# Tichu one vs Ark Nova

The clearest difference is price: Tichu one at Free against Ark Nova's $10.99. Ark Nova's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 3.7) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Tichu one is free to download; Ark Nova costs $10.99 up front. Tichu one sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year. Ark Nova asks for nothing beyond the download.

Ark Nova holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ark Nova has 1.2K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Tichu one's written reviews are positive against 73% of Ark Nova's.

Tichu one ships an update every 9 days, Ark Nova fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tichu one | Ark Nova |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $10.99 |
| Rating | [3.7 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tichu-one/id1600922596/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ark-nova/id6449233549/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 15 | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | 42.9% of reviews | **72.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#35** |
| Size | 157 MB | 682 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Matthias Leu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1600882274) | [Dire Wolf Digital](https://appshunter.io/developer/815343758) |

## What reviewers say

### Tichu one

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tichu-one/id1600922596)

This card game app offers both singleplayer and multiplayer modes with AI fallback. Enjoy cross-platform play, automatic matchmaking, and an online leaderboard. A community forum is also available for players.

**Highlights:** Clear gameplay layout, Multiplayer with AI fallback, Online matchmaking, Online leaderboard, Singleplayer and friendship games, Cross-platform multiplayer

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Year Premium | $3.99 | per year |
| lifetime premium | $12.99 | one-time |


### Ark Nova

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ark-nova/id6449233549)

**Currently charting:** #35 Top Paid · Board, #112 Top Paid · Strategy (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great implementation overall
- 👍 Lots of fun
- 👍 Good animations
- 👍 Choice of modes
- 👍 Clean, modern and enjoyable design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 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

**Reported bugs**

- iPad Flash exit issue
- Rewards screen being blocked by other UI elements

**Requested features**

- Option to enable larger UI buttons for modal panels
- Full screen mode
- Option to reverse zoom direction
- Improved card readability/zoom


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tichu one free?

Tichu one is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Ark Nova free?

Ark Nova costs $10.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Tichu one or Ark Nova?

Ark Nova is rated higher. Tichu one averages 3.7 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while Ark Nova averages 4.8 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do Tichu one or Ark Nova have ads?

Neither Tichu one nor Ark Nova shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Tichu one or Ark Nova?

Tichu one ships an update every 9 days, and Ark Nova fortnightly. Most recently, Tichu one was updated on October 9, 2026 and Ark Nova on October 19, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*