# First Player vs Ark Nova

The clearest difference is price: First Player at Free against Ark Nova's $7.99. First Player also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). Ark Nova's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months). On review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

First Player is free to download; Ark Nova costs $7.99 up front. First Player sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Ark Nova asks for nothing beyond the download.

Ark Nova holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ark Nova has 1.2K ratings behind it against 212, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 76% of First Player's written reviews are positive against 72% of Ark Nova's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

First Player ships an update every 4 months, Ark Nova every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | First Player | Ark Nova |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $7.99 |
| Rating | [4.6 (212 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-player/id972283389/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ark-nova/id6449233549/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 212 | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **76.4% of reviews** | 72.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#36** |
| Size | 5 MB | 682 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Florian Letz](https://appshunter.io/developer/442784239) | [Dire Wolf Digital](https://appshunter.io/developer/815343758) |

## What reviewers say

### First Player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/first-player/id972283389)

This app offers a quick and completely random way to decide who goes first in any game. Avoid arguments and ensure fairness by letting technology make the choice.

**Highlights:** Random player selection, Fast decision making, Fair game start, Eliminates arguments

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All-in-One | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Works as intended
- 🎯 Straight to the point
- 🎮 Fun for game night
- 💡 Useful for deciding first player

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⚠️ Limited to 5 players
- 💸 Upgrade not worth it
- 👎 Disappointing limitations
- 🎨 Lacks visual flair
- 📱 Free version issues

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes at 6+ players
- Upgrade purchase issues
- In-app purchase not unlocking features
- Touch and hold limited to 5 fingers
- Three finger touch conflicts with iOS gestures

**Requested features**

- Allow more than 5 players
- More visual customization (colors, pizazz)
- Unlock all features in free version


### Ark Nova

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

**Currently charting:** #36 Top Paid · Board, #94 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is First Player free?

First Player is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Ark Nova free?

Ark Nova costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, First Player or Ark Nova?

Ark Nova is rated higher. First Player averages 4.6 out of 5 from 212 ratings, while Ark Nova averages 4.8 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do First Player or Ark Nova have ads?

Neither First Player nor Ark Nova shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, First Player or Ark Nova?

First Player ships an update every 4 months, and Ark Nova every 2 weeks. Most recently, First Player was updated on October 2, 2026 and Ark Nova on October 1, 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.*