Our Verdict
RECOMMENDED
A super agile and fun ark game, perfect for families and quick sessions.
Highlights
- Very clever splitting mechanic
- Adorable theme and light visuals
- Fast and dynamic gameplay
- Easy to teach kids
Keep in mind
- Might be too simple for experts
- Quick decisions require focus
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About the game
What you do in a play session
Get your boat ready, because the fun is about to begin! In Animals on Board, you take on the role of an animal caretaker trying to ensure your ark is full of life. The game is super streamlined and comes with a charming two-tier cardboard ark to organize your animal tiles. The gameplay is fast-paced: at the start, each player secretly chooses one animal for their ark, and the rest form a central pool on the table. The real challenge lies in managing your food crates, as they are your fuel for acquiring new passengers. On each turn, you have two choices: either split the central animal group to gain food, or spend your food to take a group of animals into your ark. But watch out! There's a catch: if you end up with pairs of the same animals, Noah comes along and takes them all for himself! To win, you want to collect sets of animals or high-scoring individual tiles, while also keeping track of your leftover food. It's a light strategy game, perfect for a quick session between others, but one that still requires you to keep a close eye on your opponents to snag the best creatures.
Gallery
Box and component photos
Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.
Rules videos
Learn by watching before you open the box
Best player count
BGG community vote
2
OK
3
BEST
4
BEST
Soundtrack
Ambience suggested by Melodice
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Where to Buy
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Mechanics, categories, families and credits
Mechanics
Categories
Families
Publisher
999 Games, Albi, Ediciones MasQueOca, eggertspiele, G3, Korea Boardgames, Lautapelit.fi, Ludicus Games, Matagot, Pegasus Spiele, Piatnik, Stronghold Games, Swan Panasia Co., Ltd.
Designer
Ralf zur Linde, Wolfgang Sentker
Artist
Alexander Jung
Community
Data from BoardGameGeek
3,040owners
287wishlist
44want to play
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers before you buy
What is the recommended age?
The game is very accessible, making it great for both kids and adults.
How long does a game last?
It's very quick, usually between 15 to 30 minutes.
Is the game very complex?
Not at all; the mechanics are straightforward, perfect for stress-free fun.
What happens if I have pairs of animals?
Noah takes them! Pairs are discarded and you lose those points.
How many players can play?
2 to 4 players will have a great time.
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