Choose Ark Nova
Choose Ark Nova if it matches what drew you to this matchup. Ark Nova launched in 2025.
Ark Nova vs Chess Kingdom
Ark Nova and Chess Kingdom both land in Strategy on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Strategy games on Steam. Ark Nova (2025) is 1 year older than Chess Kingdom (2026). Chess Kingdom scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Ark Nova (93.5% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Chess Kingdom
Choose Chess Kingdom if you want a Simulation and Casual game with Shared/Split Screen, Steam Leaderboards, and Shared/Split Screen PvP. On Steam, it's currently about 85% cheaper on the Steam Store. Chess Kingdom launched in 2026.
Both Ark Nova and Chess Kingdom sit in Strategy on Steam and both list Multi-player, Steam Turn Notifications, and Online PvP, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Ark Nova |  Chess Kingdom | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy | Strategy, Simulation, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 22.99 USD | 3.49 USD |
| Steam reviews | 93.5% positive (322 reviews) | 100% positive (14 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player |
| Developers | Dire Wolf | Pinch Games |
Side by side
- Both are Strategy games on Steam.
- Ark Nova (2025) is 1 year older than Chess Kingdom (2026).
- Chess Kingdom scores higher on Steam reviews (100% positive) than Ark Nova (93.5% positive).
- Chess Kingdom is currently ~85% cheaper on Steam than Ark Nova (3.49 USD vs. 22.99 USD).
- Ark Nova is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Chess Kingdom has no Deck rating yet.
Ark Nova vs Chess Kingdom — FAQ
- Should I play Ark Nova or Chess Kingdom first?
- If you want chronology, Ark Nova (2025) came out before Chess Kingdom (2026). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Ark Nova and Chess Kingdom similar?
- They overlap on Strategy on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Does Ark Nova run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Ark Nova is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Chess Kingdom doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.