About Sanctuary: An Ark Nova Game

Build your own wildlife sanctuary in Sanctuary: An Ark Nova Game, a strategic tile-laying board game set in the world of Ark Nova.

Create habitats, introduce fascinating animals, construct buildings and complete conservation projects as you develop your own thriving sanctuary.

Sanctuary: An Ark Nova Game takes the much-loved zoo-building and conservation theme of Ark Nova and turns it into a more streamlined tile-laying strategy game. You'll need to carefully plan your sanctuary, choose the right animals and buildings, and make the most of the opportunities available as the game progresses.

With 135 unique tiles, every game gives you a different combination of animals, buildings and projects to work with. Where you place each tile matters, and clever combinations can help you develop an increasingly effective sanctuary.

You'll also need to pursue Conservation objectives, upgrade your actions and balance short-term opportunities with your longer-term strategy.

Supporting 1–5 players, including a dedicated solo mode, Sanctuary is an excellent choice for players who love the theme and strategic decisions of Ark Nova but are looking for a more streamlined zoo-building experience.

If you're searching for games like Ark Nova, a new animal-themed strategy game or a satisfying tile-laying game, Sanctuary is a fantastic addition to your collection.

---

Why You'll Love It

• A strategic zoo-building board game set in the Ark Nova universe.
• Build your own wildlife sanctuary from the ground up.
• Designed for 1–5 players.
• Includes a dedicated solo mode.
• Features 135 unique tiles.
• Discover and house a wide variety of animals.
• Construct buildings to improve your sanctuary.
• Complete projects and pursue conservation objectives.
• Carefully plan where you place each tile.
• Combine animals, buildings and projects to create powerful combinations.
• Upgrade your actions as your sanctuary develops.
• Every game presents different strategic opportunities.
• A more streamlined alternative for fans of Ark Nova.
• Excellent for players who enjoy tile-laying and tableau-building games.
• A great choice for animal, wildlife and conservation enthusiasts.
• Plenty of strategic decisions without requiring an enormous game box or lengthy campaign.
• Works brilliantly at both two players and higher player counts.
• A fantastic option for solo board gamers.

---

How to Play

In Sanctuary: An Ark Nova Game, every player is responsible for developing their own wildlife sanctuary.

You'll acquire tiles from the central market and add them to your personal sanctuary, gradually creating habitats for animals, constructing buildings and completing projects.

But simply collecting the best tiles isn't enough.

Where you place them matters.

Build Your Sanctuary

Your sanctuary starts small, but you'll gradually expand it by placing new tiles alongside those already in your zoo.

Animal tiles, buildings and projects all have different effects and requirements, so you'll need to consider how each new addition fits into your existing layout.

A great tile in the wrong location may not be nearly as useful as a seemingly less impressive tile that completes an important combination.

This makes every addition to your sanctuary a small spatial puzzle.

Bring in the Animals

Animals are at the heart of your sanctuary.

Different animals are associated with different habitats, and you'll need to manage your available actions carefully to bring them into your zoo.

Some animals work particularly well alongside others, allowing you to create combinations that generate additional benefits.

So while filling your sanctuary with animals might look like the obvious strategy, choosing the right animals—and putting them in the right places—is where the real strategy lies.

Develop Your Sanctuary

Your sanctuary isn't just about animals.

You'll also build facilities and undertake projects that help your zoo become more efficient and successful.

Buildings can provide useful benefits, while projects offer additional ways to develop your sanctuary and pursue your strategy.

As your sanctuary grows, you'll have more opportunities to combine these different elements.

Manage Your Actions

Sanctuary uses an interesting action system that rewards careful planning.

You have four action cards, associated with different habitat types and projects.

When you use an action, its card moves into a weaker position.

That means you need to think about when to use your actions as well as which action to take.

Sometimes you'll want to perform a powerful action immediately.

Other times, it can be better to wait and allow an action to become stronger before using it.

Pursue Conservation

Conservation is a central part of Sanctuary.

At the beginning of the game, you'll have a selection of Conservation objectives to work towards.

Completing these objectives can earn valuable rewards and help you develop your action system.

This creates an interesting tension between simply building the sanctuary you want and adapting your plans to achieve the conservation goals available during the game.

Upgrade Your Actions

As your sanctuary develops, you can unlock upgrades that make your actions more powerful.

This means your sanctuary doesn't just grow physically.

Your capabilities grow too.

Early-game decisions can therefore have a significant impact on the opportunities available to you later.

Complete Your Sanctuary

The game progresses until one of several end-game conditions is reached.

Players then calculate their final scores based on their animals, buildings, projects, conservation achievements and other bonuses.

The player who has created the most successful sanctuary wins.

---

Sanctuary vs Ark Nova

If you're already a fan of Ark Nova, Sanctuary is an obvious game to investigate.

Both games share the same broad theme: build a modern zoo, introduce animals and work towards conservation goals.

However, Sanctuary takes a more streamlined approach.

Rather than attempting to replicate every system from Ark Nova, it focuses on the satisfying core ideas of zoo building, tile placement, animal combinations and conservation.

That makes it an especially interesting choice for players who love the theme of Ark Nova but want something that is:

• More compact.
• Easier to get to the table.
• Focused around tile placement.
• Suitable for solo play.
• Still strategically rewarding.

So if you've ever thought:

"I love Ark Nova, but I'd like something a little quicker and more streamlined."

Sanctuary: An Ark Nova Game could be exactly what you're looking for.

---

Who Is Sanctuary: An Ark Nova Game For?

Sanctuary is a great choice for:

• Ark Nova fans looking for another game in the same universe.
• Players searching for games like Ark Nova.
• Players who enjoy zoo-building games.
• Fans of tile-laying games.
• Animal and wildlife enthusiasts.
• Players who enjoy conservation-themed games.
• Fans of tableau building.
• Solo board gamers.
• Couples looking for a strategic two-player game.
• Families with older children.
• Players who enjoy medium-weight strategy games.
• Gamers who enjoy spatial puzzles.
• Players who like building and optimising their own personal board.

---

Why Buy From Roll The Dice?

At Roll The Dice, we're passionate about finding games that offer something genuinely interesting for our customers.

Sanctuary: An Ark Nova Game is particularly appealing because it combines a fantastic wildlife theme with the satisfying puzzle of building your own sanctuary.

And if you're already a fan of Ark Nova, Sanctuary gives you another way to explore that world.

It's also a great option when you're looking for a zoo-building board game that's easier to get to the table, or when you want a strategic game that works particularly well with two players or solo.

Every order is packed with care by fellow board gamers, with fast UK dispatch and friendly customer service.

---

Game Information

---

What's Included?

Sanctuary: An Ark Nova Game includes:

• 135 unique zoo tiles
• Animal tiles
• Building tiles
• Project tiles
• Individual sanctuary boards
• Action cards
• Conservation objectives
• Conservation markers
• Action upgrade markers
• Market/display components
• Player components
• Solo-game components
• Rulebook

---

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sanctuary: An Ark Nova Game?

Sanctuary: An Ark Nova Game is a strategic tile-laying board game in the Ark Nova universe. Players build their own wildlife sanctuaries by acquiring and placing animal, building and project tiles.

Is Sanctuary part of Ark Nova?

Yes. Sanctuary is set in the Ark Nova universe and shares its focus on animals, modern zoos and conservation.

Is Sanctuary the same game as Ark Nova?

No. Sanctuary is a separate board game with its own gameplay systems.

It takes inspiration from the zoo-building and conservation themes of Ark Nova while offering a more streamlined tile-laying experience.

Is Sanctuary a game like Ark Nova?

Yes. If you enjoy Ark Nova, Sanctuary is an obvious game to consider. It shares the themes of zoo building, animals and conservation while focusing more heavily on tile placement and building your personal sanctuary.

Is Sanctuary easier than Ark Nova?

Sanctuary is designed as a more streamlined experience, making it an attractive option for players who enjoy the concept of Ark Nova but want a game with a more focused ruleset and gameplay experience.

How many people can play Sanctuary?

Sanctuary supports 1–5 players, including solo play.

Can you play Sanctuary solo?

Yes. Sanctuary includes a dedicated solo mode, making it a good choice for players who enjoy strategic solo board games.

How long does Sanctuary take?

A game takes approximately 40–100 minutes, depending on the number of players and experience level.

What age is Sanctuary suitable for?

The recommended age is 12+.

What do you build in Sanctuary?

You build your own wildlife sanctuary using animal, building and project tiles.

Is Sanctuary a tile-laying game?

Yes. Tile placement is one of the central mechanics. You'll need to carefully consider where you place each new animal, building and project.

Does Sanctuary have animals?

Yes. Animals are a major part of the game and form the centrepiece of your developing sanctuary.

What are Conservation objectives?

Conservation objectives provide additional goals for players to pursue during the game. Completing them can provide rewards and help improve your actions.

Is Sanctuary good for two players?

Yes. With support for 1–5 players, Sanctuary works particularly well for couples and two-player gaming groups.

What games are similar to Sanctuary?

If you enjoy Sanctuary, you may also enjoy Ark Nova, Wingspan, Cascadia, Earth, Dorfromantik and other games involving animals, nature, tile placement and strategic engine building.

---

You May Also Enjoy

If you enjoy Sanctuary: An Ark Nova Game, you may also like:

• Ark Nova – The original zoo-building strategy game and the obvious next choice if you want a deeper experience in the same universe.
• Wingspan – Build a thriving wildlife habitat while attracting birds to your nature preserve.
• Cascadia – Create interconnected habitats while strategically placing wildlife.
• Earth – Build a flourishing ecosystem through card combinations and engine building.
• Dorfromantik: The Board Game – A relaxing cooperative tile-laying game about creating a beautiful landscape.

Looking for your next strategy game? Explore our Ark Nova Games, Tile-Laying Games, Animal-Themed Games, Solo Board Games, Strategy Games and Wildlife Games collections.