Ark: Survival Evolved is an open-world action-adventure survival game where players awaken stranded on a mysterious island populated by dinosaurs, prehistoric creatures, and mythical beasts. Gameplay revolves around gathering resources, crafting tools and structures, and taming creatures that can be ridden or used for combat and transportation. The game supports both single-player and multiplayer modes, with multiplayer servers allowing players to form tribes and compete or cooperate. Several expansion packs add new maps and storylines, and the game spawned an animated series, a remaster in Unreal Engine 5 titled Ark: Survival Ascended, and a planned sequel.
About the story
Players awaken on a mysterious island called the Ark with no memory of how they arrived. Surrounded by dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures, they must survive while uncovering the island's secrets through scattered explorer notes left by previous inhabitants. As survivors progress through increasingly difficult boss encounters, they begin to piece together the truth about the Ark and the technology sustaining it. The deeper story, revealed through expansion packs, follows survivors as they travel from the island to an underground alien world, a corrupted future Earth, and eventually aboard a massive colony ship traveling through deep space in search of a new home for humanity.
Platforms
Android Stadia iOS Linux Mac Switch PC PS4 XONE Series X|SGenres
Adventure Indie Role-playing (RPG) Shooter SimulatorThemes
Action Open world Sandbox Survival
Languages: English and 23 more
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Media
Critic Reviews
Pure Nintendo
By Kira CSurprisingly, the online play works well, and it is cool to have a portable version of ARK for playing on the go. But would I recommend it on Nintendo Switch? $49.99 is…pricey for the quality. It's worth it if you have no other way to play ARK, but only if it goes on sale. ARK: Ultimate Survivor Edition itself is a very good, if not great, game, but this port is more mediocre than the best it can be. While I like playing it on Switch as an existing fan, I'm not sure I would if I was new to the game.
GamingTrend
By Adam MorenoARK: Ultimate Survivor Edition had a suspect launch, but with the commitment and care of the developers, they have rallied back and the game makes for a fun time with friends or by yourself. The Island and Scorched Earth will test your survival instincts for sure. With the addition of the lovely ARK Dinosaur Discovery game you can download from the eShop for the kiddos and the new maps having a timeline in the future, you and your family will have plenty of things to do for the near future.
GideonsGaming
By Joseph PughIt can be frustrating at times, the game isn't always fair and a lot of its mechanics are downright frustrating. Yet after all the time I've put in, the bugs, and the horse crap. I still want to play it, because it is so much fun. I under no circumstances recommend you so just blindly buy the game, but I think you should try it. Catch it on sale or play the base game through Xbox game pass, if you like it, the rabbit hole is a deep one. I have over a thousand hours in and I'm still going strong.
Cubed3
By Albert LichiIs this the worst game on the Switch? It is very close. Ark: Survival Evolved is easily the most poorly converted game on the system, which makes it feel like it could be the worst. If things worked and it didn't look like computer generated vomit, it might have been an average survival game at best. Nothing would distinguish itself. It is unfortunate that the one aspect it has that makes it stand out is just how much of a porting disaster it has proven to be.
Nintendo Times
By Jay KittelsonWORTH CONSIDERING - Unless portable ARK is the number one reason for picking it up, I would recommend getting it on something other than the Switch. PC is really the best way to play it, but the Switch does offer portability, which the PC would only give you with an expensive laptop. I did have fun playing on the Switch and taking it with me when I left. But wherever you do go, remember it's an online game so you will need a decent connection to the web should you want to play on the official servers.
