Comparison

Vienna Connection 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

Vienna Connection

This app serves as a digital companion for a spy-themed board game set during the Cold War. It allows players to select and play missions directly on their mobile device, featuring puzzles, solutions, and a final report section.

Highlights
  • Digital board game companion
  • Mission selection
  • In-app puzzles
  • Solutions access
  • Final report section
  • Spy-themed gameplay
Features
Read full description

This application is a digital companion for the Vienna Connection board game. You can play Vienna Connection by accessing the website, or by downloading this app to your mobile device.When you launch the app, you will select the Mission you want to play, and you can immediately start playing. The app has all the elements discussed in the rules, that is Puzzles, Solutions and Final report section. Vienna Connection is a spy themed board game. In this story-driven game for 1-5 players, you command a team of CIA agents during the Cold War conducting secret missions in various European cities. It’s January 1977. CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia gets wind of Soviet activity in Austria and has no choice but to intervene. The CIA decides to dispatch members of their Special Activities Division (SAD). The game is on. If you’re looking for a spy game, and would love to outthink and defeat Soviet agent’s activities—Vienna Connection is the game for you.

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

Vienna Connection4 screens
Ark Nova4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Ark Nova at 72% against Vienna Connection's 0%. Ark Nova also leads on rating (4.8 vs 1.0) and ratings volume (1.2K vs 1). Vienna Connection's advantage is price (Free vs $10.99) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

Vienna Connection is free to download; Ark Nova costs $10.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ark Nova holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ark Nova has 1.2K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Vienna Connection's written reviews are positive against 72% of Ark Nova's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Vienna Connection versus Ark Nova: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVienna ConnectionArk Nova
PriceFree — better$10.99
Rating1.0 (1 ratings)4.8 (1.2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews72.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings11.2K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#37 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size115 MB682 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperPortal GamesDire Wolf Digital

Customer experience

Vienna Connection

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Ark Nova

All ratings1,190 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.9%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews127 reviews
Positive72.4%
Neutral11.0%
Negative16.5%

Bugs and requests

Vienna Connection

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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

None

Vienna Connection

No in-app purchases

None

Ark Nova

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Vienna Connection free?
Vienna Connection is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ark Nova free?
Ark Nova costs $10.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Vienna Connection or Ark Nova?
Ark Nova is rated higher. Vienna Connection averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Ark Nova averages 4.8 from 1.2K ratings.
Do Vienna Connection or Ark Nova have ads?
Neither Vienna Connection nor Ark Nova shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Vienna Connection or Ark Nova?
Vienna Connection ships an update every 2 weeks, and Ark Nova every 2 weeks. Most recently, Vienna Connection was updated on September 7, 2026 and Ark Nova on September 27, 2026.

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