Mathias Wigge is the award-winning designer of Ark Nova & Ark Nova: Marine Worlds. With over 2 million plays on BoardGameArena at the time of writing, this game is popular with veterans and casual players alike. We sat down with him to get a glimpse into his world:
Tell us more about your background and how you started playing board games as a hobby.
Ever since I was a child, I have been intrigued by games both digital and physical — having played many games with my family. I’ve always had a heart for gaming in general, you can say. Not to mention that Germany has the Spiel des Jahres — a German game award for family-friendly board games. That definitely made board games more prominent and accessible within our country.
When I grew up, I switched from video games to tabletop gaming. I started off with Warhammer, and when I entered university, I started playing Magic: The Gathering (MTG). The competitive aspect of MTG was something that I really enjoyed. I won some Qualifiers, played 7 Pro Tours, and have been to the United States and Japan as a result.
Upon finishing university, I decided to go back to analogue (board) games. I started with Agricola around the year 2009, and have played many board games — both old and new since then. My love for the hobby constantly grew, and around 2017, I wanted to take a shot at creating my own board game.
Walk us through a day in your life being a full-time game designer.
I’m still looking for a space to work creatively (laughs) as I’m currently working from home. I tend to work at night so it’s important to get sunlight in during daylight hours. There’s also less structure once you’re your own boss. I'd like to learn how to create and organize my own work routine, but this is helped by the fact that in my previous job, I didn't really have a fixed structure and was quite independent. Writing ideas helps me gather my thoughts. I tend to sit on an idea I have and think it through — would it work to fix the problem I have?
With the great success of Ark Nova’s base game, how did you expand upon it to come up with Ark Nova: Marine Worlds?
During the streamlining process, I had to strip out the different levels of powered action cards. I sat down with Feuerland Spiele and we brainstormed about what we could do for an expansion — we eventually settled on the ocean as a theme and action cards as the primary mode of gameplay / core mechanic.
How did you balance the variable player powers and set-up scenarios in both games? It provides more opportunities for creative gameplay but, has the possibility of being difficult to beat.
I created an Excel sheet to get an overview of the powers in the game and wrote a formula to calculate the costs of each card — some of the cards may be stronger or weaker, but that can be adjusted via playtester feedback. MTG has helped me get a feel for what will work and what will not. I consider myself a competitive player when it comes to board games. In Marine Worlds, not all cards are even in strength (competitively) and from a broader point of view, there are also cards for more casual play. There’s agency for all sorts of players and play styles.
Do you personally prefer playing Ark Nova solo, or with more people? How does solo mode’s variables change up the gameplay as opposed to playing with two or more players?
I still enjoy playing Ark Nova. Honestly, I don’t have a preference for modes. 2 player games are not the norm for me, it’s usually 3-4 players with my gaming group. We all enjoy Euro games with a player count no higher than 4, so I designed Ark Nova with that in mind. The solo mode is closer to the original prototype before we began streamlining it.
Are there any sea creatures that you particularly like that were featured in the Marine Worlds? If so, why? How about your favorite animal from Ark Nova?
Sharks. They are fascinating animals. Sand tiger sharks, in particular, are one of the largest species of sharks and some aquariums have them on display. The ability I gave them is a funnier one than most. It’s good to take artistic liberties with them as it helps give the animals a “soul”. That may not be the most realistic take on the animal, but it’s charming in its own way. My favorite marine animal overall is the sawfish (also in Marine Worlds!) and its in-game ability is also very unique. I’m glad it made it through development.
As for Ark Nova, I really enjoyed playing the pelican and my favorite terrestrial animal is the black panther. Sadly, that was cut due to space constraints.
Do you have any tips you share with budding designers who want to make a complex game that uses cards?
Cards usually make games better (laughs). I certainly like cards over dice, but this is a personal preference. In general, you should experiment with making a physical version of the ideas you have. Time investment is another big thing, if you don’t invest time into making a game, you can’t make a good game. The last bit of advice may be a bit cheesy, but be passionate — it will shine through in the work you put out. I mean, this bit can also apply to life — be as authentic as possible.
I am extremely grateful for how well Ark Nova was received! Keep an eye out for the Ark Nova digital game published by Dire Wolf later this year on Steam.
This interview has been edited for clarity. Play Ark Nova on BoardGameArena or buy a copy from your FLGS. Engage with Mathias through his website.
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