Ark Nova is one of the most loved board games in the world right now. Its BoardGameGeek ratings are out of this world, and it's got a list of accolades as long as an elephant's trunk. There's just one problem that keeps Ark Nova away from perfection. The game is ugly as hell, and even a new box of 3D upgrades can't fix its unfortunate looks.
Look, I'm shallow, okay? I've avoided playing some of the best board games in history because they're insultingly brown. When Ark Nova was first announced, I scorned its stock art style cards and bland components. Style is far from the most important ingredient in a strategy board game, but a complete lack of it does make me hesitate when expanding my collection.
Ark Nova: 3Dition at least attempts to address these aesthetic issues. The additional luxury components for Ark Nova began crowdfunding via Gamefound on August 19, and the project has already raised over $1.2 million.
The crowdfunder offers no additional gameplay elements, and you need a base copy of Ark Nova already to benefit from its offerings. These include a variety of 3D, colored plastic buildings and 200 3D plastic enclosures, fences, kiosks, and pavilions.
Alternatively, you can replace your standard cardboard components with over 200 acrylic plastic tokens. Metal coins, deluxe player boards, premium card sleeves, and stitched-edge playmats are also available as optional add-ons.
These add-ons don't alter Ark Nova's drab visual design, and they don't replace the unoriginal artwork. They do, however, drastically increase the amount of plastic in the game box. Whether you think that's a pro or a con will depend on whether you're a board gamer who loves or loathes copious plastic minis.
An all-in pledge will set you back around $300 (€260.00). Alternatively, you can grab just the acrylic components for roughly $99 (€85.00) or a limited combination of acrylic and plastic pieces, with pledges ranging from $145 (€125.00) to $204 (€175.00). According to the Gamefound page, fulfillment is expected to take place in October 2026.
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