Ark Nova

Cards

• 212 Zoo cards:
  • 128 Animal cards
  • 64 Sponsor cards
  • 20 Conservation Project cards
• 11 Final Scoring cards
• 12 Base Conservation Project cards
• 20 double-sided Action cards (5 per set)

Boards & Mats

• 1 game board (the reverse side shows a different orientation of the card spaces; use the side that suits you better)
• 1 Association board
• 8 player mats (zoo maps):
  • 4x map A: map for first-time players with starting advantage (easy)
  • 4x map 0: map with more bonus spaces (intermediate)
  • 8x maps (1–8) on the reverse side of maps A and maps 0 to allow for customized setup (advanced)

Tiles & Tokens

• 90 Standard Enclosures in various sizes (empty / occupied):
  • 28x 1-space enclosure
  • 24x 2-space enclosure
  • 15x 3-space enclosure
  • 13x 4-space enclosure
  • 10x 5-space enclosure
• 12 Special Enclosures (both sides are the same):
  • 4x Petting Zoo
  • 4x Reptile House
  • 4x Large Bird Aviary
• 34 Kiosk / Pavilion tiles (kiosk front / pavilion back)

Additional Tiles, Tokens & Wooden Pieces

• 15 unique buildings
• 70 money tokens: 40x 1, 10x 5, 10x 10, 10x 20
• 20 partner zoos (4 each)
• 12 universities (4 each)
• 9 Bonus tiles
• 1 tile for solo play (both sides are the same)
• 20 X-tokens
• 8 Multiplier tokens
• 8 Venom tokens
• 8 Constriction tokens

Wooden Components

• 1 Break token
• Components in 4 player colors (black, blue, red, yellow). In each color:
  • 3 counters
  • 4 association workers
  • 25 player tokens

Other

• 2 organizers
• 1 glossary
• 1 Icon overview
• this rulebook

Introduction & Goal of the Game

In Ark Nova you plan and build a modern, scientifically managed zoo. You build enclosures according to the animals’ way of life and support conservation projects to ensure the preservation of animal species.

Gathering diverse animals increases the attractiveness of your zoo, advancing you on the Appeal track and generating higher revenues. Likewise, careful stewardship of the animals allows you to support conservation projects, such as breeding programs, that lead to your advancement on the Conservation track and corresponding bonuses. These two tracks progress in opposite directions – if your counters meet, the game ends. Whoever achieves the best combination of appeal and conservation has built the most successful zoo and wins the game.

Association work in different zoo associations allows you to partner with zoos and universities around the world. Together, with specialists and sponsors, they will help you manage the various tasks needed to achieve your goals.

Both the designer and the publisher have made every effort to be realistic in the implementation of this game. In rare cases, however, concessions have been made for the sake of the game mechanics. For example, the koala has the subclass bear, which is often used colloquially, but does not correspond to reality. The same applies to the enclosure requirements.

Global Setup

1. Game Board & Break Track: Place the game board in the center of the table. Take the Break token and place it on the start space of the Break track that corresponds to your player count. If there are three players, place the Break token on the space marked 3.
2. Bonus Tiles: Shuffle the 9 Bonus tiles and place a random Bonus tile face up on each on each of the 4 blank yellow Bonus spaces on the board. Do not place any tiles on the two yellow spaces with icons. Return the remaining 5 tiles to the box. They are not used in the game.
3. Zoo Cards Deck & Display: Shuffle the Zoo cards to create a face-down deck on the game board on the space marked with the deck icon. Deal 6 face-down cards from the deck to the spaces provided on the game board (you will turn them face-up at the end of setup). This is the display.
4. Organizers / Supply: Place the 2 organizers next to the game board as the general supply. We recommend filling one of the organizers with the enclosures as shown. Fill the other organizer with the remaining tiles and tokens. Components are abound. Thus, pack a few standard enclosures and kiosks / pavilions in a bag as a reserve. If you still should run out of a component, use a suitable substitute.

5. Association Board: Place the Association board next to the game board, leaving enough room for one row of cards above and one row of cards below the board.
   • 5a: Place 1 partner zoo of each continent and 1 university of each kind on the spaces provided on the Association board.
   • 5b: Shuffle the Base Conservation Project cards and place them face-down as a deck next to the Association board. In a 4-player game, place the 4 topmost cards face up below the board, otherwise the 3 topmost.
   • 5c: In a 2-player game: Take 6 player tokens of any unused color and cover:
     • On the face-up Base Conservation Project cards: the left level on the left card, the middle level on the middle card, and the right level on the right card.
     • On the Association board: the three spaces in the left column of the donation area.

     The covered levels / spaces are considered blocked and cannot be used by either player.

6. Final Scoring Cards: Shuffle the Final Scoring cards and place them face down next to the Association board.
7. Start Player: Randomly determine a start player. Turn order is clockwise.

Personal Setup

For your personal setup, each of you takes the following steps:

1. Zoo Map: Take a random Map A zoo map, and place it with that side up in front of you. Return the remaining zoo maps to the box. They are not used in this game.
   • 4 of the 8 zoo maps have Map A on one side. All 4 copies of Map A are identical and recommended for your first game. It allows an easy entry and offers generous rewards.
   • The other 4 zoo maps have Map 0 on one side (identical set of 4). This map is suitable for beginners after the first game.
   • On the other side of all zoo maps you will find Maps 1–8 (advanced maps). These are all different and give an individual special ability. When playing with these, take 2 random zoo maps and choose 1, or lay out player count + 1 advanced maps and choose 1 each in reverse order of play.
   • Handicap rule: If playing with beginners, you can give them a small starting advantage with Map 0 and a larger starting advantage with Map A.
2. Action Cards: Take one set of Action cards each (Build, Cards, Animals, Association, and Sponsors). Place one card with side I up under each of the five card slots on your zoo map: the Animals card under slot 1 (furthest left), and the remaining cards randomly distributed under the other 4 slots.
3. Player Color Components: Choose a color and take all components of this color:
   • C1: Place the counters for appeal, conservation, and reputation on the first spaces of their tracks on the game board. Place counters on the Appeal track according to turn order:
     • Start player: space 0
     • Second player: space 1
     • Third player: space 2
     • Fourth player: space 3
   • C2: Take 7 of the player tokens in your color and place them on the designated spaces at the left edge of your zoo map. Keep the remaining player tokens next to your zoo map for later use.
   • C3: Take the 4 association workers: place 1 on the notepad of your zoo map (active worker), and the remaining 3 lying down on the designated spaces below the notepad.
4. Starting Money: Take 25 money from the supply and put it on the notepad of your zoo map.
5. Final Scoring Cards: Draw 2 Final Scoring cards and place them next to your zoo map. You may look at them at any time, but keep them hidden from other players.
6. Starting Hand: Draw 8 Zoo cards. Choose 4 of them to keep as hand cards and discard the remaining 4 cards to a face-up discard pile on the discard space on the board. Keep your hand cards hidden.
   • Recommendation: Choose 1–2 Sponsor cards and 2–3 Animal cards. Avoid cards with difficult conditions early on, and try to match icons with the Base Conservation Projects on display.
7. Reveal Display: After all players have chosen their hand cards, reveal the 6 cards on the display.

Gameplay Overview

Ark Nova does not play in formal rounds; instead, players simply take turns (in clockwise order) taking one turn at a time until the end of the game is triggered. In addition, there are so-called breaks in between, when the game is put on hold for an administration phase. During these breaks you will discard cards down to your hand limit, recall workers, and gain income, among other things.

You always perform one action during your turn, which may trigger additional effects and bonuses. You perform these actions with the 5 Action cards displayed below your zoo map. You can expand your zoo, play Zoo cards, and draw new Zoo cards. The position of the Action card determines how much you can do with that action.

Your Zoo Map

• Your Zoo (1): Established in the large area in the middle of your zoo map. This is where you place buildings such as enclosures (standard or special enclosures), kiosks, pavilions, or unique buildings.
• Enclosure Overview (2): Shows their sizes and shapes.
• Placement Restrictions: You are not allowed to build on rock (R) and water (W) spaces, but some animals need an enclosure next to a rock or water space. All other spaces are building spaces (a space built on is covered). You are not allowed to build on spaces with the upgraded icon until you have upgraded your Build action card.
• Placement Bonuses (3): Some spaces show a placement bonus icon. You receive the indicated bonus immediately when you cover it.
• Conservation Project Bonus Spaces (4): The left edge of your zoo map holds 7 player tokens at the start. Whenever you support a conservation project, take one token and place it on the Conservation Project card. This always gains you an immediate bonus and sometimes again in each break.
• Action Card Slots (5): The bottom of your zoo map holds your Action cards. The number above each slot shows the strength of the Action card in that slot.
• Special Ability (6): Advanced zoo maps feature a unique special ability. Map A has the same ability for all players: at the beginning of the game, place a 3-space enclosure on the indicated spaces, with the empty side (showing 3) face up.

Zoo Map Tracks & Supply

• Partner Zoos (7) & Universities (8): The right side of your zoo map has spaces for 5 partner zoos and 3 universities. You can only establish partnerships with a maximum of 4 partner zoos. Whenever you establish a new partnership, place the tile on the lowest empty space of the appropriate column:
  • To get a third partner zoo, you must first upgrade your Association action card.
  • If there is a bonus depicted on the space where you place the tile, receive it immediately.
  • A partner zoo reduces the cost to accommodate an animal from that continent by 3 money per continent icon on the Animal card.
  • A university grants the bonuses and icons shown on it.
• Association Workers Supply (9): Placed at the start of the game. Workers are taken from bottom to top whenever you hire an association worker, moving them to the active notepad area. Certain maps reward conservation points for hiring your last worker.
• Notepad (10): All available association workers, money, and X-tokens are kept here.

Zoo Cards

The 3 different types of Zoo cards are:

• Animal cards: Used to add animals to your zoo. They require an empty enclosure and provide your zoo with appeal points.
• Sponsor cards: Allow you to hire specialists, build unique buildings, or achieve various other effects.
• Conservation Project cards: Support conservation projects to collect conservation points (specializing in animal species, continents, or reintroducing animals into the wild). Includes both Zoo cards and Base Conservation Project cards.

The Break Track

The game board has a Break track to count down the time remaining until the next break:

• At the start of the game and after each break, the Break token is placed on the start space corresponding to player count (1).
• Whenever you advance the Break token, move it towards the end.
• When it reaches the last space (2), you call a break for everyone. The break occurs after your current turn ends.
• You get 1 X-token for reaching the last space of the Break track. Ignore any excess steps. After the break, place the Break token back on its starting space.

A Turn / The 5 Action Cards

Your Action cards are located below your zoo map, assigned to slots numbered 1 (far left) to 5 (far right). The slot number indicates the strength (X) with which you perform the action.

On your turn:

1. Choose one of your Action cards.
2. Shift it lower than the others in the row.
3. Perform the action with a strength equal to its current slot (X).
4. After completing the action, remove the card, shift all Action cards that were to its left one slot to the right, and place the chosen Action card into slot 1.

Modifying Strength with X-tokens

• For each X-token spent, increase the strength of the action by 1. Return spent tokens to the general supply.
• You can spend as many X-tokens as you like, but some actions do not benefit from strength beyond 5.
• You can never have more than 5 X-tokens.
• Strength is set before performing the action (tokens gained during the action cannot boost that same action).

Zoo cards with “after finishing” effects are executed only after completely finishing the action, including moving the Action cards.

Action Card Upgrades

All Action cards start on side I. When you gain a card upgrade, flip any one Action card from side I to side II. It stays in its current slot and is used in its improved version thereafter.

• There are exactly 4 ways to upgrade an Action card during the game: on the Conservation track, on the Reputation track, and when gaining your second partner zoo or second partner university (one allows an alternative choice). You can never upgrade all 5 cards!
• You may never “do nothing” with your action (e.g., play 0 Animal cards or build 0 buildings).

X-TOKEN Action

If you cannot or do not want to perform any of the 5 actions, choose any Action card, move it to slot 1, shift others right, and take 1 X-token (max 5 tokens held). Slot value and upgrades do not affect this action.

CARDS Action

Side I: Advance the Break token 2 spaces. Then draw cards from the deck OR snap.

• Drawing from the deck: Compare strength X with the card table. Draw up to the indicated number of cards (max 3). Discard a card if indicated (can be a freshly drawn card or one already held).
• Snapping: At strength 5 or higher, instead of drawing from the deck, take exactly 1 card of your choice from the display into your hand regardless of reputation. Replenish display at end of turn.
• Advancing the Break: Advance the Break token 2 spaces first (do not gain money).
• Hand Limit: You can hold any number of cards during your turn, but during a break you must discard down to your limit (3, or 5 with the appropriate university).

Side II: Advance the Break token 2 spaces. Then draw cards from the deck or within reputation range OR snap.

• Drawing within reputation range: Draw from the display (up to your Reputation counter) and/or from the deck in any combination/order. Display is not replenished until the turn is complete.
• Snapping: Can snap starting at strength 3 or higher.
• Allows your reputation to progress beyond 9 on the Reputation track.

The Reputation Track and the Display

• Reputation Range: The card on the same folder number as your Reputation counter, plus all cards on lower-numbered folders, are within your reputation range.
• Progressing Past 9: You must upgrade Cards to side II to increase reputation to 10 or more.
• Bonuses: Bonuses printed next to reputation spaces are gained once immediately upon reaching them. At space 15 (max), any further reputation steps award 1 appeal each.
• Replenishing the Display: Only done after completing your full turn. Slide remaining cards from higher folders down to lower folders (preserving order), then refill empty high-numbered spaces from the deck. The discard pile is face-up next to the display; players may not browse through it.

BUILD Action

Side I: Build exactly 1 building of your choice with a maximum size of X on your zoo map. Pay 2 money per space. Available: Kiosk, pavilion, standard enclosure, and Petting Zoo.

• Building Costs: Pay twice the size of the building (cost = size x 2 money) before placing it.
• Placement Rules:
  • Must be adjacent to an existing building (sharing at least 1 edge). The very first building in your zoo must touch at least 1 border space of the map.
  • May only be built on empty building spaces. Cannot overlap other buildings, extend beyond the map edge, or cover water or rock spaces.
  • Cannot build on spaces with the upgrade icon until Build is upgraded to side II.
  • Kiosks: Must always be placed at least 3 spaces away from every other kiosk (at least 2 empty/other spaces between kiosks). Grants income during breaks.
  • Pavilion: Size 1; immediately increases zoo appeal by 1.
  • Standard Enclosure: Placed empty side up (yellow border with size X).
  • Petting Zoo: Size 3 special enclosure; maximum 1 per zoo. Both sides are identical.
  • Placement Bonuses: Gained immediately when covering a bonus icon.

Side II: Build as many different buildings as you like with a maximum total size of X on your zoo map. Newly available: Large Bird Aviary and Reptile House.

• May build multiple buildings in one action, provided they are all different (cannot build 2 identical buildings in the same action). Total size cannot exceed X.
• Build and pay for each building one after another. Placement bonuses are gained immediately and can help pay for subsequent buildings in the same action.
• Unlocks Large Bird Aviary and Reptile House (both size 5; limit 1 of each per zoo). When built, you may immediately move eligible animals from standard enclosures into them (flipping vacated standard enclosures to empty).
• Allows building on upgrade-icon spaces. If you completely cover every space on your zoo map (except water and rocks), immediately gain 7 appeal.

ANIMALS Action

Side I: Play Animal cards from your hand up to the limit allowed by action strength X.

For each animal played, execute the following steps in sequence:

1. Check conditions: Fulfill all conditions shown on the left side of the Animal card (e.g., partner zoos, animal category icons, continent icons).
2. Pay cost: Pay the money cost in the upper-left corner into the general supply. Reduced by 3 money per matching continent icon if you have the corresponding partner zoo.
3. Fill empty enclosure: Accommodate the animal into an eligible empty enclosure:
   • Petting Zoo animals can only go into the Petting Zoo.
   • Standard animals require an empty standard enclosure of at least the required size, adjacent to required rock/water spaces if depicted. Flip the enclosure to its occupied side.
   • Reptiles and birds with special enclosure icons may either enter a standard enclosure or the Reptile House / Large Bird Aviary (by placing the required number of player tokens onto it).
4. Place Animal card: Place the card next to your zoo map overlapping existing cards.
5. Execute effects: Advance Appeal on the track as shown on the card, plus any reputation or conservation points indicated. Execute instant abilities immediately. Effects marked “after finishing” are executed only after all played animals and the card shift to slot 1 are resolved.

If playing 2 animals, complete steps 1–5 for the first animal before beginning the second animal.

Special Enclosures (Petting Zoo, Reptile House, Large Bird Aviary)

• Limits: Each zoo can contain at most one of each special enclosure.
• Tokens: Place player tokens on the special enclosure to mark spaces used. Both sides of special enclosures are identical. Rock and water requirements still apply to the special enclosure tile.
• Moving Animals: When you build a Reptile House or Large Bird Aviary, you may immediately move matching animals from standard enclosures into it, flipping the smallest matching occupied enclosure back to its empty side and placing tokens on the special enclosure.

Animals Action (Side II) & Card Placement

Side II: Play Animal cards from your hand or within reputation range.

• May play animals directly from the display within your reputation range by paying extra money equal to the folder number.
• If performed at strength 5, you may first increase your reputation by 1 at the start of the action.
• Allows playing animals with the upgrade condition icon.

Animal Categories

There are 7 animal categories: Bird, Herbivore, Predator, Primate, Reptile, Bear, and Petting Zoo animal. (Bear and Petting Zoo animal have black icons on white backgrounds as special categories/subcategories).

Placing Cards

Tuck played cards overlapping each other so only the top icon bar remains visible. Sponsor cards with end-game scoring have a vertical brown stripe behind the card level.

ASSOCIATION Action

Side I: Perform exactly one association task. Requires placing an active association worker on the task on the Association board. If 1 worker of yours is already there, you must place 2 workers. If 3 are there, you cannot perform it again until workers are recalled in a break.

Tasks available based on action strength:

• Strength 2 – Increasing reputation: Advance Reputation counter by 2 on the Reputation track.
• Strength 3 – Gaining a partner zoo: Take 1 available partner zoo from the board and place it on the lowest empty space on your zoo map. Maximum 4 partner zoos total (upgrade Association to side II to take a 3rd or 4th). Cannot take duplicate continents.
• Strength 4 – Gaining a partner university: Take 1 available university and place it on your zoo map. Cannot take duplicates. Increases reputation, grants research icons, or increases hand limit to 5.
• Strength 5 – Conservation project work: Support an active project or play a new Conservation Project card from your hand into the leftmost slot above the board (sliding others right; discard if exceeding limit: 2, 3, or 4 based on player count). Place 1 player token from the left of your zoo map onto the fulfilled condition to score points and unlock the token space bonus.

Conservation Projects Layouts & Types

• Icon Requirements: Count matching icons on played cards, partner zoos, and universities.
• Release into the Wild: Discard a matching Animal card from your zoo that occupies a standard enclosure of the required size. Move Appeal back by the animal’s value, empty its enclosure, and score conservation points.

Association Action (Side II) & Donations

Side II: Perform one or more different association tasks. You may make one donation.

• Can perform multiple different tasks in a single action, spending required workers for each, provided the sum of task strengths does not exceed action strength X.
• Can play Conservation Project cards directly from display within reputation range (paying folder cost).
• Donations: May make 1 donation per action by paying the lowest visible cost in the donation area (2, 5, 7, 10, or 12 money) and covering it with a player token to gain 1 conservation point. Once all spaces are covered, each subsequent donation costs 12 money without placing a token.

SPONSORS Action

Side I: Play exactly 1 Sponsor card OR advance the Break token and take money.

• Play 1 Sponsor card from hand with level <= strength X and fulfill conditions.
• Alternative: Advance Break token X spaces and take X money (even if the Break track ends early).

Side II: Play one or more Sponsor cards OR advance the Break token and take money.

• Play multiple Sponsor cards (strength X + 1 >= sum of levels). Can play from hand or display within reputation range (paying folder cost).
• Alternative: Advance Break token X spaces and take 2X money.
• Allows playing Sponsor cards with the upgrade requirement icon.

Sponsor Card Layout

• Level in upper-left corner; building requirements next to level.
• Conditions on left side; icon benefits in upper-right corner.
• Recurring effects at top (blue background, or purple for break income); instant effects in bottom-left (yellow); final scoring effects in bottom-right (brown).

Appeal and Conservation Points

Special milestone spaces on the Conservation track:

• 2 conservation points: Upgrade one Action card OR activate an additional association worker.
• 5 & 8 conservation points: Take 5 money OR take one of the available Bonus tokens next to the space.
• 10 conservation points: The first time any player reaches/exceeds 10 conservation points, all players discard one of their 2 Final Scoring cards face down.

Break

Triggered when the Break token reaches the last space of the Break track. After the active player finishes their turn, execute in order:

1. Hand card limit: Discard down to limit (normally 3 cards, or 5 with university).
2. Tokens on Action cards: Discard Multiplier, Venom, and Constriction tokens from Action cards.
3. Association board: Return all association workers to notepads. Replenish partner zoos and universities to 1 of each available.
4. Replenish display: Discard cards in folders 1 and 2, slide remaining cards down, refill empty folders from deck.
5. Take income:
   • Collect money from Appeal track position.
   • Collect kiosk income: 1 money per adjacent unique building, special enclosure, occupied standard enclosure, and pavilion.
   • Collect income from Sponsor cards and unlocked zoo map bonus spaces (purple icon).
6. Break track: Reset the Break token to the starting space for player count.

1. Game End

Triggered when a player’s Conservation counter and Appeal counter meet in the same scoring area or pass each other.

• If triggered at the end of a player’s turn: all other players take one final turn.
• If triggered during a break: all players take one final turn.

2. Score Cards

Reveal and score Final Scoring cards and end-game Sponsor cards. (If no player reached 10 conservation points during the game, discard 1 Final Scoring card now before scoring). Maximum 4 conservation points from a single Final Scoring card.

3. Determine Victory Points

1. Find the scoring area where your Conservation counter is located.
2. Identify the lowest appeal number in that scoring area: this is your Target Number.
3. Subtract the Target Number from your current Appeal counter value: Victory Points = Appeal - Target Number.
4. The player with the highest positive Victory Point total wins!
5. Tie-breaker: Most Conservation Projects supported (most player tokens removed from the left side of the zoo map). If still tied, share the victory.

Solo Game Rules

Rules adjustments for solo play:

Setup

• Lay out 3 basic Conservation Project cards (no neutral tokens covering slots).
• Do not use the Break token; place 7 player tokens of an unused color in the left column of the solo tile.
• Start with 20 appeal (for beginner difficulty; 10 appeal for intermediate, 0 appeal for advanced challenge).

Turn / Cards

• Interactive card effects are replaced by the solo effect shown in the blue bottom bar.
• Maximum 2 Conservation Project cards above the Association board.
• Effects advancing the Break track do not move any token, but you still gain any associated money. No X-token for triggering breaks.

Gameplay & Breaks

• At the end of each turn, move the topmost token from the left column of the solo tile to the right column.
• When the 7th token moves to the right, a break occurs immediately: place the topmost token onto the lowest open donation space on the Association board, move the remaining tokens back to the left column (one row will now be empty), and execute break steps 1–5.
• The game ends after 6 rounds (when only 2 tokens remain on the solo tile and the bottom one is shifted). Win by scoring 0 or more Victory Points!