# Ark Nova vs Blokus+

The clearest difference is price: Blokus+ at Free against Ark Nova's $10.99. Blokus+ also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs fortnightly). Ark Nova's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On rating, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

Blokus+ is free to download; Ark Nova costs $10.99 up front. Blokus+ sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Ark Nova asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Ark Nova against 4.9 for Blokus+. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ark Nova has 1.2K ratings behind it against 47, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 73% of Ark Nova's written reviews are positive against 75% of Blokus+'s.

Ark Nova ships an update fortnightly, Blokus+ every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 19, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ark Nova | Blokus+ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $10.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.8 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ark-nova/id6449233549/reviews) | **[4.9 (47 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blokus-plus/id6759503004/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 47 |
| Positive reviews | 72.9% of reviews | **75.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#39** | — |
| Size | 682 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Dire Wolf Digital](https://appshunter.io/developer/815343758) | [Qiang Ma](https://appshunter.io/developer/1879078911) |

## What reviewers say

### Ark Nova

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

**Currently charting:** #39 Top Paid · Board, #120 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


### Blokus+

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blokus-plus/id6759503004)

A vibrant digital board game where players strategically place uniquely shaped pieces on a shared grid. Compete against AI or others online, blocking opponents and claiming territory to score the most points. Features include single-player modes, real-time multiplayer, and helpful game aids.

**Highlights:** Single player vs AI, Online multiplayer, Private and public games, Colorblind-friendly mode, Dark mode support, Strategic piece placement, Tutorial and hints

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Scout Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Hints | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $9.99 | one-time |
| Pro Bundle | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ark Nova free?

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

### Is Blokus+ free?

Blokus+ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Ark Nova or Blokus+?

Blokus+ is rated higher. Ark Nova averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Blokus+ averages 4.9 from 47 ratings.

### Do Ark Nova or Blokus+ have ads?

Blokus+ shows ads; Ark Nova does not.

### Which is updated more often, Ark Nova or Blokus+?

Ark Nova ships an update fortnightly, and Blokus+ every 3 days. Most recently, Ark Nova was updated on October 19, 2026 and Blokus+ 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.*