Scythe vs Ark Nova
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Scythe
Experience an award-winning 4X strategy board game set in an alternate 1920s Europe. Lead one of seven unique factions, explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate your way to victory. Engage in asymmetric gameplay with varied starting conditions and secret objectives.
- Alternate 1920s Europe setting
- 7 unique factions with different possibilities
- 4X mechanics: explore, expand, exploit, exterminate
- Asymmetric gameplay with varied starting resources and objectives
- Turn-based combat and resource management
- Single-player AI modes
- Online multiplayer for up to 7 players
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Scythe: Digital Edition is a mobile version of an awarded strategy board game with multiplayer for 1-5 players (with DLC for up to 7 players!). Divide and rule in an alternate reality in 1920s Europe, filled with mechs. Become the commander of a selected faction and lead it to victory in this 4X tabletop game! Choose your faction Each nation in Scythe: Digital Edition provides completely different possibilities. Be the hero of one of the seven factions: Saxony Empire, Crimean Khanate, Rusviet Union, Polania Republic, Nordic Kingdom, Clan Albion or Togawa Shogunate*. For the unique gameplay, pick a speciality: agriculturalist, industrialist, engineer, patriot or mechanic. Embrace the 4X mechanics Explore the land surrounding the Factory and be aware of the dangers waiting there. Expand your faction by claiming new territories. Exploit and gather resources to upgrade your buildings. Exterminate opposing enemies or dominate the game economically. Engage asymmetric gameplay From the very beginning, players start the game with different resources, a different starting location and a secret objective. It reflects the unpredictability of the board game and encourages experimentation. Move around the board, recruit units and fight your way to the top in a turn-based style! Play with other players Fight on your own terms, adjusting the mats to your preferences. Take three levels of AI to fine-tune your strategy, then challenge other players. In Scythe: Digital Edition, you can play with your friends in a hot-seat or try your best in online multiplayer with up to 7 players. Europe is waiting! *You can buy Clan Albion and Togawa Shogunate in DLC Invaders from Afar via the in-game store as additional factions.
Ark Nova
Design and manage a modern zoo to support global conservation efforts. Build enclosures, house animals, and utilize unique cards for special abilities. Compete to create the most successful zoological establishment.
- Plan and design a modern zoo
- Build enclosures and accommodate animals
- Support global conservation projects
- Utilize 255 unique cards (animals, specialists, projects)
- Upgrade action cards for gameplay
- Increase zoo appeal and scientific reputation
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Plan and build a modern, scientifically managed zoo to support conservation projects in an acclaimed strategy board game. In Ark Nova, you will plan and design a modern, scientifically managed zoo. With the ultimate goal of owning the most successful zoological establishment, you will build enclosures, accommodate animals, and support conservation projects all over the world. Specialists and unique buildings will help you in achieving this goal. At the heart of Ark Nova are 255 cards featuring animals, specialists, unique enclosures, and conservation projects, each with a particular ability. Use them to increase the appeal and scientific reputation of your zoo and to collect conservation points. Each player has a set of action cards, which you will use and upgrade to carry out your plans. Each player has a set of five action cards to manage their gameplay, and the power of an action is determined by the slot the card currently occupies. The cards are: BUILD: Allows you to build standard or special enclosures, kiosks, and pavilions. ANIMALS: Allows you to accommodate animals in your zoo. CARDS: Allows you to gain new zoo cards (animals, sponsors, and conservation project cards). ASSOCIATION: Allows your association workers to carry out different tasks. SPONSORS: Allows you to play a sponsor card in your zoo or to raise money. With high replayability and rich components, Ark Nova provides a remarkable gaming experience that will bring the game to the table again and again.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Ark Nova at 4.8 against Scythe's 3.1. Ark Nova also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (73% vs 39%). Scythe's advantage is price ($9.99 vs $10.99). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Scythe costs $9.99 and Ark Nova $10.99 up front. Scythe sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Ark Nova asks for nothing beyond the download.
Ark Nova holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ark Nova has 1.3K ratings behind it against 217, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of Scythe's written reviews are positive against 73% of Ark Nova's.
Scythe ships an update every 2 months, Ark Nova every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Scythe | Ark Nova |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 — better | $10.99 |
| Rating | 3.1 (217 ratings) | 4.8 (1.3K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 39.0% of reviews | 73.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 217 | 1.3K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #183 | #38 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 421 MB | 682 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | The Knights of Unity | Dire Wolf Digital |
Customer experience
Scythe
Ark Nova
User reviews
Scythe
From 217 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Great game adaptation
- 👍 Smooth gameplay
- 👍 Excellent tutorial
- 👍 Offline mode works well
- 👍 Visuals and UI are well-designed
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes and loading issues
- 🐛 Buggy undo functionality
- 🐛 Inability to see opponent actions
- 🐛 Confusing UI elements
- 🐛 Lack of offline play
Ark Nova
From 1.3K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Great implementation overall
- 👍 Lots of fun
- 👍 Good animations
- 👍 Choice of modes
- 👍 Clean, modern and enjoyable design
Room to improve
- 🐛 Tile placement/rotation issues on iPad
- 🐛 Building placement UI issues
- 👎 Difficult to read board state on mobile
- 👎 Lack of simultaneous view for key game info
- 👎 Cumbersome to create games with friends
Bugs and requests
Scythe
Reported bugs
4 issues- Game freezes on loading screen
- Unable to load/unload individual resources
- Crashes after recent updates
- Incompatibility with older iOS devices
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to invite offline friends
- Push notifications for turn updates
- More difficulty settings for AI
- Expansion content (Invaders from Afar)
- Better analytics and player stats
Ark Nova
Reported bugs
2 issues- iPad Flash exit issue
- Rewards screen being blocked by other UI elements
Requested features
4 requests- Option to enable larger UI buttons for modal panels
- Full screen mode
- Option to reverse zoom direction
- Improved card readability/zoom
In-app purchases
Scythe
- Invaders From Afar$3.99
Ark Nova
No in-app purchases







