Summary
The game environments ofARK: Survival Evolvedare big, bold, and beautiful, just screaming out for exploration and adventure. To start playing on a new map is no small feat, as it takes a lot of time and patience to learn the land, build a base, and find and tame some of the unique map dinosaurs.
Since there is real effort involved, players sometimes wonder where theyshould focus their attention. With so many maps offering very diverse terrain and experiences, they want to know which maps are truly worth investing time in. This is a list of the verybestARK: Survival Evolvedmapsthat are worth sinking time into, and which will provide truly memorable gaming experiences.
Updated October 11th, 2023:ARK: Survival Ascended is anticipated to drop soon and many dedicated players are chomping at the bit to see all of the new features and elements. Some current players have spent such a long time playing on the current maps that they have become second nature to them. To better showcase thebest maps in Ark: Survival Evolved, this list now includes a special companion video that outlines them.
Please note some of the map details may include basic info about what unique features can be found on each map, so be careful if trying to avoid all forms of spoilers.
10Extinction
Extinct is a post-apocalyptic map largely focused on tek, which means it can really fluctuate in the rankings depending on player opinion, and whether they like this aspect ofARK. There are a few other key aspects of this DLC, however, which mean that it cannot simply be ignored in any list of the best maps in the game.
The variety and size of biomes in Extinction are impressive even byARKstandards, and it is also home to the toughest boss battle in the game, the King Titan. This is enough to challenge even the most seasoned player and is a badge of honor that any long-time fan will respect.
9Scorched Earth
AllARKmaps require effort to simply survive, but Scorched Earth really pushes the experience further by forcing players to survive in what is largely an arid desert wasteland. The initial steps will simply require adapting to this desert environment in order to stay alive. As exploration takes players further afield, there is a wonderful and varied worldincluding towering mountains, canyons, and an oasis biome. All of these are packed with beautiful detail such as mysterious ruins and a really elaborate network of ancient caves.
Mastering this environment also means mastering its inhabitants. For Example, the Morellatops is a camel-like creature, a pack animal that will be essential for transporting goods around the desert. Once tamed it will even allow players to drink water from its hump. Be careful when hunting for eggs from the fearsome Wyvern, as the hunter can quickly become the hunted. There is also a particularly lethal boss in the form of the Manticore. It will take a lot of careful planning before any gamer will be in a position to take it on.Scorched Earth is a superb addition toARK’smap listand a worthy consideration for any gamer looking to start a new map.
8Genesis Part 2
Genesis Part 2 came through forARKfans where its predecessor faltered, truly embracing its identity as a tek-focused map and becoming all the better for it. Tek is accessible from the very start, allowing players to index into it quickly, and it applies the signatureARKgrind to other parts of the progression, so it still feels authentic.
This map is home to some of the most proven dinos to tame, and one of the most picturesque environments in which to tame them. Its versatility between single-player and PVP certainly helps it be known as one of the best maps available in the game.
7Valguero
While not one of the largest maps on the list, Valguero certainly makes up for it with sheer beauty and diversity. Observant explorers will be able to notice rainbows, nighttime auroras, and shooting stars. There are lots of different terrains making for an ever-changing experience. Unique features include the ominous Skeleton Gorge, as well as the Lost Temple, which opens the path into some very challenging underground caverns.
An interesting touch is the Aberration Trench, which allows players to get content that is normally found on the Aberration map. There is also a location to hunt for certain Wyvern eggs in the hopes of breeding a powerful tamed version. A new dinosaur introduced in Valguero is the Deinonychus. A ruthless killer and relentlessly aggressive, it can’t be tamed, but its eggs can besnatched and hatchedto create a powerful rideable creature. With fast speed, great climbing ability, and deadly shredding attack it can be a lot of fun and very useful in many land-based environments.
6Aberration
Whilemany maps in ARK featurelush and verdant environs, Aberration takes gamers to a much darker and more overtly dangerous world. The surface is toxic and laden with deadly radiation, meaning much of the gameplay takes place in interesting new underground biomes, each of which is bursting with its own unique character. From fertile underground forests to glowing bioluminescent regions and the deep, dark, and dangerous molten areas, home to terrifying creatures never seen before.
While not giving away too many details, be sure to keep one of the new light-emitting tameable pets on hand when venturing further down. Chilling creatures lurk in the dark, ready to attack when the light is no more. While it may be tempting to prepare for these deep cave crawls by reading a guide or wiki, some of the most memorable experiences come from simply discovering the truth of what really lies beneath. Take a torch and prepare for the ride of a lifetime.
5Crystal Isles
At 150 square kilometers, this is one of the largest maps available toARKplayers. Every one of the maps in the top three is simply stunning to look at. The layout of the map is in the form of countless different islands, some vast, some tiny, and a dizzying number of different biomes and environments covering them. Jungles, snowy tundras, pristine white shores, vast canyons, and even a large volcanic area can be discovered.
One of the most notable features is the Apotheosis, a network of floating islands that really capture the imagination. Not only are they breathtakingly beautiful, but they serve as the perfect location to build a base in the skies. First in the new high-flying dino pen should be the new dino added to this map, the Tropeognathus. It is a pterosaur that already has decent flying and attack abilities, but can also be equipped with a saddle that has its own jet and gun turret. Crystal Isles is one ofthe preferred maps for mostARKplayers.
4The Island
The first map inARKalso happens to be one of the best, and it certainly wins some points for the nostalgia value after so many years. The Island was the first map many players will have played on and is responsible for a great many of them falling in love with the game, an accolade not to be sniffed at.
What keeps the Island out of the top spots is its smaller size and low dino levels, both of which can make it a tough sell to more seasoned players, but it remains a fantastic PVP map and the best option for newer players. The only other downside is the lack of variety in the oceans, which is a major drawback, but again doesn’t hurt the intended purpose of the map as the perfect introduction to the game as a whole.
3Fjordur
Delving into Norse mythology was perhaps not something mostARKplayers were expecting from a DLC, but Fjordur perfectly lived up to the hype it built ever since it was teased in the Lost Island trailer. Each of the realms in the map gel perfectly into the game, and provide a new exploration experience that will keep even the most seasoned players entertained.
What elevates this map even further though is the fact that almost all of the best dinos are present, and the progression system is one of the most rewarding available. Adding in some Lord of the Rings may have been a controversial move as immersion goes, but it only adds to the motivation to explore every inch of thisinspired map inARK: Survival Evolved.
2Ragnarok
This map has so much content that it is very hard to sum it all up. It was clearly created by people who love the game, meaning careful thought, planning, and design have gone into every single area. It is afan favorite for base-buildingas there are simply so many inspiring places to build sweeping bases. From the beaches of Viking Bay which have their own built-in storage caves to the towering plateaus, to ocean platforms, to ruins that can be re-purposed. The map is designed with building in mind and allows players to let their imagination run wild.
The surface world reveals a huge variety of biomes, including a live volcano, a Wyvern trench, broad deserts, epic mountains, and lush forests, each one with its own unique and wonderful points of beauty and interest. Deeper exploration reveals challenging extra environments that are even more taxing such as underground water trenches, sea monsters, and vast dungeon networks.Ragnarokis truly an unmissableARKmap and thoroughly deserves its place in the top two maps.
1Lost Island
The awe-inspiring Lost Islandis one of the very biggest maps with over 150 square kilometers of explorable area. This map seems to have observed every ingredient that worked well in previousARKmapsand combined all the winning elements into one gigantic, breathtaking world, along with a whole host of unique content as gamers have come to expect. The biggest joys are pushing beyond the obvious and scaling the highest mountains, plumbing the deepest depths of the cave networks, and venturing deep into the swamps and oceans in search of the greatest challenges and biggest rewards.
There are 3 new dinosaurs, each of which serves a very real and meaningful purpose. One of these isthe Amargasaurus, a sauropodthat puts up a tremendous fight and is not to be underestimated. Once tamed it is a great option as an environmentally protective travel mount as well as a good harasser in battle. It is just one of the many superb elements that coalesce to make Lost Island the number one map choice forARKgamers.
ARK: Survival Evolvedis available on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS.
