a bit of a slog for us. It is really hard to know what is even going on in your first play let alone do it fast.

[@kosterix123]

13:15 lovely, your comment made me grin ear to ear ♥

[@dabearz27]

I really like this one, but a friend of mine says it isn't interactive enough. I tend to enjoy games where you can mess with others, but it didn't seem to bother me here.

[@nappynut]

Great review. I agree, this is my favorite game to make me feel dumb.

[@enjoythestruggle]

'Lesser flamingo'. Poor creature.

[@JonTripp115]

The thunderous card drop and the amazing rule book toss, that's good video work. I wonder how many months before I will be able to get a copy of this?

[@BoardGameBollocks]

It’s available in the UK again

[@theshogunstein6475]

you are going to end up with 10,000 subs!

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Would be nice but there’s other things that are more important.

[@theshogunstein6475]

@@BoardGameBollocks can I get 25 of your fans so I can get to 500!

[@daleprather3026]

Great review! Thank you. I was hoping it wouldn't live up to the hype so I didn't have to try it. I always see a group starting this at the beginning of a game night and when I leave at the end of the night, they're still playing and they look drained. That has kept me away so far. Does it really take forever to play?

[@BoardGameBollocks]

It’s long but I never feel drained after playing. It’s just over an hour per player once you know what your doing. Not too bad.

[@theshogunstein6475]

"toss fests" great term

[@Mark-jagger]

Yep, this is a fantastic game. Huge hype but truly deserved. Also, I’m not that smart but I found the game relatively easy to digest and play. My 11 year old picked it up quite easily too and plays it very well so I’m not sure what that says except, perhaps, don’t be too intimidated by this one people!

[@Liveforfilms]

Great review.

[@cabalpaxiarch7239]

Ι understand your point about the lack of the human element, with no one coming to see your zoo. It really does feel like it's something that missing. What I don't understand is what you mean that you have the same criticism for Dinosaur Island. All those little yellow visitors (and occasional pink hooligan) are there to see your park and pay their hard earned money for the ticket (and possible the chance to be eaten alive). Is your criticism that it's too abstract and doesn't feel thematic?

[@BoardGameBollocks]

They don’t look human to me. Pegs on a cribbage board. They don’t do anything but stand there. Bummer.

[@petermillen6924]

Accepting that this is not among the worst of the eurotrash, but it still has some of the signals such as separate player tableaux abstracted victory points and weak interaction between players. Besides I already own four zoo games including David Attenborough Zoo Quest so I will save my £8.99, or whatever.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Better than Blue Zoo I suppose…

[@theshogunstein6475]

I am going to need a bigger table.....

[@yuarthur455]

This vs terraforming mars? Ps thanks for the high quality review!

[@BoardGameBollocks]

This

[@willmolinar]

No bullshit here, but great review!

[@JonDelArroz]

Damn high praise.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Great game 👍🏻

[@andrewww3389]

Really wasnt a fan of this one. The game is far too long for how random things are. Also I dont really feel like the game ramps up which makes it feel like it doesnt earn its length.

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Different strokes mate

[@dilatedbeholder3865]

You not at the UK Expo this year?

[@BoardGameBollocks]

Training for a 100 mile ultra marathon so couldn’t make it.

[@GGdeTOURS37]

We didn't like this game, mostly when playing more than 2 ... Sold it back!

[@BoardGameBollocks]

😲😳😐

[@Paul-ro6py]

Thanks for going to the effort to make this review. Just not a a game for me.

[@yuarthur455]

Horus heresy

[@martyn4576]

BOLLOCKS!!!!

[@the_justifier4788]

Fidly in the head... Ya right.