Ark Nova Review

[@NoPunIncluded]

This video is sponsored by Skillshare. The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: skl.sh/nopunincluded03221

[@TheGlassesPush]

You two are consistently informative and entertaining. I find myself disagreeing with your opinions more than I agree, yet I keep watching because your opinions are very well-founded. Thanks for elevating the medium and the hobby.

[@charlietwoteas3676]

This just solidified to me that I'll definitely play this if a friend gets a copy but its not something I need in my own collection.

[@Cerhob]

I just came back from a Union action this weekend where we were shouting the whole "what do we want?" "a fair contract!" when do we want it? "now!" so that bit made me laugh way more than it should have any right to.

[@joeferreti9442]

"That's not game design, that's a hostage situation!" :D

[@Penceos]

I've been treating it like Race for the Galaxy; when I see a card with two requirements in my opening draw it's probably a discard. If the game didn't let you turn part of the public display into part of your "hand" with upgraded cards, it would probably be a bit TOO random. I like that mechanism a lot, actually.

[@travisdhall77]

I think the problem you mention is pretty common to engine builders. I've had the same thing happen with wingspan and terraforming Mars. I think Race for the Galaxy got around this best with the +5 search feature, and later, the Draw till you get X feature. It's frustrating to pull a card early game and get excited by the possibilities, then proceed to see nothing to support it for the rest of the game. Especially if that frustration lasts two hours.

[@albertoverduzco9105]

I've having a bad time recently and this video just brighten my life a little. I had lots of laughs watching it. I'm still waiting for my copy, I can't wait to play it. But besides the review, I just love watching all the energy that is put in each video. I'm grateful for having the opportunity to be a spectator of this amazing channel.

[@donbooger]

Good review, I like Ark Nova and have played it 3 times. I ended up rating it higher each play, I went from a 7 to an 8.5 to a 9 on the third play. I agree that Ark Nova is not as strategic as it first appears, its a reactionary tactical game primarily. My third play for example, my starting cards looked primed and ready to build predators from Asia. 2 hours later I won the game primarily with a fully stocked bird aviary and releasing a few lizards into the wild for conservation. In Ark Nova you do what the cards tell you to do, I haven't even built a petting zoo yet. I certainly want to, but the cards haven't come up at the right time that make building a petting zoo a good idea. Thats Ark Nova, you don't do what you want, you do whats needed and if you do it faster and cheaper then everyone else you win. I still think the game is great but the lack of strategy did take me by suprise in a game this heavy.

[@kanedafx]

I have a lot of design problems with Ark Nova, especially about the way you can luck into cards that work with your strategy...or not. And it doesn't have a drafting mechanism like Terraforming Mars to help mitigate that. But the game is heckin fun in spite of this. It's definitely not something to play if you want a pure skill game, but we play to have fun, and in that way I think the huge deck is actually a strength since there's so much content to explore.

[@ErikTheViking]

perhaps separating the deck in threes and flipping the first card on each like Wingspan could help mitigate that luck maybe

[@kanedafx]

@@DavidWiley7 I am well aware, but I don't know anyone who plays without the draft (which is not to say there's groups that don't).

[@melski9205]

I've been thinking of splitting the deck into early, mid and later game decks. Lots of games do this, then you don't get those cards you'll never want at the start in your hand... I recon increasing the card pick up might help too. I personally enjoy just having fun with it though, but I agree with the criticism too.

[@RvLeshrac]

@@kanedafx Ever since drafting was introduced, it became the primary way to play. At this point, the non-drafting is the "variant."

[@KesSharann]

There's no drafting mechanism built into Ark (which is necessary in TM) but the discard deck is available (with card powers) and the market is a whole other shared hand of cards that the players are responsible for cycling.

[@klapaucius7339]

I think you nailed this. We have it, and it was fun until I could not get going. And then when I did get going, it still did not benefit me. Building the zoo is fun, dealing with the scoring is just disappointing. Too many cards with not enough ability to make them work together. Maybe instead of an expansion, it needs a contraction. To be honest, after three plays, I am not that keen on playing it again.

[@ErikTheViking]

The deck being huge brings a ton of replayability, and I don't think you're supposed to pick a strategy on the first turn and stick to it the whole game, you're supposed to improvise with the cards you get

[@KesSharann]

@@elqord.1118 Race has you pivoting because of the card deck. Even an experienced player can end up with a score in the teens simply because of card draw. No amount of "draw 7 keep 1" coupled with "mix hand" has gotten me out of a bad game. Had a couple games where I got 8+ military and the deck refused to give me any red planets higher than a 2. Many of those have 1 victory point on them. I've played hundreds of games of Race and sometimes there's nothing you can do against bad card draw.

[@DerekHohls]

@@KesSharann But Race is usually a short game; the same of randomness around card draws is offset by the very long play time of Ark Nova. *That* is the key difference that Efka is trying to highlight (I see other comments in this thread making the same point).

[@esarandom]

Totally has similarities to another hit, Terraforming Mars, and as someone pointed out, Race for the Galaxy. A plethora of cards you want to draw and do neat combos with... but totally depends on card draw luck. Race for the Galaxy gives you effects to increase cards seen with "draw X, pick 1" effects, and many people play Terraforming Mars with a drafting variant. This mitigates the possibility of eternally drawing junk which does not work with your engine. I'm excited if and when someone comes up with a similar house rule or an official expansion rule to Ark Nova. - Maybe increase cards drawn with Cards action but discard more...? Which would make card draw abilities in the animals seem weaker and you still might end up with gunk. - Maybe make snapping easier from the get go so you can snap that one perfect card? - Somehow discarding cards from the card row before Break? This would create take-that discarding: Oh you need that predator? Too bad if something happened to it... Oh well, smarter people than me will figure this out I hope.

[@knightshade4330]

Doing a draw in terraforming mars, where toy get your cards, choose one, pass the rest left and repeat, really helps remove luck. Can you do that in this game at all.

[@StuartHetzler]

100% agreed with your criticisms. nothing sucks more than drawing a starting hand of entirely sponsor cards or drawing all animals but none of them get you closer to the starting conservation projects. i know the game has major hype, and I do like it, but it is way more random than its advocates are willing to admit

[@cadiboy04]

“You must gather your party before venturing forth” LOL

[@skkeeper]

They could do what one of the mini viticulture expansions did and remove the entire deck (or even partially) and add cards that would make a more cohesive experience. In any case, great video!

[@JDarkona]

Funny how I've always had the same exact problem with Terraforming Mars. Giant deck, impossible to plan stuff. Doesn't feel like I have projects and a PLAN to Terraform Mars, I'm just doing things.

[@yamahkogribbis6212]

House rule to draw double the cards and put half of those cards at the bottom of the deck. Would not ensure you get that bear but at least nearly double your chances.

[@tobiaslunte6992]

The card draw mechanism already includes drawing X cards and then discarding Y cards. The problem is that it's _still_ too unreliable. There could be house rules that say both X and Y get a permanent +1 or something, but at some point you have to wonder whether digging through even more random cards is the right way to go.

[@LifeUntilLove]

I certainly related with the deck being too big to be usable. I have played a lot of Terraforming Mars solo and it highlights how much you absolutely need drafting or large draws to make things viable. There are times when it is simply not possible to win because I never drew enough ocean cards and didn't have the cash to buy them all. It is a super frustrating experience, made worse the longer the playtime was.

[@GoodGamesPublishing]

Another great and insightful review that showcases the joy and the niggles players might have. But the endless prerequisite loop fadeout had me literally crying with joy.

[@Telanis6]

I never thought I'd hear a St. Peter joke combined with Baldur's Gate - wonderful, well done

[@thereelaristotle]

When I first saw a playthrough of this back in October 2021 I immediately said to myself: "most of this is right up my alley but the combo of the massive deck, the very small hand size and stagnation of the card row and the frequency of playing cards with a useless effect already have me skeptical". It seems like those things are downsides. At least in TFM you're always drawing more cards than you're actually adding to your hand and their are standard projects to allieviate things like not drawing any power cards. In here it seems like you're really at the mercy of the deck.

[@Nasher1976PSN]

Perhaps what would help is during the break phase if players drafted 3 or 4 cards like in TM

[@madisbacks1945]

I loved your Baldur's Gate reference! To respond to your "bear situation": This was a typical mistake to make. In Ark Nova there are card synergies that work well early, mid and late in the game. It is a viable strategy, to hold onto your later game cards first and focus on something completely different in the start. Shuffle through strategies, one might say. There's no indicator for that on the material, so I see your point. Once you get a grip for this distinction the game feels a lot more intuitive. Thank you so much for your wonderful work!

[@Fluxquark]

Would splitting up the deck in different categories (continent or animal type) help mitigate the deck problem? And maybe the top card of each deck is open? That way you have some influence over what kinds of animals you draw.

[@DerekHohls]

A few face-up cards from each card type, of a split deck, would be a good start at alleviating it. This a mechanism common to many card-based games.

[@j_atkinson]

Another great critical review. I was wondering what the hype was all about. I like a lot of the mechanisms in here, but your constructive criticisms do give me pause about buying this game. I'll definitely have to try before I buy, and I may wait for the so-called "one expansion" away from greatness :) Thanks again.

[@RuffneckPenny]

I appreciate the player colours chosen. 👍🏿

[@robertchmielecki2580]

I also immediately noticed this. Great little detail :)

[@kamilgrzesik5395]

I had the same impression with Terraforming Mars. We just decided to introduce partial drafting (buying projects) - half out of the pool of revealed cards and half drawing instead drawing all from deck. Gives more control over hand but still keep some secrecy of hand. Similar is done in Wingspan. I assume it's doable here, isn't it?

[@DerekHohls]

I've been working on a variant like that; perhaps I must finalise and publish it.

[@RandyJC250]

I love the commitment to that ridiculous headgear! It's the best character of the entire video. Lol 😆 🤣 😂

[@JJRinSF]

What if you doubled the number of the cards you draw when taking the card action? You still have the constraint of discarding down during the break.

[@presidentshaZam2012]

good idea..in wingspan we draft from 20 cards and keep upto 6 at the start makes for a nice start. We also added some cubes to make it 10 rounds instead so the game plays longer

[@Juz_P]

The irony of the "No Pun Included Joke of the Year" was delicious. 👏🏽

[@dragonlance6027]

Love the jibe at the artwork in Ark Nova in the end. 🤣👏👏👏 that's awesome. You're my favorite.

[@drmanhattan71]

For future reference you will be pleased to know that "Marabou" is also the swedish equivalent of Dairy Milk chocolate. Good review, it seems like a good interim fix is just to increase the amount of cards you draw, either boosting the card draw action or letting you discard cards first with the card draw action to let you draw the normal amount plus any needed to refill your hand.

[@KhameCat]

Excellent review! As always, your presentation is fantastically entertaining regardless of my interest in the game, and whether or not I agree with your opinions. Since I don’t usually comment, I’ll add that your podcast is equally fantastic and anyone reading this should really give it a listen. You’re my favorite board game channel and I appreciate your balance between humor, critical evaluation, documentary-style research and social / environmental consciousness! Many reviewers have one or more of those traits, but no others match you in quality on all four counts. I have strong opinions about singleton decks and why they are more strategically valid than many give them credit for, but I totally understand the criticism. Suffice to say that while for you the robustness of the deck detracted from the charm, I found it to be the opposite. It was no surprise given how much I enjoy Wingspan, Terraforming Mars and the like. But none of those let me play danger noodles so this gets extra points!

[@afrank525]

1. "Zoo Tindr" 2. More puppy cameos please!

[@josephpilkus1127]

Absolutely wonderful review, as always. I've played this on TTS and in-person and was over the moon to receive it as my Secret Santa gift. While I appreciate the fact that the card deck can prove a bit frustrating, I abhor Terraforming Mars, so I'm happy to have a card game which both reinforces the main idea with every turn and decision AND is rewarding on every turn.

[@ajw5388]

I feel like the issue of the deck comes down to whether or not you feel you need total control of your strategy in games. For me, I enjoy a certain level of luck in my games and sort of rolling with the punches. I think a game like this suffers if it just turns into a math problem that the most experienced player will crush everyone else at. I think a luck element helps keep these games accessible to new players and also helps simulate the idea that in almost any strategy, unforeseen circumstances will occur.

[@NoPunIncluded]

There is a fine line between "a bit of luck" and "I can't plan for anything."

[@ajw5388]

@@NoPunIncluded Ahh ok I hadn’t had the impression that it was quite that egregious, I guess. Even so, the point that I was attempting to make was that it seems to come down to how seriously you take the competition in these games. Personally, I’m more about enjoying the game’s theme and trying to make the best of the cards I’m dealt each turn; and to that end, I enjoy the variety offered by a big deck. Others want a deeper, more strategic experience that is more reliably “fair” from a competitive standpoint, and that is totally valid and understandable, obviously. Either way, nice video as usual! I’ve noticed after viewing a fair chunk of your reviews that you and I have some philosophical differences regarding certain games, but I always enjoy how your reviews give me several angles to consider that I generally don’t think of on my own.

[@MisterAbysmul]

@@ajw5388 It's not that that egregious. The game is certainly tactical not very strategic, you must roll with the punches as it were. We've over 8 games in and no 2 games are alike, it's wonderful.

[@EzFlyers10]

8:30 to 11:00 is sublime. And it could go on and on. I wanna add 100 things to that thought process. And it's bliss. ...that said terraforming mars still crushes it for me, haha. Great review, tho. Agreed deck is too big.

[@zenosAnalytic]

it feels like the main issue is the rng of the deck, so maybe if they switched it to more of a deck-building mechanic, where you have a central market place with all the cards where you can purchase any of them at any time, would solve these problems(course; doing that with 200 cards would be space-prohibitive I'd imagine).

[@tobiaslunte6992]

Maybe not having all 200 cards available at all times, but a tutoring mechanic might have been an idea: Specify an / / / etc and reveal cards until you reveal a card that matches. Draw that card and discard the rest. Snapping tries to do something similar, but still relies on a desirable card showing up in that six-card row. And especially if the cards in there aren't too attractive, the row doesn't move all that much.

[@Wonderflonium]

Loved the rhyming! Excellent video, as always

[@BasketOfPuppies642]

That teddy bear hat is adorable.

[@solarnova411]

Totally agree with this review, exactly my experience

[@philippholdermann3374]

House rules for drafting of the conversation projects, end game scoring cards and more hand cards to choose from at start would be necessary that i would play it again.

[@georginatoland]

This game is definitely not for me. Waaaaay too many cards! But you, sir, are an absolute delight. Extra points for bear hat. 🐻

[@halforange1]

Well said, I’ve only played 3 solo games and I suspect the multiplayer experience is better, but I agree with the card dilution comments. This game is sooooo close to being amazing. Glad I have it, hope it gets what it needs to live up to being BGG’s #4 game.

[@koonfasa]

I love placing a worker on the Post Office. Give your opponent 2 cards and cycle that deck!

[@dspage13]

These reviews are so well done and hilarious!

[@nuk3snip3r]

It feels like an unfair amount of this video is focused on the deck situation, but also I fully agree with how that can constrain or limit your play of this game. Fully justified, and I've had great fun with this game. More than Terraforming Mars, this game feels like it needs the "Search" mechanic that came in a Race for the Galaxy expansion. You could do an ability once per game in that where you would pick one of 12 different criteria for cards and you would burn through the deck until you found one that fit that. If you didn't like that one, you could continue and then take the second card that fits that criteria. I wonder if something like that will come to Ark Nova, so you could say "Give me a good bear!" and it could show you one you don't like, and you could then say "Not that one..." and continue on. Bravo, NPI, for pinpointing and clearly stating one of the two things I didn't like about this game. Drawbacks aside, I still found myself craving an excuse or a chance to play this game again, so I hope it keeps getting better.

[@RvLeshrac]

@@elqord.1118 Yeah this. I don't know how "a problem with the primary gameplay element" can really be considered unfair.

[@presidentshaZam2012]

bingo.. lets hear the word fun again.. some compared it to mars and some say ney.. love your ideas with the deck search / exactly.. modifying a game is normal tom already gave this game his number one lol still waiting for a preorder come to daddy

[@RvLeshrac]

Having played the game, I'm going to say that yes, the deck is the prime problem. Secondary problem is that costs are poorly communicated. Someone please tell the designer about the existence of the forward-slash.

[@koomo801]

Raja of the Ganges scoring/endgame?

[@sanctumgoogification]

Isn't the huge card stack in this game the same as in Terraforming Mars, a mechanic which forces you to react to the cards you get rather than plan for a fixed pre-determined strategy? Which, of course, means some players will just get lucky with their cards early, and win without actually being the better player.

[@Kr1stmas]

No some people will just get lucky period. You can lose against someone with a shit starting Hand because you start different engines that never get off the ground. I know this because I was the one with the worst possible starting Hand and I somehow won because I kept getting cards that fit the few sponsor cards I managed to get in play.

[@Tsotanga2]

It sounds like the game just needs a drafting round for the starting hand. Drafting fixes Terraforming Mars so much.

[@leasmo7263]

@@Tsotanga2 there is an official drafting variant for the starting hand on BGG if you like to try that. We didnt think its needed; while playing you have the display which fulfills the same needs

[@DerekHohls]

@@leasmo7263 The central display is too limited to offset the all the other issues related to 'luck of the draw'. Even a starting draft cannot really help much.

[@Berndr]

Wow, you presented the whole thing to look silly and funny yet everything you argued was actually very intelligent, clever, and well broken down to make sense! great and very entertaining video...

[@brickisland6353]

If the hand size was bigger it would be easier to get or find what you’re looking for.

[@slavenkarakas]

Great review! Just to say thanks, as we played 10 games so far and never realized that partner zoo gives an icon of the continent as well :D

[@koomo801]

Crunchy/complex mechanisms, pretty presentation, and the most important thing: minimal player interaction. No wonder it's dominating the BGG Hotness.

[@ormhaxan]

most _off-putting_ thing: minimal player interaction FTFY

[@CptBumFlufff]

Haha

[@koomo801]

@@ormhaxan Agreed. I didn't want to rub it in people's faces.

[@koomo801]

@@lastburning Same. But if you look at the BGG Hotness, we're in the minority.

[@littlemissevel3607]

Hmm having not played it i can't say, but is there a way to divide the cards into multiple draw decks so you can be more decisive? (i'm thinking a little of Takenoko) Sounds like no tbh...

[@goldsmeeth2771]

You can house rule it, but it's really unnecessary once you figure out the game is about the 5 action cards, not so much the cards you get

[@andyraff4465]

I'm only about 90 seconds in and I know I am going to spend this entire video being jealous of that fluffy hat thing with the ears.

[@Furore2323]

I genuinely started cackling uncontrollably when the Porg, I might actually be dead now it's hard to tell, I'm laughed but too much.

[@Lsavoleo]

I'm not going to say the floppy bear ears wiggling around after every passionate statement kept me glued to this video as though Efka was made of magnetic flypaper. That's all. I'm not going to say it. I'm also not going to say you should find a tortuous, strained reason to wear the bear hat again, Efka. But ...I really like the bear hat.

[@AzureRaiden]

I wonder if it wouldn't be feasible to split the deck into the different types of cards rather than one massive deck. Like all the predators in a deck, and all the herbivores in a deck. Or would that just create too many decks? Then players could draw from a deck that included the type of cards they were specifically looking for rather than the entirety of the game. Like, I need reptiles, so I'm going to draw from the reptile deck. Or I want more sponsors, so I'm going to drop in the sponsors deck.

[@kristoferhailes4627]

I love Ark Nova. Like TM it is the reactionary and quick think on your feet style that draws me to many games. Although I do enjoy strategic and well planned out games sometimes I want to play a game that thrusts me into tough spots and makes me rethink my whole game plan. I’m not a fan of META gaming, and although it’s obvious that reptiles and birds are easy play strats that are more consistent they are generally one you adopt alongside a plan with a bigger pay off. On top off that more cards is more replay-ability for me, the same reason I love games like TM, Everdell and Dog Walk the amount of cards involved means there is never one overpowered combo that everyone is playing for because if you wait for that one big play you know can win the game never comes up, you probably finished dead last.

[@MrBsUkuleleChannel]

How do you win... at zoo! Very good review. I am still not sure if this grabs me or not, it seems like it could be streamlined quite a bit.

[@NoPunIncluded]

sometimes you just don't know until you play it yourself.

[@BrianCooksey]

I like the card that just says "CARDS".

[@PommyDragon2525]

This is what happens when you push the credits action to slot 5. Jokes aside, excellent review!

[@jamesburns6603]

Nice shelf Porg, Be careful for if you put more then 2 together they multiply like Porgs.

[@EyeInSky2000]

9:00 min mark... OMG... so brilliant!

[@leavemydogalone]

Totally agree. Looks like an interesting decision space but just a bit bloated with cards

[@Ipazc]

The skillshare bit was savage about the cards XD

[@stuartshannon8561]

Can’t agree more.

[@mavweirdo]

A real shame you didn't include a credits segment. So far my favorite of your credits segments was the one for "For Science!" Where the credits rolled over NPI playing the game. I realize that not every game is that visually interesting to watch played without sound. Something that might work instead (especially for games with lots of bits) would be either setting up a game, or putting away a game while the credits roll.

[@ronaldg7522]

Underwater Cities is still the best game in the "We build shit with cards" category. Because the cards are sorted in 3 epochs. The chance you get cards you can't use is way lower.

[@330nate]

I’m not super familiar with your channel but I wonder if you’ve ever reviewed terraforming Mars?

[@Skycroft1000]

I very much agree. Ark Nova takes a problem I had with Terraforming Mars - a game I otherwise adore - and made it ten times worse. It's a lovely, lovely game... but the deck is just too damn big. The size wouldn't even be a problem necessarily, but combined with the variety of tags it makes it too easy to get amazing games and awful games based purely on the luck of the draw. And if I'm sitting down for a few hours of a board game, I don't want, more importantly than winning or losing, _how much fun I'm having_ to be dependent on the luck of the draw.

[@BenDaresAll]

Omg you're absolutely hilarious! Great rhyme, hehe

[@RamonMercadoReyes]

This is one bear of a review… 😂

[@sillypookmonster]

Another excellent video. Thanks so much. Behold, engagement snacks to feed the algorithm!

[@szendroib]

We weren't a fan of Terraforming Mars, because of the random and diluted nature of the deck. We didn't like that the game gives you a direction at the beginning with your company and you might not be able to follow your plans at all during the game. We tried Ark Nova because the theme is much more fun for us, but unfortunately we found that Ark Nova is possibly even more luck based than its "precedessor". As you've mentioned in the review the deck is so diluted and there are just so many icons, that finding the ones you need is almost impossible. Some people could get the perfect animals they need, while you don't see anything matching your goal. It is made worse with the inclusion of green cards in the deck, because some people could just get a ton of points purely depending on luck if a green card comes up that they already achieved. I wanted to love the game because of the theme and the fun build aspect, but I just ended up frustrated every single time, no matter if I won or lost.

[@cooperbuss1297]

Thumbs up just for the rhymes!

[@koalabrownie]

Devolved into a ProZD CCG skit around the 9:45 minute mark. hahaha

[@Salawon]

Meanwhile me, enjoying Terraforming Mars with all official and fanmade expansions, having a deck of nearly 1k cards: 👁 👄👁️

[@VoicelessScream]

Fun review as always. 3 games in now (so still rather early) and I can say we (my wife and I) personally love Ark Nova. The immensity of the deck isn't a drawback to us, on the contrary it's one of the good things about the game - more variety, new cards to discover in future games and most importantly forces adaptability. I personally do not like games with a clear path to victory where you read up online and see that the game should be played in a certain way in order to win - there is exactly 1 smart way to open the game and then this or that action is a complete waste etc.. While there are better (seemingly at least) ways to win (why would I take an extra worker vs an early card upgrade while there are always ways to get that final worker but not to get a card upgrade later on), fairly obvious that 'Sponsor' is the card that shall remain not upgraded most of the time otherwise animal and generally speaking, smaller animals appear to be a slightly better value. If an expansion can fix the 'obvious card upgrade path' and initial bonus (worker vs card) that'd take care of my biggest issue. In its current form, all Sponsors card that requires Level 2 Sponsor actions end up in the discard, that sucks. Otherwise there are ways to draw quite a lot of cards and find what you need rather easily (speeding up the game in the process)

[@dennisantle3612]

I can’t help but feel some complaints about this game are completely glossed over for other games like “Holy Grail “ Terraforming Mars ….. deck size , never getting cards you need . All glossed over in TM , but some how people consider it a problem outside of TM

[@goldsmeeth2771]

I think it's because people played TM a bunch of times and uses the drafting variant. If people gave AN just as many plays, they would find the game rather skilled based and play time fairly quick

[@kisiel365]

21:45 i love this little wink to TM fans

[@nakata49]

Where can I get that bear hat?!

[@luigiscazzari4724]

Do Jurassic Park and Jurassic World qualify as zoos? Either way, we need more board games rap. :)

[@tiberiusdw]

Thank you yet again for a thoughtful review which criticizes thoughtfully yet remains positive and upbeat. Tabletop has its own AAA games: openworld sandboxes with gorgeous presentation and too much of everything. Mechanic is piled upon mechanic and the setting recedes into the background as players’ brains are occupied with effciency and optimization. Ark Nova happens to be one of the better-crafted examples of this genre-and you rightfully praise Wigge for that achievement. But like you said, Efka: more is not necessarily better. Fewer mechanics more meaningfully integrated and motivated would make for a better game.

[@charlesvalentine9638]

Rajas of the New Dawn

[@andrewbrassington2856]

Stratford upon Raven!

[@TheQrank]

I fully agree with you. Everyone likes this game especially on BGG and I just feel that’s not a good game just because of too much luck and too much cards and less opportunities to draw more.

[@goldsmeeth2771]

AN is about action efficiency, not so much about the cards. It's rated 1/5 lowest luck rating by thousands of players and a good player will beat a beginner not matter what you have or how you stack the deck in your favor. Drawing scores zero points. Good players hate Cards action. You can play cards directly from the card row scoring you points immediately, no drawing needed

[@gelui13]

I truly stay with one of your last sentences. It is a GREAT game, but not an amazing one, but it´s one expansion away for being it

[@s.d.d.6063]

I have played quite a bit of games of Ark Nova and let me guess…. you have played less than 5 (I would say likely 2 or 3) and mostly 2 players games before making this review. Am I right? My take is that your opinion (which i do respect ofc) over the ‘luck factor’ involved in Ark Nova is the sort of a novice impression. I can assure you that a skilled player (someone who has played dozens, not just a handful, of games) will win vs you 100% of the time. It’s quite the opposite: if you are very, very lucky (you happen to be dealt or draw the perfect combos of cards) you might have a chance, but even so you may lose as well. The examples you bring on the video are crystal clear of what I’m saying: a skilled player would never hold onto a bear which needs Animal card at II and another bear early on the game: that is a mid to end game card to take IF you already have the requisites it takes to play it. Same goes for the sunbathing turtle: you should only get it if you have the 5 card limit University and a bunch of cards you are going to sell. That is not bad game design…it’s player’s bad judgment (no pun intended ofc). Add in the fact that Ark Nova is a much better game at 3 (imho the sweet spot) and 4 players than it is at 2 - and let me tell you that if you filmed the setup of an actual 2 players game you had it wrong: in a 2 players game you do not cover the leftmost spot of all the base conservation projects, but the leftmost one of the first, the mid one of the second and the rightmost of the third while in your vid you covered the leftmost in all of them (which is another reason why I guessed you hadn’t played it that many times). Not any game is for everyone. Ark Nova might be not for you. You may not like the fact that it needs adaptation to what the game offers you and that you can’t play it on the hope you happen to draw the cards you need … instead you have to make your own ‘luck’ which is perfectly doable the more and more you play the game.

[@IanJN]

MANY puns included. The thumbnail is a pun! Ceci n'est pas une pipe!!

[@naivety]

I want that hat. Give me that hat.

[@wheelskis]

Feast's expansion kept me hungry and chomping on whale blubber, greenie babies, and red bellies at the table long after its release.

[@koonfasa]

Solo changed with the expansion. You could no longer do double whaling each round.

[@dave0754]

I love this game and I'm happy I bought it before the SU&SD and NPI effects have hit the supply. Yet, I fully agree with your criticisms. I particularly hate the very few 'take that' cards, not because I dislike take that effects, but because there are just not enough for them to be fair. In a 4-player game, my Association action was constricted at the worst time possible and I was never able to recover. But the low number of take that cards meant I could never retaliate. The game has enough interaction without the take that cards. You're correct, a tighter and more focused game would be great. Maybe they could have a "North American" edition? Edit: Omg I saw my name in the credits!!!

[@RvLeshrac]

One reason I watch this channel is because they put a focus on the problems that *nobody else calls out*. I love Cloudspire, but they really nailed all the issues with the game.

[@Spoofsc]

Another great review. No interest in Ark Nova, but seeing NPI reviews always makes me want to play more board games.

[@ArnoVdVelde]

Great, I feared the deck was just a worse version of the mess that is wingspan.

[@john-qz3fu]

I can't stand wingspan

[@cwb95k]

Why do you hate boardgames! JK, this was a great review. I am still awaiting this game's arrival (April?) but greatly looking forward to it. Whatever expansion might come for this one I think it should be one that allows more manuverability through the deck for sure.

[@vincerodriguez4070]

I have only played this game once but left the table feeling exactly the same way. There simply are too many cards.

[@thomhenne]

What you think about the big deck i found the opposite. I like having to adapt and finding new strategies.

[@Jorn2u]

So Efka, 20:45. Did Marine World solve all the issues you adress?

[@goldsmeeth2771]

No, he is looking to play a different game. You don't dig, you don't look for cards. Far too slow to do that. Marine worlds adds more cards further diluting the big deck. Again, not a problem if you aren't looking for specific or types cards. When played correctly, marine worlds adds welcomed variety If you want a more combotastic predators theme park as oppose to a diverse zoo, just remove a couple major tags from the deck

[@joeferreti9442]

People do like games with animal pictures.