Ark: Survival Evolved

Lore & Background

Development of Ark: Survival Evolved began in October 2014, and the game entered early access for PC in June 2015. The development team researched the physical appearance of animals but took creative license for gameplay purposes. Instinct Games, Effecto Studios, and Virtual Basement were hired to facilitate development. The game was officially released in August 2017 for multiple platforms, with versions for Android, iOS, and Nintendo Switch in 2018, a Stadia version in 2021, and a second Nintendo Switch version in 2022.

The game's original map, 'The Island', is approximately 48 km² in size, with 36 km² of land and 12 km² of ocean; other maps have different sizes. There are 194 creatures in the game, including real dinosaurs, prehistoric animals, and mythical creatures like wyverns, griffins, and phoenixes. Taming creatures is a primary mechanic, with methods including knockout taming, passive feeding, and mini-games. Players must manage health, stamina, oxygen, hunger, thirst, and weight, and can build structures from thatch, wood, stone, metal, and tek materials.

Reader's Guide

Ark: Survival Evolved received generally mixed reviews, with criticism for its difficulty, repetitive gameplay, and 'bloated' content. The initial Nintendo Switch version was panned for graphics and performance issues. Despite this, the game spawned two spin-offs—Ark Park (virtual reality) and PixArk (sandbox survival)—in partnership with Snail Games. A sequel, Ark 2, was announced in December 2020. In 2023, a remaster titled Ark: Survival Ascended was released in early access for Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The game's legacy lies in its expansive open-world survival mechanics, extensive creature taming system, and the ability to build mobile bases on larger creatures, which influenced the survival game genre. Its multiple expansions and continued updates have maintained a dedicated player base.

Did You Know?

• The original 'The Island' map is approximately 48 km² in size, with 36 km² of land and 12 km² of ocean; other maps vary in size.
• There are 194 creatures in the game, including mythical ones like wyverns, griffins, and phoenixes.
• Players can build structures on the backs of larger creatures like brontosaurus or mosasaurus for a mobile base.
• The maximum player level is 105 in the base game, but with expansions and additional content (e.g., Genesis Part 2 and explorer notes), it can reach 190.