# Ark Nova vs Real Queen

The clearest difference is price: Real Queen at Free against Ark Nova's $10.99. Ark Nova's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks) and chart position (#35 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Ark Nova ships an update every 2 weeks, Real Queen every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ark Nova | Real Queen |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $10.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ark-nova/id6449233549/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 72.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Best chart rank | **#35** | — |
| Size | 682 MB | 137 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dire Wolf Digital](https://appshunter.io/developer/815343758) | [Leonardo Catano](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822287842) |

## What reviewers say

### Ark Nova

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

**Currently charting:** #35 Top Paid · Board, #129 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


### Real Queen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/real-queen/id6747672717)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ark Nova free?

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

### Is Real Queen free?

Real Queen is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Ark Nova or Real Queen have ads?

Neither Ark Nova nor Real Queen shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ark Nova or Real Queen?

Ark Nova ships an update every 2 weeks, and Real Queen every 5 weeks. Most recently, Ark Nova was updated on September 24, 2026 and Real Queen on September 21, 2026.

---

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