Ark Nova

(led by Sean) 2021 complex game where players plan and design a modern, scientifically managed zoo. With the ultimate goal of owning the most successful zoological establishment, players build enclosures, accommodate animals, and support conservation projects all over the world. Specialists and unique buildings will help in achieving this goal. We finished in just under 4 hours, so the pre-arranged game and early start were essential to playing to completion.

Savannah Park

(led by Wendy) 2021 Kramer/Kiesling collaboration of a bingo-like puzzle game. Sean considers this as Take It Easy on steroids. Players are calling out tiles for all to reposition for their safari park, trying to group herds of animals adjacent to watering holes and avoiding fires. Scoring is the number of animals in a herd multiplied by the number of adjacent waterholes (up to 3). Additional points are earned for grasslands and trees

Caldera Park

(led by K-ban) Karamer/Kiesling revisited and revised Savannah Park in 2022 changing the terrain, placement/tile selection mechanism while retaining the herd multiplied by water hole scoring but adding geyser, waterfall, river and terrain bonuses. The two designs feel different enough to own both but Caldera Park will appeal more to gamers while Savannah Park will appeal more for casual and family gamers.

BarenPark

2x (led by Tony) 2017 Phil Walker Harding design where players try to create the best Bear Park. The park is created by combining polyomino tiles onto a grid, with players scoring for animal houses, outdoor areas, completed construction, and more. The sooner you build it, the better! Cover icons to get new tiles and park sections. The game ends as soon as one player has finished expanding their park, then VPs are tallied. Two players new to the game enjoyed themselves so much that they played it a second time in succession.

Zooloretto

(led by Wendy) 2007 German Game of the Year (SdJ) winner where each player uses small, large, wild, and exotic animals and their young to try to attract as many visitors as possible to their zoo – but be careful! The zoo must be carefully planned as before you know it, you might have too many animals and no more room for them. That brings minus points! Luckily, your zoo can expand by spending coins.

Zoo Vadis

2x (led by K-ban) 2023 re-theming/revision of Knizia’s 1992’s negotiation game, Quo Vadis, from the Roman Senate to zoo animals taking things over and campaigning to be the star attraction. The addition of Peacocks who roam the grounds (and can be bribed for their support), asymmetrical animal powers that can only be used to help opponents and a two-sided board to accomodate 3-5 or 6-7 players vastly improves this classic game that finishes in 30-45 minutes. The production is drop dead gorgeous, especially the 3D wooden animals and the coins for the deluxe edition.

Point City

(led by Wendy) 2023 (no animals involved) card-drafting, engine-building game with more than 150 unique building cards, giving players the opportunity to create a completely different city each time it is played. The rules are simple: Take two adjacent cards from the dynamic city grid and add them to your expanding city. Use your resource cards and bonuses to construct building cards that require specific combinations. Build special civic structures to multiply your city’s points and be the top urban planner!