Ark Nova: Marine Worlds

On one lame Friday, when we genuinely had no idea what to play, we returned to Ark Nova with Map Pack 2 and Marine Worlds’ fish. And yes: it is still that classic, enjoyable Ark Nova experience on the table, only now with a little aquatic freshness swimming around our zoos.

The basic framework does not change: I keep developing my zoo and using the action cards to advance my plan. The fish fit into that familiar flow as a new addition, without suddenly making the game feel like something else.

The difference I felt was that the enhanced action cards give the game a small push and keep my options feeling fresher. The feeling between players remains Ark Nova’s usual one: everyone is building their own route while keeping an eye on how the shared game and the other players’ choices are developing.

Scoring is still the part that puts me off, and this expansion does not magically make it disappear. Still, it is not a bad addition at all: the fish and the various new elements provide the freshness I want from an expansion. If you like base Ark Nova, this is a blind buy. If you do not, I do not think this will change your mind.