Comparison

Scythe vs Ark Nova

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

Scythe4 screens
Ark Nova4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Scythe ships an update every 2 months, Ark Nova every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Scythe versus Ark Nova: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScytheArk Nova
Price$9.99 — better$10.99
Rating3.1 (217 ratings)4.8 (1.3K ratings) — better
Positive reviews39.0% of reviews73.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2171.3K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#183#38 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size421 MB682 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperThe Knights of UnityDire Wolf Digital

Customer experience

Scythe

All ratings216 ratings
Positive46.8%
Neutral13.0%
Negative40.3%
Written reviews246 reviews
Positive39.0%
Neutral13.0%
Negative48.0%

Ark Nova

All ratings1,262 ratings
Positive96.8%
Neutral1.7%
Negative1.5%
Written reviews134 reviews
Positive73.1%
Neutral10.4%
Negative16.4%

User reviews

Scythe

From 217 App Store ratings

What 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 ratings

What 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

1 purchases

Scythe

One-time1
  • Invaders From Afar$3.99
None

Ark Nova

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Scythe free?
Scythe costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Ark Nova free?
Ark Nova costs $10.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Scythe or Ark Nova?
Ark Nova is rated higher. Scythe averages 3.1 out of 5 from 217 ratings, while Ark Nova averages 4.8 from 1.3K ratings.
Do Scythe or Ark Nova have ads?
Neither Scythe nor Ark Nova shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Scythe or Ark Nova?
Scythe ships an update every 2 months, and Ark Nova every 3 weeks. Most recently, Scythe was updated on October 24, 2026 and Ark Nova on October 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, Scythe or Ark Nova?
Scythe currently peaks at #183 in the App Store charts, and Ark Nova at #38. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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