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Description
In Sanctuary, you will plan and design a modern, scientifically-managed zoo for animals and visitors. A supply of 135 unique zoo tiles provides you with animals, buildings, and projects. In every game, you want to find the best mix from those available to build the most successful zoological establishment. Different effects on the tiles will help you to achieve conservation goals and to increase the attraction of your zoo.
Each player has a set of four action cards to manage their gameplay, and the power of an action is determined by the slot the card currently occupies. One of those cards will let you play projects, and the other three cards will let you play animals of a specific habitat: forest, rock, or water.
Sanctuary is based on its predecessor Ark Nova, but modifies and simplifies many of the mechanisms of that game in an elegant and surprising manner. Your goal to find the best way to puzzle together your animals, buildings, and projects on your zoo map is an ongoing pleasure!
—description from the publisher
Year Published
2025
Featured Videos
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 15
This page: 15
Sentiment:
pos 13 ·
mix 0 ·
neu 0 ·
neg 1
Showing 1–15 of 15
Video c_aYY0eH8vI
Cray rules teach at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 42983 · mention_pk 130738
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Clear, step-by-step setup and turn structure
- Tight core engine with meaningful choice from tile placement and action-card synergy
- Thematic zoo-conservation flavor with intuitive scoring
- Flexible player count (1-5) and accessible teaching
Cons
- Rules-heavy for complete newcomers to the hobby
- Potentially long playtime, especially with larger player counts
- High interaction and bookkeeping can feel dense during first plays
Thematic elements
- Zoo management, conservation, and tile-based development
- Modern zoo management setting with animals, habitats, and conservation objectives
- Strategic, tile-placement and resource-management gameplay
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action cards and strength-based play — Four action cards guide turns; upgrading them and their position determines which actions you can take and how powerful they are.
- Conservation markers and objectives — Use markers to claim conservation objectives on a separate board, contributing to endgame and scoring.
- Endgame and scoring variety — End conditions include four conservation objectives, a filled zoo map, or an empty tile supply; scoring covers animals, buildings, projects, and open areas.
- hand management — End of turn: manage hand size, replenish display, and draw tiles; upgrade or use action cards as available.
- River and open area rules — Certain tiles reference river edges; open areas score points if left unfilled at the end.
- tile placement — Place animal, building, and project tiles on your zoo map adjacent to existing tiles, respecting space and orientation rules.
- Turn administration and hand management — End of turn: manage hand size, replenish display, and draw tiles; upgrade or use action cards as available.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Sanctuary is a one to five player game designed by Matias Wig and it's published by Capstone Games.
- In Sanctuary, you'll build and manage a modern zoo by adding animals, buildings, and projects from 135 unique tiles.
- this game is played in turns.
- On your turn, there are two things you always do.
- First, you'll take one tile from the display, and then you'll perform one action with one of your action cards.
- the player with the most points wins.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video fkeSpsDdbXg
Stonemire Games analysis at 0:06 sentiment: positive
video_pk 32425 · mention_pk 95915
Click to watch at 0:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- clever action system tied to upgrading tiles
- tiles are easy to slide and manage
- upgrade system allows upgrading all tiles
- short-term goals provide clear focus and motivation
Cons
- potentially overwhelming number of goals to track
Thematic elements
- upgrading action tiles linked to objectives
- Tile-placement zoo/animal sanctuary on a personal board
- tile-driven engine-building with shared goals
Comparison games
- Ark Nova
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action_tiles — tiles determine available actions; upgrading tiles unlocks more actions
- shared_objectives — players complete common goals that trigger upgrades
- threshold_based_actions — actions require reaching a threshold instead of consuming resources
- tile_upgrades — upgrading tiles by meeting objectives to improve actions
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the action system, which are tiles instead of cards in this game
- I like this action system a lot
- it's very clever action system
- I like that there's four of them, so you can actually upgrade all of your tiles
- upgrading feels good
- I would almost say this game gives you too many things to focus on
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video k1cx0wS29kU
Cardboard Harold game_review at 0:02
video_pk 31757 · mention_pk 93562
Click to watch at 0:02 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Array
- Array
- Proximity-based scoring, animal habitats, conservation projects
- Array
- Zoo management with conservation theme
- Array
- Array
- Array
- mixed
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- What the f is this graphic design decision?
- This is insanity. Absolutely unhinged.
- It's clear that the intent of Sanctuary is to take the experience of Ark Nova and make it just more manageable and in that it totally succeeds.
- If you own the original, Sanctuary probably doesn't replace it for you.
- This would be the definitive game.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video RtarOMn5jcE
game_review at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 28291 · mention_pk 83000
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- tight, puzzle-focused decisions driven by timing
- clear, approachable rules that support a quick game
- satisfying interlocking combos and momentum shifts
- compact artwork and thematic weight carried by the animals
- shorter playtime without sacrificing depth
Cons
- scarce symbols can make certain scoring plants feel endangered
- blends in with many tile-lane pattern builders on the market, risking perceived sameness
- draw luck can affect variability and replay value
Thematic elements
- Wildlife conservation, habitat construction, and exhibit-style scoring.
- A modern wildlife sanctuary where players draft and place tiles to create exhibits and scoring opportunities.
- Bright, energetic, puzzle-forward with momentum-based play.
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action cards — Each of four action cards offers two actions; the effectiveness scales with how far the card sits on the track, and the card slides back after use.
- drafting — Players pick one tile from a shared display, balancing access and the potential future options as the row extends.
- Pattern Building — As tiles accumulate, players discover and exploit small combos by aligning patterns and chains on their boards.
- pattern-building — As tiles accumulate, players discover and exploit small combos by aligning patterns and chains on their boards.
- resource flow and tempo — Gaining extra tiles and managing the pace of tile draws and plays creates a tempo that players must respond to.
- Scoring Conditions — Scores come from symbols on tiles and projects; completing goals or aligning patterns yields points, with momentum-based bonuses.
- tile placement — Tiles are placed to build patterns, trigger bonuses, and influence end-game scoring.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- A quick review of Sanctuary, a fast, honest look at this zoo building tile game.
- Clean, simple, and straight to the point.
- The pattern building and combo training are satisfying, and the action selection track is excellent, simple, but full of timing decisions.
- Sanctuary is good, clever, and fun to puzzle out, but it's also one of the many tile lane pattern builders on the market.
- What do you think? Is Sanry going to join your collection, or is it going to be left to wander in the wild?
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video nxv7ZxrfCfw
Roto Runster playthrough at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 11658 · mention_pk 34230
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Fast, elegant tile-laying; tight decisions; solo mode mirrors multiplayer; high thematic feel; scalable with player count.
Cons
- Some complexity, reliance on tile order; potential setup confusion; fewer unique player boards compared to Ark Nova.
Thematic elements
- Wildlife conservation, habitat management, animal husbandry
- Animal sanctuary construction and conservation projects across continents (Africa, Australia, etc.)
- Educational solo playthrough with strategic drafting and tile placement
Comparison games
- Ark Nova
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action card upgrades — upgrade action cards to increase power and capabilities
- animal release and breeding tokens — release animals and breed pairs for extra scoring and tokens
- building and conservation tokens — buildings and tokens interact to boost scoring and enable actions
- conservation objectives — complete objectives to earn bonus points and endgame triggers
- open areas and placement rules — certain placements require open areas and affect future placements
- solo mode with automated opponent — the solo game uses an automated opponent that draws tiles and ends when timer ends
- tile drafting/drawing — players draft or draw tiles that define habitats and bonuses
- tile placement and sanctuary expansion — place animals and enclosures in a contiguous layout starting at the entrance
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This is not Arc Nova Light. It is something different. It is something faster and more elegant, easier to get to the table.
- This drafting queue swims by so fast with everybody always getting one, no matter what, for free.
- If you love Ark Nova, I think you're going to want Sanctuary.
- it's a 70-minute game, and that's saying something
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video pbzKXS-_OIY
Game Boy Geek top_10_list at 6:34 sentiment: positive
video_pk 7118 · mention_pk 21056
Click to watch at 6:34 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Elegant simplification of Ark Nova mechanics
- Thematic appeal for animal lovers
- Quicker playtime than Ark Nova with tile emphasis
Cons
- Mixed initial reviews on pacing and flow
- Less depth than Ark Nova for some players
Thematic elements
- animal preservation, modern zoo design
- zoo management and conservation
- tile laying with action slots
Comparison games
- Ark Nova
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card-driven actions — four action cards govern play with slot-based power levels
- habitat-based action access — play animals by habitat (forest, rock, water) or project tiles
- tile laying — arrange tiles to build the zoo and achieve conservation goals
- tile-card synergy — cards determine when and what actions can be taken
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- This will be the first convention they'll be at.
- I love deduction games. I love hidden movement games.
- I am a huge animal lover and the art looks great.
- The theme looks amazing. The board, just the string and stuff looks awesome.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video ZAHnBTELn2E
Before You Play top_10_list at 12:06 sentiment: positive
video_pk 6623 · mention_pk 19677
Click to watch at 12:06 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Streamlined version of acclaimed Ark Nova
- Accessible to casual and newer gamers
- Maintains card mechanism from original
- Spatial puzzle gameplay interesting
- Much shorter playtime (40-100 min vs hours)
- More likely to get to the table
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Building and managing a sanctuary/zoo
- Zoo building
- Streamlined version of Ark Nova
Comparison games
- Ark Nova
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Card Mechanics — Managing four cards that determine action strength and timing
- Spatial Puzzle — Arranging tiles in sanctuary in spatial puzzle way
- tile placement — Drawing and placing tiles to build sanctuary
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- October. We are going to be talking about our top 10 most anticipated games at Essen Spiel
- This is the world's largest board game convention held in Essen Germany
- We are expecting a baby any day now
- They're all clever. Clever in their own way, one way or another
- It just sounds very euroy. something that goes right up our alley
- I like these kind of games where you're trying to always bring up the rear. I feel like it kind of creates this internal tension and decision-making
- It's a little funky, but it works really well
- Pretty much if there's a David Turxy Euro game that's coming out, my board and dice, we would love to play it
- I am absolutely judging this board game by its cover and by its looks
- The looks alone and the fact that it's like a heavy euro has us both really, really intrigued in this one
- So anyh who, really looking forward to playing this one. That is our number one, Sanctuary
- There are a lot of publishers that you see there that you don't see anywhere else and they're from all over the world
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video jxt0ddH7MVI
Dice Tower review at 1:22 sentiment: positive
video_pk 6594 · mention_pk 19547
Click to watch at 1:22 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- sequel to Arnova
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
- Arnova
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Welcome back to the Dice Tours. We take a look at another shelf in the Dice Tower Library.
- if you like games about delivering the mail, this is it
- Just a solid game of quick, snappy turns
- AIA, what a great game about shipping. This is a fantastic, terrific game.
- You like Dominion, but you want it for dice. This is your game.
- Very very popular games all them. That's why there's two of each.
- Although, frankly, you should always play with the expansion.
- I just really am loving SETI. Fantastic game.
- I do like this game. I have a soft spot for it.
- Vast, not as popular as its successor, root
- My favorite game here is The Great Museum Caper. Nope. I forgot Magical Athletes there. Magical Athlete is amazing.
- I just love Tumbling Dice.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video jck3n4dY11c
The Brothers Murf top_10_list at 13:29 sentiment: positive
video_pk 5955 · mention_pk 17646
Click to watch at 13:29 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- compact, lighter Ark Nova-inspired experience
- high aesthetic appeal and a clear thematic throughline
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- animal care and conservation within a zoo setting
- zoo/animal sanctuary-themed park with enclosures and sponsorships
- Ark Nova-inspired but lighter
Comparison games
- Ark Nova
- Ark Nova family of lighter variants
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- four action cards — actions correspond to placing projects and animals, with rightward timing providing more power
- tile-based placement — tiles represent enclosures, animals, sponsorships
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Look at this cover. For that reason alone, I immediately went, 'Cool. That's my most anticipated game from Essen.'
- I'm judging a game by its cover, but your cover is massive real estate. Don't tell me to not judge games by their cover because it is important.
- Oh my gosh, this is that game at Essen every year that I'm immediately just like, do I pay someone to buy it at Essen and then ship it to me? I shouldn't.
- Sanctuary is kind of a smaller version of Ark Nova. I really, really like Ark Nova, but this is... a tile-based version that's quicker to table.
- This feels kind of like a Terramystica kind of game because there are four tracks and you invest to boost different aspects.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video AdLxZju6SJU
Game Night Pick top_10_list at 11:10 sentiment: positive
video_pk 5364 · mention_pk 15944
Click to watch at 11:10 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- fresh twists on Ark Nova
- familiar feel with new puzzles
Cons
- could overwhelm Ark Nova veterans
- potential overlap with Ark Nova rules
Thematic elements
- puzzle-like animal and building combos
- brand-new zoo-making experience in a familiar Ark Nova framework
- familiar but refreshed mechanics
Comparison games
- Ark Nova
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- animal/building combinations — novel synergies compared to Ark Nova
- Modular board — board design changes game flow
- puzzle-like placement — new layouts and combinations to optimize scoring
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- hours of epic exploration and a world waiting to be discovered from the comfort of our own home planet
- cooperative fight against superpowered villains
- This is currently the number one ranked game on Board Game Geek
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 402yZ7kUKO0
Ronald Runs Through top_10_list at 1:53:18 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4130 · mention_pk 12115
Click to watch at 1:53:18 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- tight, elegant tile-laying with Ark Nova feel
- strong art and tactileer components; keeps Ark Nova flavor while streamlined
Cons
- less breadth than Ark Nova; narrower scope
- some players may desire more varied mechanics beyond tile-laying
Thematic elements
- tile-laying with animal enclosures
- Ark Nova-inspired zoo/animal habitat theme
- arc nova stripped-down tile-laying
Comparison games
- Ark Nova
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection via tile-lane — draw and place to activate tile effects; tile-lay core is retained from Ark Nova.
- enclosures with scoring interactions — connecting tiles to maximize bonuses and align with scoring tracks.
- tile placement and enclosure-building — placing animal tiles; managing habitats and adjacency rules.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Damn, this game is mean.
- This is the best trick-taking game we've ever played.
- Entwined drafting is excellent; the arithmetic can be heavy but rewarding.
- Peak Team is the best cooperative game of 2025 so far, by far.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video LsLcDEHm3CM
Cinema general_discussion at 11:12 sentiment: negative
video_pk 3858 · mention_pk 11320
Click to watch at 11:12 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
negative
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- We inflate our numbers.
- Day One was a game I bought because of the designers
- I knew it was a light game
- From Vital Sura, which is a a game that melts cinema's brain
- I'm happy if I never have to play it again.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video VRXtOrTBANU
Maven University top_10_list at 1:56 sentiment: positive
video_pk 3453 · mention_pk 10218
Click to watch at 1:56 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Early access to the game
- Really enjoyed playing it
- Good implementation of established mechanics in new context
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Wildlife/Conservation
- Ark Nova universe
- Thematic
Comparison games
- Ark Nova
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection — Similar action selection system to Ark Nova
- Goal-based objectives — Goals similar to Ark Nova but implemented in different game
- Hex tile placement — Core mechanic of placing tiles on hex grid
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- The cards are your actions
- It feels like the points really get rolling
- You can jump to the head of the queue based on your size and how you muscle in
- This is a fairly typical modern combo-icious Euro
- Mind Clash games always have these actions where you have to put something in to get something better but it will come with some risk or some penalty
- You make your olive oil and sell it out into the market
- It's not just a simple matter of playing cards for their points but trying to summon them in the right order
- I do like the theme of it. Ants is great
- The theme looks amazing. The artwork is by Andrew Bosley. It's about rescuing dragons
- Light to midweight Euro engine building type with nice timing to keep game live until end
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video xSdEfO9evIs
Going Analog general_discussion at 54:35 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2086 · mention_pk 6089
Click to watch at 54:35 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Streamlined Ark Nova experience; suitable for mid-weight play
- Beautiful production; engaging theme
Cons
- Not as crunchy as Arknova for heavy players
Thematic elements
- Tiles-based Ark Nova-inspired zoo-building with streamlined gameplay
- Zoo/zoo-like animal management
Comparison games
- Ark Nova
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- tile drafting — Draft tiles representing animals, projects, sponsors; build a zoo layout
- Tile-placement strategy — End-to-end tile interactions drive scoring; objective-oriented play
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- "It's so simple, but it's really clever."
- "This is a two-player head-to-head card combat game."
- "We are the aliens."
- "Bot or Not has me laughing a lot more."
- "Gen Con party game of the show, Bot or Not, unanimous."
- "Flip Tunes is my Gen Con game of the year."
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video xSdEfO9evIs
Going Analog general_discussion at 1:04:40 sentiment: positive
video_pk 2086 · mention_pk 6094
Click to watch at 1:04:40 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Quicker than Ark Nova but with familiar vibes
- Excellent thematic cohesion and production
Cons
- Not as crunchy as Ark Nova; still weighty
Thematic elements
- Tile placement and project sponsorship akin to Ark Nova but streamlined
- Zoo/animal thematic
Comparison games
- Ark Nova
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- tile drafting — Draft tiles representing animals, projects, sponsors; build optimized layouts
- Tile placement synergy — Tiles interact to create combos and scoring opportunities
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- "It's so simple, but it's really clever."
- "This is a two-player head-to-head card combat game."
- "We are the aliens."
- "Bot or Not has me laughing a lot more."
- "Gen Con party game of the show, Bot or Not, unanimous."
- "Flip Tunes is my Gen Con game of the year."
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
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