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Best games like Ark Nova (2026): Ark Nova has become one of the most loved heavy strategy games of the decade. You plan and build a modern zoo, house animals from around the world, support conservation projects and race to make your appeal and conservation tracks meet. If you want more of that card-driven engine building, here are five games that scratch the same itch, from a longer epic to a cozy half-hour game.
Our pick if you love Ark Nova: Terraforming Mars
The closest match in feel: a huge deck of unique cards, a personal engine that grows every generation and many ways to score. Instead of a zoo you are a corporation turning Mars green. It costs about $64.
Price band: $30+ (about $64) · Check today’s price on Amazon
Games like Ark Nova at a glance
All are card-driven and reward long-term planning.
- Best overall: Terraforming Mars — 1 to 5 players, big card engine (about $64)
- Best for nature lovers: Everdell — build a woodland city, 1 to 4 (about $75)
- Best in under an hour: Res Arcana — tight engine with just eight cards (about $35)
- Best for animal lovers: Harmonies — build habitats for animals, 1 to 4 (about $32)
- Best light pick: Planted — grow a houseplant collection, 2 to 5 (about $30)
What makes Ark Nova special
Ark Nova gives you five action cards (animals, cards, build, association and sponsors) in a row with strengths from 1 to 5. Using a card sends it back to the weakest position, so you are always deciding whether to act now or let an action grow stronger. On top of that sit over 250 unique cards with animals, sponsors and conservation projects. The games below share at least one of these joys: a big card pool, a growing engine or a clever action system.
1. Terraforming Mars — Ark Nova fans who want an even bigger card pool
Players: 1 to 5 · Price band: $30+ (about $64) · Pick for: Ark Nova fans who want an even bigger card pool · See Terraforming Mars on Amazon
Each generation you buy project cards and play them to raise oxygen, temperature and oceans on Mars, while building production that pays out every round. Card tags combine in ways that let your corporation snowball, much like animal and sponsor combos in Ark Nova.
Games run about two hours. See how the two compare in our Terraforming Mars vs Ark Nova guide, or find more in the best games like Terraforming Mars.
Skip it if: you dislike long games. A four-player game can stretch past two and a half hours.
2. Everdell — players who love theme and art
Players: 1 to 4 · Price band: $30+ (about $75) · Pick for: Players who love theme and art · See Everdell on Amazon
You lead a group of woodland critters through four seasons, placing workers to gather resources and playing cards to build a city of up to 15 constructions and critters. Many cards combine, so your city becomes an engine just like your zoo in Ark Nova.
It is lighter and quicker, around 40 to 80 minutes. Our best games like Everdell has more in the same vein.
Skip it if: you want heavy decisions. Everdell is a mid-weight game.
3. Res Arcana — Ark Nova fans short on time
Players: 2 to 4 · Price band: $30+ (about $35) · Pick for: Ark Nova fans short on time · See Res Arcana on Amazon
Each mage starts with a deck of just eight artifact cards. You collect magical essences, use them to play artifacts and claim places of power and monuments worth victory points. Every card matters, and the engine builds in minutes rather than hours.
Games take 30 to 60 minutes and the box is small.
Skip it if: you love huge card pools. Res Arcana is deliberately tight.
4. Harmonies — animal lovers who want something lighter
Players: 1 to 4 · Price band: $30+ (about $32) · Pick for: Animal lovers who want something lighter · See Harmonies on Amazon
Players take colored tokens to build landscapes of rivers, mountains, forests and fields on their own board, then place animal cubes where their habitats match the patterns on animal cards.
It captures Ark Nova’s joy of building a home for animals in about 30 minutes, with beautiful components.
Skip it if: you want a long, deep game. Harmonies is a light family game.
5. Planted — a cozy filler between bigger games
Players: 2 to 5 · Price band: $20–$30 (about $30) · Pick for: A cozy filler between bigger games · See Planted on Amazon
Players draft cards to grow a collection of houseplants, caring for each one with the light, water and soil it needs. Fully grown plants score points, and clever combinations let your collection flourish.
It plays in 20 to 30 minutes and is a lovely introduction to drafting for friends who are not ready for Ark Nova.
Skip it if: you want any depth close to Ark Nova. Planted is a light pick.
How these games compare with Ark Nova
| Game | Weight | Length | Players | Card engine? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ark Nova | Heavy | 90 to 150 min | 1 to 4 | Yes, huge |
| Terraforming Mars | Medium-heavy | About 120 min | 1 to 5 | Yes, huge |
| Everdell | Medium | 40 to 80 min | 1 to 4 | Yes |
| Res Arcana | Medium | 30 to 60 min | 2 to 4 | Yes, small |
| Harmonies | Light | About 30 min | 1 to 4 | Animal cards |
| Planted | Light | 20 to 30 min | 2 to 5 | Drafting |
Which Ark Nova alternative is right for you?
- Want the same depth? Terraforming Mars.
- Want theme and charm? Everdell.
- Want an engine in under an hour? Res Arcana.
- Want animals without the weight? Harmonies.
- Want something to teach new players? Planted.
For more, see our best engine-building board games, compare Everdell vs Wingspan, or browse the best tile-laying games.
Games like Ark Nova FAQ
What game is most like Ark Nova?
Terraforming Mars. Both are built around a large deck of unique cards that combine into a powerful engine.
Is there a lighter game like Ark Nova?
Harmonies keeps the animal habitat theme in a 30-minute family game, and Everdell is a mid-weight option.
Is Ark Nova good solo?
Yes, Ark Nova has a solo mode, and so do Terraforming Mars, Everdell and Harmonies.
