Ark Nova Marine Worlds Expansion Guide
Ark Nova: Marine Worlds is the main boxed gameplay expansion for Ark Nova. It adds sea animals, aquariums, a new University, alternate action cards, and more Zoo and scoring content.
What Marine Worlds adds
- Sea-animal Zoo cards
- Aquariums as a new special enclosure type
- A new University that grants access to an animal icon of your choice
- Alternate versions of the five original action-card types
- New Final Scoring cards
- New Bonus tiles
- Additional wooden track markers and animal pieces
Aquariums
Sea animals need aquariums rather than ordinary enclosures. This creates another spatial planning problem on your zoo map because you must reserve the correct type of enclosure for marine species.
Alternate action cards
Marine Worlds provides four alternate versions for each of the five original action-card types. At the start of the game, players replace two of their standard action cards with alternates.
This keeps the familiar five-action system intact while giving individual players slightly different efficiencies and tactical incentives.
The new University
The expansion adds a University that gives guaranteed access to one animal icon of your choice. That can make icon-based requirements and conservation plans more reliable.
More Zoo and scoring cards
Marine Worlds increases the normal Zoo-card pool and adds new Final Scoring cards and Bonus tiles. The result is more variety without replacing Ark Nova’s appeal/conservation race or action-card timing system.
Does Marine Worlds require Ark Nova?
Yes. Capstone Games lists Ark Nova as required to play the expansion.
Who should add Marine Worlds?
Marine Worlds is the clear first gameplay expansion for Ark Nova. It adds meaningful variety to cards, map planning and action selection without becoming a separate standalone system.
Related Ark Nova guides
Publisher source
Expansion details checked September 2026.