The 4 Squares Review - Ark Nova

The Dice Tower takes a look at Ark Nova
Intro 0:00
Overview 0:44
Components 11:40
Final thoughts 13:14
Scores 28:29
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BGG Link: boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/3...

[@kafka0622]

OK, I revisted this review after my 8th play of Ark Nova. We played this game with four players all who are experienced gamers but one had never played before. After a twenty minute teach for the new guy (and a refresh for another who had only played once) we played this game in almost exactly two hours. During this game the downtime between turns was virtually unnoticeable. Turns don't take long and you are constantly thinking of what you are going to do next. I guess my point is that experience does a lot to mitigate the game time. Plus, some games are long and they feel long. Some are long and they do not feel long and Ark Nova is one of these to me. I don't feel the length. I'm with Tom. This game is a 10 for me hands down.

[@eliumeldritch]

Three big things that push this over the top and I like way better than Terraforming mars. 1. Late game of TM has so many unwieldy card triggers that can be overwhelming and turns take a lot longer 2. The requirements on the majority of the cards are generally more easily obtainable than ones TM. (I don't have to wait forever for oceans or oxygen). And they're easier to get 3. The art Also- it's great solo!

[@jelledaems808]

This game should also get a bunch of expansions... beginning with a Prelude one making the game a bit shorter. They could name it: We bought a zoo.

[@eliumeldritch]

I'm holding out for the zoo miniatures to replace the tiles

[@FelipeRodrigues-vj1zb]

While I wouldn't because I enjoy the full experience, maybe just give everyone a couple of cages and ten more money or something 😅

[@Cemaran01]

Tom, I really wish you would do a BGB again where you went to the zoo like you used to. Those were some of my favorite BGBs, just sitting there and watching the animals.

[@littlefarmlover]

This is a very informative and helpful review. Thanks guys!

[@Greggiexplore]

Nicely explained. Easy to follow. Top job.

[@RadishTheFool]

You really brought across why you like this game so much. And that gets me excited as well. It also helps that you showed the animal cards up close. The rest of the game looks kind of blah, but those colourful animals make me happy. Thank you, Dice Tower, for showing me that I want to play this game.

[@greglott4977]

What makes you think the "rest of it" looks blah? The rest of what? It's a euro. If you don't like euros, you wont like this one. The mechanics are solid, and the game is fun.

[@taserrr]

No offense but you sound like a 5 year old. "I like this because it looks colourful." Really?

[@JakRoto]

I couldn't disagree with mike more on the game length issue. There is never a moment where I've felt that I've done my piece and now we can end it. Every time it's over, there is a table groan because everyone always wants another turn or two. I could always get just one more conservation effort, or fill up another enclosure.

[@KickstarterRadio1024]

Looks so great, gone straight to the top of my retail watch list!

[@hanseathl]

I pre-ordered the game a few weeks ago and there is a good chance I will receive my copy before Christmas 🇩🇪. Now, I am even more excited.

[@EvanHalbertDC]

Wow, love that way of dealing with the pick 2, keep 1 end game goal card! Making uninformed choices is one of my pet peeves in games, and that totally works!

[@jamescartwright1150]

Excellent stuff as always guys. Think this is the closest they will get to making Zoo Tycoon the board game and I'd really like to get it at some point 🙂

[@Barbabonbon]

Closest? from what I heard and saw, this IS it

[@MarkBuschhaus]

would love to see a playthrough by Tom, Zee and Mike

[@EliteBeast]

mike is the man

[@johnnovotny5074]

Wow 2 point spread gives it 4 squares average of 8.5. Nice! Looking forward to trying it.

[@susannevanmierlo6341]

Just played this game last weekend and really enjoyed it. It was a long game but this was also because we played it for the first time.

[@lemiless]

My buddy owns, and loves, Terrafoming Mars. I do enjoy playing with him. But he enjoys it more than I do. And that's not a knock against TM. But he would definitely play it more than I would. I believe that this game may be leaps and bounds more enjoyable to me than TM. And I very much enjoy TM and absolutely know why it is rated so high on BGG. But like Tom, I love this theme. I do really enjoy sci-fi and space themes a ton. But, Ark Nova just looks like something I would enjoy more than TM. I saw this game on Amazon, and hadn't heard of it. I'm so happy with this review. And it will be added to my cart immediately! Thanks Tom, Zee, Mike, and Chris.

[@levoleynik4899]

Came here after Tom announced it was his number 1 on the top 100. Excited to try it out!

[@Chivvy695]

Looks like my game of the year. I really hope you bring several copies to Dice Tower West.

[@RulebooksForYou]

Looks amazing! I'll have to get a copy at PAX! 10/10!

[@schamalama84]

So glad I preordered this last week.

[@Blasoflang]

I can not wait for this to be released in the US!!!!!

[@johnnovotny5074]

If it had a dinosaur theme Tom might be forced to give it an 11.

[@erichorner8336]

Tom, I want to play Ark Nova with you at DTCE! Sounds like a blast!

[@nickrichards5792]

Re Mike on the game being a tad too long I wonder if an expansion might eventually speed things up or at least shorten them? Going back to talking about Terraforming Mars, Prelude's engine-charging did a good job of shaving off game time. (Apologies if mentioned in the video and I missed it).

[@tomjandrews5334]

The only bit I use from the Venus next expansion I use, is the rule that at the end of every era players take a turn increasing a track or placing an ocean with no benefit to speed up the game.

[@johnwheeler6839]

Getting better at the game would cut the length significantly.

[@borreholic7238]

@@johnwheeler6839 That's very true, but that answer also always comes up when someone mentions game length, and it's for example always the answer from the Terraforming Mars crowd who have played the game 20, 30, 40, 60 times. Of course game length cuts down when you know the cards in and out, but it might take a decent number of plays before you have seen most of the cards and are able to make such snappy decisions that the game doesn't feel "too long" anymore. The first or second play of a game is not representative of how long the average play takes, but so is not the 19th or 26th or 43rd play since it's in general super rare for people to end up playing a single game that many times.

[@johnwheeler6839]

@@borreholic7238 this one even more because the better you know the game the more efficient and faster you are going to get therefore the faster the end game will trigger. The first time we played Rajas it took us very long because we didn't know how to score all that well. Now it just feels it end too quickly.

[@loicovis426]

Thank you a lot fot the video and great work! Loved this review and all your oppinions ate full of thoughts and good advices thank you! Lived this game and made my decision to get this fantastic game.

[@flawed1]

I played this game for the first time yesterday. I really liked it. It did take forever with four people learning it, but the time flew by. I will disagree with Tom on one thing. I get way too wrapped up in the mechanisms and scoring points to be like “OMG! I’m gonna put a panda and a walrus and a giraffe in my zoo because I think those animals are cool”

[@vaughnmiller4841]

I am SO looking forward to playing this! In comparing it to TM, you didn't mention that there's a hand size limitation, triggered during the break event. Seems like that would make decisions on those high-requirement cards even more difficult.

[@ormstunga7878]

There’s so little interaction. Yeah original whatever, I doubt this will be in Tom’s top50 next year. More like played and forgotten.

[@greglott4977]

@@ormstunga7878 Hater's gonna hate. Interaction isn't a requirement for fun. It has just as much interaction as any other worker placement or tableau builder. And there are a LOT of those with little to no player interaction that are still beloved. I think you're wrong. I'll look you up in a year.

[@ormstunga7878]

@@greglott4977 Who’s hating? There are worker placement and tableau builders with player interaction. You’re right though, it’s not a requirement for fun for many of course. I just think Ark Nova is overhyped and I cant really see the longevity without interaction.

[@mienzillaz]

He did mention hand size limit.

[@sadekhanna]

Wait what? Tom LOVES TM! Now I'm sure I need this game!

[@Alluvian567]

Looks really fun. I am at the point in the hobby where I realize I don't need any new games, and if I do get a new game I should let another go. Not sure which game I would let go for this. I know a bunch I SHOULD let go because I never get to play them, but I love them too much to part with them, heh.

[@uziekiele]

Obsession already has the mechanism of discarding the end game goal cards during stages of the game and not at the beginning.

[@paulfleming2485]

Nemesis has this as well with the objective cards.

[@revimfadli4666]

And Bag of Chips' gameplay revolves around exactly that

[@antonieschwartz]

Of the games released (so far) in 2021, this one is top of my wishlist!

[@typerk2388]

It's up there for me too. What's second on your list?

[@pastabastard6696]

Same here! Alongside with Witchstone and Golem

[@antonieschwartz]

@@typerk2388 second for me would be between Vagrantsong, Bad Company and Bitoku. What's top of your list?

[@Johnsemgawl]

Guess this goes on the list. Love Ares Expedition and zoos..

[@ntmetroid]

Getting a lot of Terraforming Mars vibes from this. Ill definitely be keeping an eye out for when this releases.

[@Shoitaan]

Surprisingly high score from Tom! Great review gang. I'm still thinking on whether this is right for my group given the length and lack of interaction but your reviews have been great food for thought!

[@Berndr]

I am the opposite, I got a game based on hype and discovered it was a yawn fest... a mechanic that is just quite not there and fails to give that sense of achievement of completing collections ... even when I win I feel unfulfilled in this game ... you rarely manage to have any coherent strategy, and due to unbalanced deck you are more likely to be playing random animal cards because that's all you have available and the ones you want you never get or someone else grabs from the display... and when you are finally at the stage you can do these things such as complete collections and place a cube on conservation cards the game is over ...The strange thing is, on the paper I should absulutly love Ark Nova, it promises everything I want in the game but it totally fails to deliver... the main reason I think it fails is that instead of letting people have fun and complete their collections the game is about who first gets to put a cube on the achievement the mechanic from the Terraforming Mars that just does not work for me in this game!

[@Flamingcloud083]

hopefully you got it.. It isn't really that low on interaction to be honest. You compete for cards You compete for universities and continent partnerships You compete over the tension of when to end the round You compete for taking spots in the conservation projects You compete for playing new conservation projects since there is limited space and finally you have the cards that hurt the leaders a little bit.. Its actually significantly more interactive than Terraforming Mars imo(though I don't think they are very similar to be honest)

[@Shoitaan]

@@Flamingcloud083 no we didn't. We tried it out on TTS and were VERY turned off. We're lovers of high interaction euros. Passive competition is nice but not for three hours. It was a huge miss for us.

[@Flamingcloud083]

@@Shoitaan fair enough.. definitely isn't as high interaction as something like Dune: Imperium.. but not too unsimilar from Brass Birmingham

[@Shoitaan]

@@Flamingcloud083 I'd have to disagree with you there. While the racing element is sort of there in Brass, Brass also has additional interaction with how you use each other's resources. You build in places to force others to use your stuff. You sell commodities a little bit faster than you should just to use up an opponents port (Lancashire). Interaction is more than a loose race making the decisions more interesting. My favourite euro is On Mars which has that in spades. Should I use my opponents tech giving him a bonus? Should I build this building giving my opponent more points for their contract? Richer decisions that involve the others at the table. That's what we like. The opposite of a multiplayer solitaire :)

[@sebastienperreault5387]

Nice review folks Question: what is the brand of your boardgame table ?

[@ziomalZparafii]

You have the name in front of your eyes ;) just in the middle of the table: Rathskellers

[@jakeland2274]

Much love!

[@FKA_AAG]

Question: why does Tom not give his numerical rating in his game reviews? He talks about his scores in other videos, such as Top 10’s or 100’s, but not in the review videos themselves. Any particular reason for this?

[@DTChrisYi]

I won't speak for him, but part of it is the hassle people give us when they think the number doesn't match what was said. People put a lot of stock in numbers rather than the words said. Which totally happens in these reviews, haha.

[@jp212ps3]

Great video!

[@gamera2351]

Me halfway through the game overview: Ok I've seen enough this looks lame. I'll fast foward to the scores. Tom: 10 out of 10 I'll never play Terraforming Mars again. Me: Wait....What??? Ok I need to go back and watch this video.

[@Berndr]

I am the opposite, I got a game based on hype and discovered it was a yawn fest... a mechanic that is just quite not there and fails to give that sense of achievement of completing collections ... even when I win I feel unfulfilled in this game ... you rarely manage to have any coherent strategy, and due to unbalanced deck you are more likely to be playing random animal cards because that's all you have available and the ones you want you never get or someone else grabs from the display... and when you are finally at the stage you can do these things such as complete collections and place a cube on conservation cards the game is over ...The strange thing is, on the paper I should absulutly love Ark Nova, it promises everything I want in the game but it totally fails to deliver...the main reason I think it fails is that instead of letting people have fun and complete their collections, the game is about who first gets to put a cube on the conservation achievement, the mechanic from the Terraforming Mars that just does not work for me in this game! the Green conservation collection of animal cards should have been made more accessible because these cards are where the fun is and the main driver of the strategy, plus these cards should have been designed as personal zoo goals/ strategy rather than silly competition that we rarely get to do due to limited options for that action!

[@StevenStJohn-kj9eb]

Sign me up. This one looks great.

[@Naeddyr]

Could someone tell me more about the track in Rajas on the Ganges? It just seems like it's an optical trick and that you could basically just have one point scoring token that races towards a goal at the end instead of two tokens that add together to meet in the middle.

[@mailaernesto]

You get bonuses when you reach certain threshold values for income and... fame (?) so you need to know how much you have of both.

[@DTChrisYi]

One of the VP tracks in Rajas (Fame) is like the Conservation track here where one step on that is worth more spaces than the money. Also, as said, there are bonuses, including an extra worker, on the Fame track. It earns its differentiation in my book.

[@12345678abracadabra]

A step on one track is more different things in 2. Also, one track tracks income while the other tracks bonuses. So the choice of which scoring does matter because one gives money the other gives upgrades

[@mitsakosL]

Tom's absolutely right, this is the best game that came out this year.

[@olgadottir1528]

Looking at the box design....did anybody else think this was a new expansion for 2011's game Mondo? :-D

[@waterwixxxer]

I love Terraforming Mars. This one is preordered.

[@marcelrombouts8607]

The cumbersome deck size makes it risky to plan ahead for cards you may never draw. The upcoming expansion is supposed to fix that issue by accelerating the pace at which the deck shrinks and offering the opportunity to browse for the nearest animal of the desired type.

[@samus1421]

@9:39 you can play elephant w/o upgrading your animal card if you are using map= -1 requirement. @12:28 the blue line @ the bottom is dedicated for solo play. @20:15 T.M. warp drive requires 5 science tags; anti-gravity tech requires 7. the river-shift mechanic adds a new & 'complex' dynamic that T.M. has yet to incorporate.

[@andrewellis712]

The blue line is not dedicated for solo, though it is the only option if playing solo

[@stevensum2011]

Underwater cities have stage 1 and 2 etc. I Like that.

[@12345678abracadabra]

I don't think it works here because there are some "stage 3" cards that you can play in stage 1 if you want to. Won a few games that way too, even though it took set up.

[@Frostation]

I agree with Tom. This is a great game, it's my game of the year and may be my #1 game of the last five years. I have already played it about ten time on TTS, and 3 player games don't take us more than 90 minutes. The physical game will take more time, but once everyone has played a few time and realized that this is a race game, the game will take less time to play. The graphics work with the game's theme, just like Zhe mentioned, and the graphic design is great. Everything is clear. And I agree with Mike regarding the end game cards, and Chris with the mechanic of playing conservation cards during the game.

[@killastutz]

I'm with Tom (for once lol!), I can't get enough of this game. Everything about it just feels good and smooth...I just love it.

[@Berndr]

I am the opposite, I got a game based on hype and discovered it was a yawn fest... a mechanic that is just quite not there and fails to give that sense of achievement of completing collections ... even when I win I feel unfulfilled in this game ... you rarely manage to have any coherent strategy, and due to unbalanced deck you are more likely to be playing random animal cards because that's all you have available and the ones you want you never get or someone else grabs from the display... and when you are finally at the stage you can do these things such as complete collections and place a cube on conservation cards the game is over ...The strange thing is, on the paper I should absulutly love Ark Nova, it promises everything I want in the game but it totally fails to deliver...the main reason I think it fails is that instead of letting people have fun and complete their collections, the game is about who first gets to put a cube on the conservation achievement, the mechanic from the Terraforming Mars that just does not work for me in this game! the Green conservation collection of animal cards should have been made more accessible because these cards are where the fun is and the main driver of the strategy, plus these cards should have been designed as personal zoo goals/ strategy rather than silly competition that we rarely get to do due to limited options for that action!

[@MrScrawnjuan]

Thanos sure is busy snapping these days. I wanna give this a try now.

[@gbdomingo]

I realized tom would rate is so highly coz he did the rules explanation! :)

[@Animal_board_gamer]

I’m really into zoo games, since I’m a zoo volunteer. I was definitely planning on getting this eventually. But after this review I’m moving ark nova to the top of my list. I bet that Tom vasel will be putting ark nova in his top 100. And dare I say top 50? I’m looking forward to seeing what number it makes.

[@5ammy13]

I also think New York Zoo is a great game if you want that Polyomino itch scratched :-) I think everyone aught to have a Polyomino game and NY Zoo is probably one of the best out there :-D

[@Animal_board_gamer]

@@5ammy13 yeah New York zoo is my second favorite game. 2 zoo games from capstone games what are the chances. It’s unfortunate that isle of cats stole a lot of New York zoo s thunder since it came out earlier in the year. Although I also really enjoy Barenpark it is also technically sort of a zoo game. And another polyomino game. I wasn’t a fan of isle of cats though, it was more cartoony than the other than Barenpark and New York zoo.

[@5ammy13]

@@Animal_board_gamer ohh I actually haven't played Isle of Cats or Barenpark. Will check out Barenpark. Calico is another sort of tile laying game about cats that's good. Except that the cat on the box isn't a Calico, the game is pretty great. Also Cascadia is great, though the animals theme doesn't come out that strongly. 😁

[@CK-mi3sd]

If I really hate down time when playing, is there any heavy games that allow simultaneous play? Areas expedition?

[@soogymoogi]

Spirit Island, if you like co-op. Might not be what you're looking for but it's the first one that comes to mind

[@CK-mi3sd]

@@soogymoogi Spirit Island was good, but it was just too brain-burning for me.

[@cursivecurses]

Not completely simultaneous but the agonizing AP part of Isle of Skye is simultaneous for everyone. And of course, Race for the Galaxy. Maybe not heavy enough but - It's a Wonderful World for a drafting game

[@revimfadli4666]

For Ark Nova's weight I'd rather play Race for the Galaxy, simultaneous play cuts down downtime greatly. Plus the role following makes for more interesting interaction

[@Tr1pleOseveN]

When is this coming out?...🤔

[@uplift-yourdailypickup6424]

Woooooow I don’t think I’ve ever seen Tom rate something a 10, at least on the 4 squares

[@SoManyGames]

Not questioning Tom's love for the game but rating a game a 10 that you admit is not ideal at all player counts I find indeed questionable. What would it have been rated if found to play great at all player counts? 10 Plus ? 10 Plus Max?.. Maybe in the future.

[@thedicetower]

Le Havre is also a "10" for me, and I won't play it with 4 or more. I won't play Cosmic Encounter with 3 players.

[@SoManyGames]

I hear ya Tom. If you love something, you love it regardless... I've held off on adding Terraforming Mars to my collection for the longest, now I know why. I'm gonna definitely jump on that 2023 Ark Nova GN DOTD.

[@justinsmith5582]

@@SoManyGames It would still be a 10. 10 doesn't mean flawless.

[@zvonk2480]

@@SoManyGames Only if you manage to check GN in those critical 15 minutes that day...

[@augustinhamza303]

Thanks

[@JamesD2957]

what civilization game was Tom talking about that uses the "card river"?

[@thedicetower]

Civilization: A New Dawn boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/233247/civilization-new-dawn

[@JamesD2957]

@@thedicetower thanks!

[@cleftturnip7774]

Hi.I cant figure out how to buy the petting zoo ,the reptile house or bird avery. Do you use the build action and pay 2 per hex like normal buildings?

[@Ultra_Kuma]

CMIIW, you need to upgrade your “Build” action card to build those

[@cleftturnip7774]

@@Ultra_Kuma thanks

[@benpuckett3806]

When Zee said "he was openly weeping" I was drinking water and almost spewed.

[@StereoMonkey0]

Great work, the outtake from Dinosaur World is no longer!

[@juvigoat2168]

19:35 MDL “no more Panda” 😂

[@stefansibbes2440]

Looks like the game took some notes from A New Dawn with that action selection row .

[@jamielehn6926]

Ooo easy there Tom. Civilization is very underrated- especially with the expansion

[@squared82]

I don’t play a ton of long and heavy games much these days. But this seems like a really cool one.

[@richardmagel4247]

Wooooooow!!

[@Coffeemaker1978]

Rarely I agree 100% with Tom. I do here.

[@jdotco23]

Seems like a really good game. I'm very interested, but I will say, more and more I'm starting to hesitate with games that depend so much on one big conglomeration of a deck. Everdell, Terraforming Mars, this....I'm not a fan of just hoping you see the right cards at the right time so much. Hopefully this one gets around that.

[@12345678abracadabra]

This one not that big of an issue because combos don't win or lose your game, it's just satisfying if you do.

[@niarudle]

Spoiler alert: it doesn't. If you don't get the right animals, you'll soon end up wasting turns.

[@johnpanagos5835]

This game would be cool with theme dinosaur park and vincent dutrait as artist.

[@johnnovotny5074]

Will it make Tom's top 100?

[@gregkleinfall1901]

I often find myself disagreeing with Tom, but I have to side with him on this one. As much as I love Terraforming Mars, I would rather play Ark Nova. I think the thing that surprised me the most is how much I enjoy the theme. I feel really invested in the zoo's I build and the animals that are in it. It is also really cool that you can release your animals into the wild for conservation points. I am usually in lock step with Mike, but I don't have a problem with the length of the game. For me, as long as I am having fun, I don't care how long the game takes. As a matter of fact, many of my Terraforming Mars games with my friend(s) go long because we enjoy building our tableau/engines rather than terraforming the planet. Similar to TM, AN game length is primarily determined by the players. The game usually goes quicker as players get more knowledgeable on how to generate appeal and conservation points more easily.

[@giannisc.5254]

This seems like a very good game but the irl photos on the cards bother me a lot. The only game i've ever liked with irl images was Battlestar Galactica because it was based on the series. This ? I'd rather have drawn art instead of photos.

[@elqord.1118]

Agreed. It looks so cheap.

[@ajramone4459]

@@elqord.1118 why cheap? Do you think the work of animal and wildlife photographers has no value?

[@elqord.1118]

@@ajramone4459 What? It looks like stock photography. It’s not unique to the game and the real life photos completely look out of place. Everything else looks rather basic. Art style was not the biggest concern that is clear. It’s functional but not attractive. Also, can’t believe you are SO ready to be offended. A bit pathetic.

[@TheGiraffehead]

I agree, I immediately wrote this game off based on the real life imagery.

[@HeliosGoN]

Couldn't have agreed more, it reminds me of some cheap old animal learning cards that I got as a kid which I used as throwing stars pretending I'm a ninja. Art really matters and real life photography rubbed me up the wrong way.

[@Jeff321]

I'll have to try this at some point. I don't think it's a buy since my group has too many players (usually 4-5). Also Chris rained on Tom's parade a bit at the end there. Should have let him keep talking since 10s are so rare.

[@JohnQSpartan]

I don't think I've ever said the words "This game is too long". Many are too short though ...

[@ThaineFurrows]

This is a game I really want to try out. I played Terraforming Mars once and found it a bit tedious due to the drafting. I personally think long drafting rounds are exhausting. This one seems to be a bit faster and I also love the theme. Unfortunately it's nowhere to get.

[@Koborover]

Then don't use drafting in TfM. Yes it's harder to strategize, but I actually prefer a healthy dose of random in my board games. Also the game moves faster.

[@ThaineFurrows]

@@Koborover I think my group wouldn't like that. Considering how long the game takes, especially in my group, the randomness would put people off. I'll play if someone suggests TfM but it's not a title I would put on the table.

[@Koborover]

@@ThaineFurrows I understand, randomness is a divisive thing. I've had disagreements about it in TfM and other games and of course I don't always get my way. But I really like TfM anyway so it doesn't put me off that much.

[@KingOfNormans]

Noboy: Me: So, is this Civilization of the Ganges?

[@Sajatzsiraf]

Oh my, Zee...

[@sab6261]

Sounds like Mike is definitely NOT "ambivalent" about the art - 16:13.

[@Domi_Asmo]

Another Terraforming Mars with the card action selection from New Dawn? Yeah, TAKE MY MONEY, I guess it is... :)

[@Edwinschuur]

I wonder about Chris's concern about meeting demands. Lets say I want that Panda and need two bear types. What is the chance me working to it and not drawing enough bear cards and by the end of the game felling like a bad draw made me lose.

[@monkeyunit4533]

It happens, especially if other players might also be after bears because of a conservation project. But there are plenty of other things to do in the mean time and your entire strategy shouldn't depends on playing that one card.

[@12345678abracadabra]

You make the choice to keep the panda, it's part of the gameplay to hedge your bets and when to cut your losses. If I had the panda, I'd hold onto it and play other point generating actions and if there's a point where I'll give it up for something better I will. Being a good euro gamer is having multiple game plans

[@Edwinschuur]

@@12345678abracadabra I fully understand what you mean. But I'm talking about balance. If I want to fulfill demans for cards that are worth a lot of points I have two options. -Take a card early and build towards that card. -Try to maximise efficiency with the cards given and hope later in the game I can get a card that rewards that work with a lot of points. If I fail to get a card that either rewards my work or that syncs with the card I'm holding onto, won't I always lose to the person who's cards do come up? Assuming we both know what we are doing and are not beginners.

[@RvLeshrac]

You can literally draw out the entire rest of the deck on your turns, and never see a single other bear card that you can play, because other players have drawn them.

[@xCriticalStrikex]

Mike pointed out exactly what I was thinking about the card stack, why isn't it in ages? Its the one reason why I hate terraforming mars and this has the same problem. Civ new dawn is better with the expansion.

[@12345678abracadabra]

Because it adds the choice of, do I wanna hold on to it? You'll get more cards than youll know what to do, so it doesn't matter. Not in this game

[@RvLeshrac]

@@12345678abracadabra I have spent hours drawing dozens of cards, never seeing any cards that were playable.

[@jahniedez6834]

10!

[@jeremyseabrook4053]

Take 2 starting objective cards and keep them : Scythe

[@ptbochiro]

Is this terraforming barenpark?

[@vendetta124292]

I really appreciate this review. When I first saw it, I thought of Terraforming Mars with a bit of Zooloretto. While the game looks like it would be fun, for someone like me who has played a lot of games, I'm not interested in more Terraforming Mars. I am very interested in new and original ideas. Thank you for the review!

[@wm1pyro604]

Had a lukewarm first-play; with the teach and 4 players I think it was around 3.5 hours. Definitely agree with Mike it feels a little long, but I'd probably have to play it again to give it a fair review. I will at the very least say, if anyone's considering getting Ark, know that will DEFINITELY require repeated plays to fully appreciate. If your group cycles through games often I would not recommend it.

[@bryceboganwright7902]

This game looks like it would be fun, but I feel like it might be easier to actually buy a real zoo and run it.

[@tristancaneris6270]

Tom just said Le Havre is “one” of my favourite games of all time- he is currently doing his top 100 of all time for Winter Spectacular… was this a clue that Le Havre is going to be dethroned? :p

[@DTChrisYi]

Top 100 won't be during the Winter Spectacular. It will likely be during January, as a heads up!

[@NormalTheBand]

Top games of all time are ALWAYS fluid. I would wager there isn't much difference between Tom's 5-1 and any of the top 5 could be his favorite at any given day or any given moment.

[@rawkyle9385]

Game of the Year??

[@fingolfinfinwe]

NO way replacing Terraforming Mars (especially since Ares is so meh). Graphic design is trash in Ares, and maybe worse even in Ark? But this does look fun and would love to try it.

[@koonfasa]

Nemesis has optional objectives to pick after a few rounds of play. Is that a hockey shirt on Chris? I haven’t followed hockey in years… Ovechkin is drawing me back in!

[@hydra2019]

I just bought TM- Ares expedition based on their 4 square review. ( never played the original TM ) I haven't played Ares yet. Do I need this if I have that? As others have mentioned, the IRL photos really kill the look of the game for me. Everything else looks cool though.

[@Skippan]

If you haven't played anything you've mentioned, then you don't "need" more games

[@isaacthimbleby8926]

Ares is a very different game. Need is not a question strangers can answer for you.

[@revimfadli4666]

TMAE is even more like Race for the Galaxy than this

[@darinherrick9224]

Finally got around to watching this review. Looks over-hyped to me.

[@MafiulRobin]

The guy at left most, aren't you from a popular Brass Birmingham video!

[@alicemoore2036]

Chris Yi does resemble Josh Lee Kwai of Magic the Gathering’s Command Zone on You Tube.🎉

[@-non-savvyauteurist]

A M A Z I N G game

[@JesusGonzalez-it2sv]

I played this tonight and I got to say... I don't like the scoring, nor the amount of luck you need to make things work, I had a hard time getting my way around all the card restrictions. And the amount of money I needed. None of my kards had any synergy with one another. I decided to upgrade the cards action first so I could have more options. That didn't work on the slightest. I will give it another go, I did had fun with the action mecanic, other than that. It's a TM with another theme.

[@Moldyvort]

I don't think this is that similar to terraforming mars. I really don't. This game has a card marketplace, it has the variable power action selection that is super unique, you have your own board, you aren't all working toward the same goal. It has all sorts of upgrades and stuff, scoring is different. So much is different. What is it that makes people say that it is similar to terraforming mars? Someone explain it to me. I thought the cards had more of a Magic the Gathering feel with the keywords and everything.

[@mattk6272]

I feel like this game would REALLY benefit from some nice card art. Photos feels so "educational" and takes away from the game immersion. That being said I'll probably get it at some point, still have three months to decide before it's out anyways...

[@ilqrd.6608]

couldn’t agree more. Looks extremely lame. Not even National Geographic style but actual schoolbook type of photography

[@peterkarlsson1825]

Terraforming Parks

[@simland]

After playing once at BGG con. It's at the top of my list. I don't think I'll ever play Terraforming Mars again. There is still a place for Ares Expedition. My only open questions about Ark Nova is around upgrading the sponsorship card and if that is ever a good or feasible idea. I'd be a little disappointed if its a doa strategy.

[@ilqrd.6608]

So in short you must hate interaction then. To cull TM and keep Ares together with this, I assume you are into the card play solitaire multiplayer aspect more so than actually competing directly with anyone at the table? The lack of the board really pushes every player into their own corner

[@12345678abracadabra]

Surely race for the galaxy, the original, shouldnt be displaced by Ares 🤣

[@Flamingcloud083]

This game feels nothing like TM to me. The victory points in TM has very little to do with your engine or regular gameplay... The connection is very strong here, you can't get lost working on your engine and income. Also game of TM can be completely ruined with a small bump of your playerboard which sits at the edge of the table (probably by my idiot dog) and that would have minimal effect on Ark Nova (you could probably even recover it successfully from the whole board being dumped on its side)

[@alcovitch]

buy the dual layered boards. End of problem