Comparison

Through the Ages vs Ark Nova

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

Head to head
About

Through the Ages

Lead a civilization from its beginnings to the modern era. Expand your resources, develop technologies, and build armies to defend or attack. Construct wonders and choose governments to achieve victory in this deep strategy game.

Highlights
  • Civilization development
  • Resource management
  • Technology research
  • Military expansion
  • Government selection
  • Wonder construction
  • Card-driven gameplay
  • Solo and online multiplayer
Features
Read full description

Through the Ages is based on a highly acclaimed civilization board game by well-known designer Vlaada Chvátil. The original game is recognized as a modern classic board game. ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES Become a chieftain of a small civilization at the dawn of humankind's history. Expand your farms and mines to ensure you have enough resources to grow your civilization. This is our chance to make history! Develop various technologies, improve armies to defend your cities, or attack other civilizations nearby. Choose the best government that fits your goals and build magnificent wonders to achieve memorable victory at the end of the modern era. CARD-DRIVEN GAMEPLAY Through the Ages is a card-driven, turn-based board game that gives you countless options on what to do and how to play. Thanks to the pool of hundreds of cards, every game is unique, allowing you to build a mighty civilization. PLAY SOLO OR ONLINE You can play against AI-driven world leaders with various difficulties, or you can jump into online games against other players. Thanks to the ELO system, the game will find you opponents of the same level as you are. Clash with them and discover whose strategy leads to victory. You can also participate in some of the many championships, including the official World Championship in Through the Ages. PLENTY OF CHALLENGES The game offers more than 30 challenges that change the winning conditions or rules, so you must adapt your strategy to lead your civilization to victory. Prove that you understand how civilization works and become the mighty world leader.

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.

Screenshots

Through the Ages4 screens
Ark Nova4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ark Nova at none against Through the Ages's 1. Through the Ages's advantage is review sentiment (88% vs 72%) and ratings volume (5.1K vs 1.2K). On rating, update cadence, ads and chart position 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

Through the Ages costs $9.99 and Ark Nova $10.99 up front. Through the Ages sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Ark Nova asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Through the Ages against 4.8 for Ark Nova. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5.1K and 1.2K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 88% of Through the Ages's written reviews are positive against 72% of Ark Nova's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Through the Ages ships an update every 10 days, Ark Nova every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Through the Ages versus Ark Nova: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThrough the AgesArk Nova
Price$9.99 — better$10.99
Rating4.9 (5.1K ratings) — better4.8 (1.2K ratings)
Positive reviews87.7% of reviews — better72.4% of reviews
Number of ratings5.1K — better1.2K
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank#76#29 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size188 MB682 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperCGE Digital s.r.o.Dire Wolf Digital

Customer experience

Through the Ages

All ratings5,140 ratings
Positive97.8%
Neutral0.8%
Negative1.4%
Written reviews814 reviews
Positive87.7%
Neutral3.8%
Negative8.5%

Ark Nova

All ratings1,190 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral1.9%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews127 reviews
Positive72.4%
Neutral11.0%
Negative16.5%

User reviews

Through the Ages

From 5.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent tutorial
  • 👍 Great implementation of board game
  • 🚀 Smooth gameplay
  • 👍 Challenging AI
  • 👍 Lots of replay value

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 🐛 Connectivity issues with online play
  • 🐛 Bugs in challenge mode
  • 🐛 Compatibility issues with older devices

Ark Nova

From 1.2K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

  • 🐛 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

Bugs and requests

Through the Ages

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes during challenge mode
  • Connectivity issues with online play
  • Compatibility problems on older devices
  • Freezing during gameplay

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add pass-and-play mode with AI
  • Ability to mix human and AI players
  • More customization options for game settings
  • Expansion content (new leaders, wonders, etc.)
  • Ability to slow down AI turns for better observation

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

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Through the Ages

One-time1
  • New Leaders and Wonders$4.99
None

Ark Nova

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Through the Ages free?
Through the Ages costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Ark Nova free?
Ark Nova costs $10.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Through the Ages or Ark Nova?
Through the Ages is rated higher. Through the Ages averages 4.9 out of 5 from 5.1K ratings, while Ark Nova averages 4.8 from 1.2K ratings.
Do Through the Ages or Ark Nova have ads?
Neither Through the Ages nor Ark Nova shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Through the Ages or Ark Nova?
Through the Ages ships an update every 10 days, and Ark Nova every 2 weeks. Most recently, Through the Ages was updated on September 26, 2026 and Ark Nova on September 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, Through the Ages or Ark Nova?
Through the Ages currently peaks at #76 in the App Store charts, and Ark Nova at #29. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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