Head to head
Penk! or Ark Nova
To help you decide
Why you'd pick each one
Penk!
- Less well known, if you want something off the beaten track.
- Easier to teach and to get to the table: 1.0 vs 3.8 in weight.
- Plays in 18 minutes against 120.
- Brings dice rolling and paper-and-pencil, which the other one doesn't have.
- Works with younger players: 8+ against 14+.
Ark Nova
- Better rated on BoardGameGeek: 8.5 vs 6.0.
- Far more played: 63,016 ratings against 159.
- Meatier, if you want something to chew on.
- Fills a long session, if you have the whole evening.
- Plays solo.
- Brings end game bonuses and hand management, which the other one doesn't have.
The numbers, side by side
| Data point | Penk! | Ark Nova |
|---|---|---|
| BGG rating | 6.0 | 8.5 Better rated |
| Ratings | 159 | 63,016 |
| Players | 2–4 | 1–4 |
| Playing time | 15–20 min | 90–150 min |
| Complexity | 1.0 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Age | 8+ | 14+ |
| Year | 2018 | 2021 |
Only the rating gets a winner mark. A shorter or lighter game isn't a better one: it depends on what you're after.
Ratings and catalogue data are attributed to BoardGameGeek.