Comparison

Ark Nova vs Roolz

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

Head to head
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.

About

Roolz

Engage in a multiplayer strategy game combining territory control with a fantasy football theme based on real college football. Requires an account and internet connection for gameplay.

Highlights
  • Multiplayer territory control
  • Fantasy football twist
  • Real college football integration
  • Account required
  • Internet connection needed
Features
Read full description

Roolz is a college football application that allows you to interact with fanzones across the nation year-round. Roolz requires an account and an internet connection. Multiplayer features need other players in the same game. Questions or account help: contact us through the Support URL listed on this page.

Screenshots

Ark Nova4 screens
Roolz4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Roolz at Free against Ark Nova's $10.99. Roolz also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 73%) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). Ark Nova's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On rating, 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

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Roolz holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ark Nova has 1.3K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of Ark Nova's written reviews are positive against 100% of Roolz's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ark Nova ships an update every 3 weeks, Roolz every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Ark Nova versus Roolz: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArk NovaRoolz
Price$10.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (1.3K ratings)5.0 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews73.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.3K — better7
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#21 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size682 MB185 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperDire Wolf DigitalGarnix LLc

Customer experience

Ark Nova

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

Roolz

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and 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

Roolz

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Ark Nova

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Roolz

One-time4
  • Add $5.00 Bid Balance$4.99
  • Add $10.00 Bid Balance$9.99
  • Add $25.00 Bid Balance$24.99
Show 1 more
  • Add $50.00 Bid Balance$49.99

Questions

Is Ark Nova free?
Ark Nova costs $10.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Roolz free?
Roolz is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Ark Nova or Roolz?
Roolz is rated higher. Ark Nova averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while Roolz averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.
Do Ark Nova or Roolz have ads?
Roolz shows ads; Ark Nova does not.
Which is updated more often, Ark Nova or Roolz?
Ark Nova ships an update every 3 weeks, and Roolz every 5 days. Most recently, Ark Nova was updated on November 7, 2026 and Roolz on November 9, 2026.

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