ARK: Survival Evolved takes you into a fascinating prehistoric world, inhabited not only by dinosaurs and other ancient creatures but also by dragons and mystical beings. One of the game’s standout features is the impressive variety of its maps. Each map offers unique biomes, challenges, and secrets waiting to be discovered, inviting players to embark on new adventures and face the various dangers and puzzles of this vibrant world time and again.
Overview of the Maps
Genesis Part 1
Genesis 1 offers a variety of environments, but due to the division into small areas, it often feels too claustrophobic. The map is divided into five different biomes, including the ocean, the arctic area, the volcano, the swamp area, and the moon. These biomes offer different challenges and resources, making the gameplay diverse.
A significant component of Genesis 1 is the numerous missions that players must complete. However, these missions often repeat the same pattern, which can become monotonous over time. The tasks range from combat missions to collection and escort duties, which may not always be compelling in their execution.
Another feature of Genesis 1 is the companion NPC HLNA (Helena), who guides the player through the world and provides hints. Although HLNA is helpful at the beginning, her constant presence and repeated comments can become annoying after several hours of gameplay. Many players find this disruptive and wish for an option to reduce the interactions.
Despite these criticisms, Genesis 1 offers a unique gaming experience with special mechanics such as the use of TEK equipment and the challenges of the different biomes. The map is particularly suited for experienced players looking for new challenges and willing to work through the repetitive nature of the missions.
Scorched Earth
Scorched Earth is known for its desert landscape and the challenges that come with surviving in this arid environment. The map is characterized by vast sand dunes, rocky canyons, and dangerous ruins, offering players diverse yet extremely challenging areas.
Despite the possibility of farming bosses and valuable elements such as obsidian and metal, the harsh environmental conditions significantly complicate the game. Players must constantly guard against overheating and fatigue while searching for water sources in the scorching heat of the desert. These environmental hazards require careful planning and resource gathering to ensure survival.
Another challenging aspect of Scorched Earth is the lack of good base locations. Most places offer only limited protection from the heat and are often far from water sources. This forces players to make strategic decisions to maximize their chances of survival.
The introduction of new creatures such as the Wyvern, a powerful dragon, and the Rock Elemental, a robust golem, adds extra excitement and possibilities to the game. These creatures can be tamed and used as valuable allies in combat and resource gathering, opening new pathways for players despite the difficult conditions.
Overall, Scorched Earth is one of the most demanding maps in ARK, particularly suited for players seeking a challenge and willing to face the extreme conditions and strategic requirements of surviving in a desert world.
Extinction
Extinction offers a post-apocalyptic landscape with an impressive diversity and size of biomes. The map includes several unique regions, including the ruined city, dangerous wasteland areas, and lush underground forests. This diversity allows players to develop various survival strategies and discover a wide range of resources.
The map is particularly known for its challenging boss fights. The battle against the King Titan, the final boss of the Extinction map, is especially demanding. These fights require not only strong equipment and weapons but also strategic planning and teamwork to succeed.
A unique mix of creatures, including dinosaurs, titans, and giant meks, enriches the experience on Extinction. Titans are gigantic, tameable creatures that can serve as powerful allies or dangerous foes. The meks, mechanical combat suits, offer players new possibilities in combat and exploration of the map.
Extinction also introduces new game mechanics, such as the ability to fight Corrupted Creatures that attack in waves, presenting players with new challenges. These mechanics add to the game's dynamism and tension, ensuring players must always be on their guard.
Overall, Extinction offers an intense and diverse gaming experience, particularly suited for experienced players seeking new challenges and epic battles. The mix of post-apocalyptic atmosphere, varied biomes, and unique creatures makes this map an unforgettable part of the ARK world.
Genesis Part 2
Genesis 2 stands out with its stunning visuals and the availability of Tek from the outset. The map offers a mix of PvP and single-player modes and is known for its diverse dinosaurs and picturesque environments. Players have the opportunity to operate in a vast world consisting of two main areas: a lush Eden zone and a dark, ruined zone, each offering unique challenges and resources.
One of the standout features of Genesis 2 is the availability of advanced Tek equipment from the beginning. This allows players to explore the world in innovative ways and use powerful tools and weapons to defend against the numerous dangers.
The map is also known for its diverse missions and adventures. Players can engage in various activities, from thrilling battles against dangerous creatures to exploration missions that offer valuable rewards. These missions contribute to keeping the gameplay dynamic and exciting.
Genesis 2 is also renowned for its impressive variety of dinosaurs and other creatures. From classic dinosaurs to new, unique creatures, the map offers a wide range of taming opportunities and challenges. This diversity adds depth to the game and constantly provides players with new goals and adventures.
The picturesque environments of Genesis 2 not only provide a visual feast but also offer diverse gameplay possibilities. Players can build impressive bases in various biomes, each with its own advantages and challenges. Whether in the lush forests of the Eden zone or the dangerous, technologically contaminated areas of the ruined zone – each region has its own charm and secrets.
Overall, Genesis 2 offers a rich and immersive gaming experience that is attractive to both single-player and PvP fans. The combination of advanced technology, diverse missions, and breathtaking environments makes this map a standout part of the ARK universe.
Crystal Isles
Crystal Isles impresses with a vast variety of dinosaurs and a breathtakingly large ocean landscape. The map offers players the opportunity to explore a colourful and diverse world characterized by shimmering crystals and exotic biomes. Each region has its own unique aesthetic, from lush tropical forests to glowing caves and crystal-clear lakes.
Despite some negative aspects, such as certain empty areas and a less exciting ocean gameplay, the map offers many positive experiences. The empty areas can sometimes enhance the feeling of vastness and isolation, which can be a welcome change for some players. On the other hand, these areas might be perceived as monotonous by some players.
The ocean gameplay on Crystal Isles could be more exciting, as it offers less thrilling underwater adventures compared to other maps. Nevertheless, there are numerous islands and coastal areas inviting exploration and holding interesting resources and creatures.
The variety of dinosaurs and other creatures on Crystal Isles is a major plus. Here, players can find and tame both classic and exclusive creatures, keeping the gameplay diverse and exciting. The introduction of special crystal wyverns, found only on this map, adds another layer of challenge and collection to the game.
Crystal Isles also offers many picturesque locations for base building. Players can construct impressive structures in a variety of biomes, from the glowing crystal caves to the serene beaches. This diversity allows players to make creative and strategic decisions to create their perfect base.
Overall, Crystal Isles offers a fascinating and visually impressive gaming experience. Despite some less exciting aspects, the positive experiences the map offers prevail. The breathtaking landscapes, diverse dinosaurs, and unique crystal biomes make Crystal Isles a popular choice for ARK players seeking a mix of adventure and beauty.
The Center
The Center offers the largest ocean biome in the game and a variety of weather and geological locations. The map is known for its imposing waterfalls, extensive cave systems, and floating islands, providing players with a diverse and breathtaking gaming experience.
The oceans of The Center are vast and deep, making underwater gameplay a particular challenge. Players must plan carefully and be equipped to explore the depths and utilise the resources found there. Despite the size of the ocean biome, the underwater experience could be made more exciting with more variety and interesting locations.
Another highlight of the map is the wide variety of weather conditions and geological locations. From dense jungles and volcanic areas to icy mountain peaks, The Center offers a wide range of environments that make survival and exploration diverse. This variety allows players to develop different strategies and constantly face new challenges.
The Center is considered one of the most challenging maps in ARK, as it offers numerous dangerous areas and strong creatures that make survival difficult. Players must be well-prepared and strategic to survive in this hostile environment.
Despite its many positive aspects, The Center is held back by minor bugs and a lack of new dinosaurs. Some players report technical issues and bugs that can affect the gaming experience. Additionally, the map lacks exclusive creatures that could make the gameplay even more diverse.
Overall, The Center offers an impressive and challenging gaming experience, particularly suited for experienced players. The extensive oceans, diverse environments, and demanding conditions make this map an exciting choice for those seeking new adventures in the world of ARK.
The Lost Island was originally a mod map before its official release. The map combines aspects of various ARK maps into a vast landscape with multiple biomes and a collection of new dinosaurs. This blend of familiar and new elements offers players a diverse and exciting gaming experience.
The map boasts an impressive variety of biomes, including dense jungles, hot deserts, cold mountain ranges, and lush swamps. These different environments provide a range of challenges and resources that players can explore and utilise. Each biome has its own unique features and creatures, making survival on The Lost Island particularly thrilling.
Another notable aspect of The Lost Island is the introduction of new dinosaurs and other creatures. These new inhabitants of the ARK world bring additional depth and variety to the game. Players can discover new taming opportunities and face the challenges these creatures present.
The map also offers numerous interesting locations and structures that invite exploration. From ancient ruins and temples to hidden caves and mysterious islands, there is much to discover on The Lost Island. These places are often rich in resources and hold many secrets waiting to be unveiled by players.
Despite its many positive aspects, some players may find the large size of the map and the variety of biomes challenging, especially when travelling and exploring. Nevertheless, the advantages and diverse experiences that The Lost Island offers far outweigh these challenges.
Overall, The Lost Island provides a rich and varied gaming experience that is attractive to both new and experienced ARK players. The combination of different biomes, new dinosaurs, and a multitude of exploration opportunities makes this map an exciting and rewarding addition to the ARK world.
Aberration
Aberration introduces new game elements such as radiation and earthquakes and offers a variety of underground caves. The map takes place in a damaged ARK that has been destabilised by a catastrophic event. This has led to a dangerous and alien environment that provides players with unique challenges and adventures.
The introduction of radiation and earthquakes as game mechanics adds a special depth to Aberration. Players must develop special equipment and strategies to cope with the hazardous conditions. Radiation zones are particularly challenging, as they can only be safely traversed with appropriate protective gear.
The variety of underground caves and biomes in Aberration makes exploration exciting and diverse. These caves are often labyrinthine and full of dangers, but they also offer plenty of resources and rare creatures. The biomes range from glowing mushroom forests to dark, menacing abysses.
The introduction of new creatures is another highlight of Aberration. Creatures such as the Rock Drake, which can climb walls and camouflage, and the Reaper, a powerful being that originates from radiation zones, offer new challenges and opportunities for players. These creatures can be tamed and used in combat and exploration.
A beautiful background score underpins the dark and mysterious atmosphere of Aberration. The music significantly enhances the immersion and reinforces the feeling of being in an alien and dangerous world.
Overall, Aberration is one of the most popular maps in ARK due to its innovative game mechanics, challenging environment, and impressive creatures. The mix of excitement, danger, and discovery makes this map an unforgettable experience for players.
Valguero
Valguero offers a variety of biomes and impressive landscapes that captivate players. The diverse environment ranges from lush forests and wide plains to snow-covered mountains and gloomy caves. The map is particularly known for its picturesque natural phenomena, including breathtaking rainbows and spectacular shooting stars that light up the nights.
Unique features of Valguero include locations such as Skeleton Gorge and the Lost Temple. Skeleton Gorge is an impressive valley filled with the remains of giant creatures, while the Lost Temple is a mysterious place full of challenges and treasures. These special locations offer players exciting exploration opportunities and rewarding adventures.
A notable aspect of Valguero is the integration of content from Aberration. Players can encounter Aberration creatures and gather resources here without having to play the Aberration map itself. This expands the variety and possibilities that Valguero offers and allows players to experience the unique creatures and mechanics of Aberration in a new environment.
Valguero also offers numerous hidden caves and ruins that invite exploration. These locations are often rich in resources and hold many secrets waiting to be discovered. Players can showcase their survival and exploration skills here and embark on new adventures.
The diversity of biomes and the impressive landscapes make Valguero a popular choice for ARK players seeking a mix of beauty and challenge. The map offers something for every playstyle and invites players to keep discovering new corners and facing the diverse challenges.
The Island
The Island is the first map introduced to players in "ARK: Survival Evolved" and remains the most popular. The map offers a great mix of biomes and dinosaurs, making it perfect for beginners. Players can explore various environments here, including dense jungles, wide beaches, snow-covered mountains, and dangerous swamps.
The diversity of biomes ensures that players need to develop different survival strategies depending on which part of the island they are in. This diversity promotes learning and adaptability, making The Island an ideal starting point for new players.
The Island is home to a variety of dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures that players can tame and utilise. These creatures range from smaller, easier-to-tame animals to powerful, harder-to-control beasts. This variety allows players to improve their taming skills and their ability to handle different dinosaurs.
Another advantage of The Island is the availability of numerous resources and the possibility of building complex bases. Players can choose strategically advantageous locations to build their bases and benefit from the abundant resources. This facilitates the entry into the game and promotes creativity and strategic planning.
The Island also offers a variety of challenges and adventures, including caves to explore and bosses to defeat. These elements add extra depth and long-term motivation to the game, as players can continually strive for new goals and challenges.
Overall, The Island remains an iconic and popular map in ARK: Survival Evolved. Its mix of accessible gameplay, diverse biomes, and a rich selection of dinosaurs makes it a perfect starting point for beginners and a timeless choice for experienced players.
Ragnarok
Ragnarok contains elements from Scorched Earth and The Island as well as a variety of new features. This combination ensures a diverse and exciting gaming experience that combines both old and new elements of the game. The map offers an impressive variety of biomes, including lush forests, wide plains, icy mountains, and dangerous deserts.
A notable feature of Ragnarok is the integration of elements from Scorched Earth, such as the scorching deserts and the unique creatures originally introduced in that expansion. These elements add extra challenges and variety to the game, as players must learn to cope with extreme environmental conditions.
The map is also known for its many secrets and exciting exploration. Throughout Ragnarok, there are hidden caves, ancient ruins, and secret locations waiting to be discovered. These exploration elements reward curious players with valuable resources, rare creatures, and thrilling adventures.
New features specifically developed for Ragnarok expand the gameplay and offer new possibilities for players. These include unique creatures like the Griffin, as well as special boss fights and challenges that are only available on this map.
The mix of familiar and new elements makes Ragnarok a versatile and exciting map suitable for both experienced players and newcomers. The variety of biomes and the abundance of secrets and adventures ensure that players are never bored and always have new goals to achieve.
Overall, Ragnarok offers a rich and dynamic gaming experience that combines the best aspects of ARK: Survival Evolved. The impressive landscape, diverse biomes, and numerous secrets make this map one of the most popular and fascinating in the ARK world.
Spoilt for Choice
The maps in “ARK: Survival Evolved” offer an impressive variety of environments, challenges, and secrets waiting to be discovered. Each map stands out with its unique features and offers something for every type of player. Whether you want to master the harsh conditions of a scorching desert on Scorched Earth, explore the post-apocalyptic world of Extinction, or enjoy the breathtaking landscapes of Valguero, there are countless adventures to be had in “ARK”. From the beginner-friendly The Island to the challenging biomes of Aberration, each map invites you to continually rediscover the world of ARK and face its diverse challenges.
Your Own Server for Your Desired Map
In addition to choosing the perfect map and deciding which mods will enhance the “ARK: Survival Evolved” experience, selecting the right server plays a crucial role in ensuring a smooth and enjoyable game. This is where 4Netplayers comes in, a renowned provider of gaming servers known for its easy map and mod selection as well as the quality of its servers.
4Netplayers offers you a user-friendly interface that allows you to select your preferred map and install mods that personalise and expand the ARK experience with just a few clicks. This flexibility is especially important if you want to customise your game world without having to deal with complex configuration processes.
The servers from 4Netplayers are known for their stability and low latency, which is crucial for a multiplayer game like “ARK: Survival Evolved”. A stable server ensures a smooth gaming experience, free from unwanted interruptions or delays that can significantly affect the fun. Furthermore, the high server quality from 4Netplayers ensures that the complex worlds of ARK, full of dinosaurs and other creatures, can be explored without performance issues.