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The Dice Tower Awards 2021

Presenting the nominees and winners of the fifteenth annual Dice Tower Awards for games released in 2021 in categories including artwork, small publisher, new designer, and the game of the year!

Game of the Year

In Ark Nova, you will plan and design a modern, scientifically managed zoo. With the ultimate goal of owning the most successful zoological establishment, you will build enclosures, accommodate animals, and support conservation projects all over the world. Specialists and unique buildings will help you in achieving this goal.

Each player has a set of five action cards to manage their gameplay, and the power of an action is determined by the slot the card currently occupies. The cards in question are:


CARDS: Allows you to gain new zoo cards (animals, sponsors, and conservation project cards).
BUILD: Allows you to build standard or special enclosures, kiosks, and pavilions.
ANIMALS: Allows you to accommodate animals in your zoo.
ASSOCIATION: Allows your association workers to carry out different tasks.
SPONSORS: Allows you to play a sponsor card in your zoo or to raise money.


255 cards featuring animals, specialists, special enclosures, and conservation projects, each with a special ability, are at the heart of Ark Nova. Use them to increase the appeal and scientific reputation of your zoo and collect conservation points.

—description from the publisher

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Year Published: 2021
Designers: Mathias Wigge
Publishers: Feuerland Spiele
Year Published: 2021
Designers: Antoine Bauza
Publishers: Repos Production
Year Published: 2021
Designers: Randy Flynn
Publishers: Flatout Games
Year Published: 2021
Designers: Bobby Hill
Publishers: Garphill Games
Year Published: 2021
Designers: Ted Alspach
Publishers: Bézier Games
Year Published: 2021
Designers: Klemens Kalicki
Publishers: Rebel Studio
Year Published: 2021
Designers: Jonny Pac
Publishers: Final Frontier Games
Year Published: 2021
Designers: Jay Cormier
Publishers: Off the Page Games
Year Published: 2021
Designers: Ryan Laukat
Publishers: Red Raven Games

Best Artwork

In Canvas, you play as a painter competing in an art competition. Players will collect art cards, layering 3 of them together to create their own unique Painting. Each card contains a piece of artwork as well as a set of icons used during scoring. Icons will be revealed or hidden based on the way players choose to layer the cards making for an exciting puzzle. Paintings are scored based on a set of Scoring cards which will change each game. Once players have created and scored 3 paintings the game ends.

On your turn you may take an Art card or make a painting. Art cards are selected from a row of cards in the center of play. Each of these cards has a cost associated with their position. After selecting an Art card you must pay its cost by placing an Inspiration token on each of the cards to its left. If you do not have enough Inspiration tokens, you may not select that card. Any tokens on the card you have selected are kept for future turns. The far left card costs no Inspiration tokens to take.

If you have three or more Art cards you may chose to make a painting. Select 3 of your art cards, arrange them in any order and then score them by comparing the visible icons on your painting to the Scoring conditions.

Once all players have made 3 paintings the game ends.

The player with the most points wins!

—description from the publisher

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Year Published: 2021
Designers: Jeff Chin
Publishers: Road To Infamy Games (R2i Games)
Year Published: 2021
Designers: Eric M. Lang
Publishers: CMON Global Limited
Year Published: 2021
Designers: Germán P. Millán
Publishers: Devir
Year Published: 2021
Designers: Klemens Kalicki
Publishers: Rebel Studio
Year Published: 2021
Designers: Ryan Laukat
Publishers: Red Raven Games

Best Co-op Game