Ark Nova

Games from the Cellar

The panel tackles Ark Nova, the hottest game of 2022. Designed by Mathias Wigge, Ark Nova was published by Capstone Games in the US.

Episode Summary:

In this episode, the panel explores the complexity of Ark Nova. We discuss our previous experiences playing the game, noting that Ark Nova is a heavy game that usually takes three to four hours to play. The decision space is mostly tactical rather than strategic. We discuss the game mechanics and our thoughts on the game's core concepts, concluding that it can be too complex for its own good. We also discuss the limitations of the game, such as the lack of direct competition between players, the lack of detail in the action cards, and the use of symbols which can be confusing. Finally, we discussed the amount of time needed to learn the game, with one participant suggesting it could take up to fifteen plays before mastering the game.

Visit our website and join the conversation on Discord.

Chapters:

(0:00:50) - Exploring the Complexity of Ark Nova (0:11:06) - Exploring the Miscues of Ark Nova (0:25:10) - So, Let's Build a Zoo?? (0:36:51) - The Search for a Story in Arc Nova

Chapter Summaries:

(0:00:01) - Exploring the Complexity of Ark Nova (11 Minutes) In this episode, the panel discusses Ark Nova, the hottest game of 2022. They talk about their experience playing the game, noting that it is a heavy game that usually takes three to four hours to play, and it is mainly tactical rather than strategic. They discuss their impressions of the game, noting that while it is enjoyable in the moment, they often feel disappointed when they look back at the end. They also discuss the game mechanics and their thoughts on the game's complexity, concluding that it can be too complex for its own good.

(0:11:06) - Exploring the Miscues of Ark Nova (14 Minutes) Ark Nova is a game that contains a variety of nice components, including a variety of maps and animal cards. The conversation discusses the various elements of the game, including the lack of direct competition between players, the lack of detail in some of the action cards, and the use of symbols, which can be confusing. The panelists discuss the need to balance resources and the issue of player agency, which is limited by the available cards. They also discuss the puzzle-like nature of the game and the difficulty of distinguishing between some of the action cards, which could be improved with color coding.

(0:25:10) - So, Let's Build a Zoo?? (12 Minutes) The panel discusses the game's mechanics, theme, design decisions, strategies, and replayability. The conversation highlights the difficulty of Arc Nova and suggests that the complexity is not always a positive because it can be difficult to learn and master. The panel also discusses their opinions on the disconnect between the myriad of game mechanisms and the theme of building a zoo. The panel further discusses #BigDeckEnergy, and how a large deck of cards doesn't necessarily equate to depth or complexity. Replayability simply from limited exposure to a large pool of cards isn't true replayability. Finally, they discuss the amount of time needed to learn the game, with one participant suggesting that it could take up to fifteen plays before mastering the game.

(0:36:51) - The Search for a Story in Arc Nova (12 Minutes) The panel discussed their opinion of the Ark Nova. They discussed the lack of narrative, noting that when the game was finished, there was no real overarching story to tell. The animal cards (which Arc Nova should have put front and center, yet didn't) are largely only used for their icons and are mostly ignored once played. Also discussed was the art style of the board and tiles, noting that it is not inspiring or memorable. After playing the game, the panel expresses their appreciation for what the game was trying to accomplish but is ultimately ready to move on to another game.

Shownotes created with assistance from https://podium.page