Balance the Ark

Please note: Japanese rules, English explanation on YouTube here!

As the floodwaters rise, Noah’s Ark teeters under the weight of its passengers. Players must help balance the animals boarding the ark so it doesn’t tip to one side. Elephants, giraffes, penguins, and other creatures need to be placed carefully, for the fate of this floating zoo depends on your sense of balance and timing.

Balance the Ark is a trick-taking game for 3–4 players. Players play animal cards to tricks, with each card showing a species and weight that influence the ark’s balance. The winner and loser of each trick must place their played cards on either side of a physical ark board, causing it to tilt toward heavier sides.

Across multiple rounds, players manage both card play and spatial placement to maintain equilibrium while collecting points based on balance and animal sets. After several rounds, the player with the most points from balanced placement and fulfilled ark conditions wins.