# Ark Nova vs Chesspy

The clearest difference is price: Chesspy at Free against Ark Nova's $10.99. Chesspy also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly) and review sentiment (100% vs 73%). Ark Nova's advantage is ratings volume (1.2K vs 1) and chart position (#24 vs unranked). On ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Chesspy holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ark Nova has 1.2K ratings behind it against 1, 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 Chesspy's.

Ark Nova ships an update fortnightly, Chesspy every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ark Nova | Chesspy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $10.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.8 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ark-nova/id6449233549/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesspy/id6816628651/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 72.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#24** | — |
| Size | 682 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dire Wolf Digital](https://appshunter.io/developer/815343758) | [Jaewon Seo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1880940306) |

## What reviewers say

### Ark Nova

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

**Currently charting:** #24 Top Paid · Board, #87 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


### Chesspy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesspy/id6816628651)

Solve daily chess logic puzzles by strategically placing pieces to attack numbered targets. Compete with friends in multiplayer battles or tackle endless challenges. Offers a tutorial for beginners and advanced modes for experienced players.

**Highlights:** Daily chess logic puzzles, Multiplayer battles with friends, Piece placement strategy, Tutorial for beginners, Unlimited daily boards, Hints and past missions

**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 Chesspy free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Ark Nova or Chesspy?

Chesspy is rated higher. Ark Nova averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Chesspy averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Ark Nova or Chesspy have ads?

Neither Ark Nova nor Chesspy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Ark Nova or Chesspy?

Ark Nova ships an update fortnightly, and Chesspy every 2 days. Most recently, Ark Nova was updated on October 12, 2026 and Chesspy on October 8, 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.*