ARK: Survival Ascended

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"ARK: Survival Ascended" is a dinosaur-themed survival game with crafting, building, and online multiplayer. You begin with nothing, surviving on a mysterious island filled with prehistoric creatures. Gather resources, create tools, and form tribes with other players to build structures, tame dinosaurs, and conquer the land. Fight for survival against hostile creatures, environmental hazards, and other players in this immersive, open-world adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

58%

Audience ScoreBased on 69,147 reviews

graphics4,204 positive mentions

optimization2,517 negative mentions

graphics
11,851 mentions
35 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Ark: Survival Ascended" have received significant praise for their stunning visuals and improvements over the previous version, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 to enhance the overall aesthetic experience. However, many players report that the game is poorly optimized, requiring high-end hardware to run smoothly, often forcing them to lower settings to achieve playable frame rates. While the graphical upgrades are appreciated, the persistent bugs and crashes detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to mixed feelings about the game's value relative to its price.
- “The graphics are absolutely stunning, the game plays very similar to the original version.”
- “The graphics have had a phenomenal update, and the smoothness of the game when looking around has improved significantly.”
- “The graphics are amazing, and the attention to detail in the environment is impressive.”
- “Graphics are so unbelievably hard on my $3000 gaming rig that my computer is overheating to the point where it's heating up my room by +10 degrees and my fingers are burning.”
- “The frame rates are abysmal, even on high-end systems, and the graphical glitches are abundant and immersion-breaking.”
- “The graphics are so demanding that even with a high-end graphics card, I have to turn them down to the lowest settings just to get a playable frame rate.”
optimization
8,744 mentions
11 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
29 % negative mentions
The optimization of "Ark: Survival Ascended" has received overwhelmingly negative feedback from players, with many citing severe performance issues, frequent crashes, and a lack of stability even on high-end systems. Despite some improvements through patches, the game is still considered poorly optimized, often requiring significant adjustments to settings just to achieve playable frame rates. Players recommend waiting for further optimization updates before purchasing, as the current state is reminiscent of the original game's launch struggles.
- “It's been optimized a lot since it came out and they keep adding to it.”
- “The game has some issues performance-wise but with a bit of tweaking it's playable even through some of the bugs it still has.”
- “Despite the performance issues, the game looks a next-gen marvel with technical boundaries pushed to the limit.”
- “Sadly, its performance is horrendous.... I don't have the top of the line gaming setup but I can run most games on high to epic and still get a standard 100 fps.”
- “The performance of this game is ridiculous.”
- “This game is by far the worst game in terms of optimization.”
stability
3,876 mentions
6 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
The stability of "Ark: Survival Ascended" has been widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, crashes, and performance issues. Many users note that the game is a continuation of the original's legacy of instability, with some stating it is even more buggy than its predecessor. While some players have managed to enjoy the game despite these issues, the consensus is that it remains unoptimized and frustratingly prone to glitches, making it difficult to recommend in its current state.
- “The game runs great, haven't had a single crash.”
- “The game is beautiful, it runs great on my high-end PC, and many of the changes and quality-of-life updates are immediately noticeable to someone that has spent years playing Ark.”
- “Game runs great and looks absolutely incredible, what a nice breath of fresh air I didn't even know this was coming out.”
- “Game is a buggy mess, especially when trying to even join a multiplayer server.”
- “Crashy buggy mess they improved the game then made it to where you can't play it for more than an hour without crashing or a game-breaking bug.”
- “The actual gameplay and look are great but it is a bit of a buggy mess, tried what remedies I could, and my single-player game became corrupted after 40 hours of grinding and taming.”
gameplay
2,572 mentions
25 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Ark: Survival Ascended" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the graphics and building mechanics have significantly improved, the core gameplay remains largely unchanged from its predecessor, "Ark: Survival Evolved." Players have reported frequent crashes, bugs, and performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems, which detract from the overall experience. Despite these challenges, some users appreciate the new quality-of-life features and mechanics, suggesting that the game has potential but requires further optimization and bug fixes to fully realize it.
- “U can legit do anything, basically amazing graphics and amazing gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is the same, but it also isn't.”
- “The gameplay improvements (even tho i can barely get the game to run on 40 fps) are however noticeable.”
- “New maps never roll out when they are scheduled to and for some dumb reason nitrado has exclusivity rights for servers (their hardware sucks) so you have to deal with laggy gameplay if there are more than 5 people logged in at a time.”
- “I am very upset to have sunk 90 hours into the game only to find out that end game content is impossible to achieve because the game mechanics simply don't work.”
- “The core mechanics that should have been refined over the years are as clunky and frustrating as ever.”
monetization
902 mentions
1 % positive mentions
12 % neutral mentions
86 % negative mentions
The monetization model of "Ark: Survival Ascended" has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many players expressing disappointment over the introduction of microtransactions, paid DLC, and premium mods that detract from the overall experience. Reviewers note that the game feels like a poorly optimized reskin of its predecessor, lacking meaningful improvements while pushing players towards additional purchases. Overall, the sentiment is overwhelmingly negative, with many urging potential buyers to avoid the game due to its exploitative practices and technical issues.
- “Instead of building on what made ASE great, they've stripped away the essence and replaced it with monetized content and a focus on microtransactions.”
- “The monetization model they are ramping up with this is mobile gaming levels of poor, and it's only going to get worse as time goes on.”
- “Survival Ascended has thrown this (frankly perfect) model of monetization out the window, adding paid creatures to unpaid maps and simply making them inaccessible to players without the DLC.”
- “Game is buggy and unoptimized and the devs are pushing p2w cash grab content instead of fixing the game.”
- “You are being charged money for a worse version of what you likely already own just so that SWC and Snail can market 'paid mods', 'premium creatures', and more disrespectful monetizations to a more MTX accepting underaged console market.”
- “The developers blatantly ignoring the backlash to the many bad decisions they've made tells me they simply don't care, and will continue to push dirty, cash grabbing 'DLCs' until this game completely and utterly fails.”
story
511 mentions
14 % positive mentions
82 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story aspect of "Ark: Survival Ascended" has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the lore and potential for exploration, while others criticize the execution and lack of a coherent narrative. Many feel that the story is often hidden or poorly integrated, requiring players to seek out explorer notes to piece together the plot. Additionally, concerns about the game's stability and monetization strategies have led to frustration regarding the overall storytelling experience.
- “This game has tons of lore woven in, unique maps, and a storyline that your character is a part of, featuring creatures from both prehistoric times and those we only dream about.”
- “The backstory and the somewhat of a campaign that follows is just amazing; the only downside is that to fully understand the story, you have to read the explorer notes, but you do gain XP for doing so.”
- “The ability to just go off and find your own story is an addiction I never thought possible.”
- “Absolutely no story.”
- “The one missing piece is really no relevant back story and the story line is essentially hidden for half the game.”
- “Sadly wildcard is terrible at storytelling and rather than improving they shove more of their asinine woke political ideology on us instead of maintaining and fixing the plethora of bugs and other graphical issues in the game.”
grinding
461 mentions
1 % positive mentions
9 % neutral mentions
90 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of "Ark: Survival Ascended" is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to invest countless hours into resource gathering, taming, and crafting. Many players express frustration over frequent bugs and server issues that can lead to significant loss of progress, making the grind feel unrewarding. While some enjoy the grind as part of the game's appeal, the overwhelming consensus is that it demands an unrealistic time commitment, often leading to burnout and dissatisfaction.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “Depends on how much you like grinding.”
- “Months of trivial grinding that goes into 'super saddles' and hatching incrementally mutated dinos before even thinking about taking on the bosses.”
- “It's a game that feels like an absolute slog to play 90% of the time, where you have to talk yourself into getting on and doing absolutely tedious tasks or sit in one spot to stare at a dinosaur for several hours straight as it tames or grows.”
- “Given how much grinding is needed to beat a single boss on the easiest setting, this alone makes the game nearly unplayable.”
humor
242 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as chaotic and absurd, with players finding amusement in the numerous bugs, glitches, and questionable design choices. Many reviews highlight the irony of the game's performance issues and monetization strategies, leading to a shared sense of laughter among players despite their frustrations. Overall, the game is seen as a blend of entertaining moments and infuriating problems, making it a "funny dino game" that players can enjoy, especially when playing with friends.
- “It's chaotic, demanding, and occasionally hilarious.”
- “The amount of time I put in this game is hilarious; I could've been married and having 9 kids with a castle and car, but instead, I kept playing Ark.”
- “Haha... that made me laugh; it actually improved my opinion of the game.”
- “The AI is so stupid that it isn't even funny.”
music
129 mentions
30 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising its quality and emotional impact, particularly the work of composer Gareth Coker. However, some players have expressed frustration over the loudness of the menu music and issues with it playing unexpectedly, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the soundtrack is often described as one of the best in gaming, enhancing the immersive atmosphere of the game.
- “Especially the music and background sound that gets stuck in your mind for the rest of your life.”
- “The soundtrack is the best out of any game, thank you Gareth Coker.”
- “This game is like a movie and offers a feeling that is unlike anything I have ever played, from the beautiful landscapes to the amazing graphics and ambient sounds and music.”
- “The intro music with screaming fighting dinos over the original really sucks. This is a weird thing to complain about, but the reason I am complaining is that the game intro music will blast through my speakers when the game isn't even loaded!”
- “I would have to restart my computer just to get that music to stop from the load screen... then after I did that and did nothing else but restart my computer, a few minutes in the music starts back up without even opening the game.”
- “Game is very loud on launch with the music; I had to take my headphones off it was so loud (my computer max volume is at 25/100).”
replayability
119 mentions
12 % positive mentions
85 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is frequently praised, with many players noting its procedural generation and diverse gameplay styles that contribute to an "infinitely replayable" experience. While some users express frustration with performance issues and server stability, they acknowledge ongoing improvements that enhance playability. Overall, the combination of community involvement and continuous updates suggests a strong potential for long-term engagement.
- “The game's procedural generation ensures that no two playthroughs are ever the same, adding to its replayability and sense of adventure.”
- “There is nothing more enjoyable to me than a game that has been a recurring and replayable experience in my life, and Ark has always been one of those games for me.”
- “The modding community continues to provide a wealth of user-generated content, enhancing the game's replayability and longevity.”
- “While the depth of content and replay value is substantial, the upfront cost may deter some potential players.”
- “I don't see myself playing multiple characters like I did in the old game; even with freshness, it's still the island.”
atmosphere
101 mentions
53 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautifully crafted environments, dynamic weather systems, and immersive sound design, which collectively enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the stunning graphics, including atmospheric lighting and effects that create a vibrant and lifelike world, although some minor graphical issues have been noted. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a significant improvement over its predecessor, contributing to a more engaging and realistic survival experience.
- “Beautifully crafted environments with atmospheric lighting and sound.”
- “The dynamic weather system and day-night cycles contribute to the game's overall atmospheric brilliance.”
- “The diverse environments, from sun-drenched beaches to towering redwood forests, are visually captivating and add to the game's immersive atmosphere.”
- “Many of the models still look ugly and it completely breaks the fresh atmosphere of Ascended.”
- “It lacks the atmosphere and feel of the original, and changes the entire lighting and character of most of the map.”
- “The lighting will cut in and out at night during storms; if it is a normal night and it starts raining, it will just cut to a darker and foggy atmosphere.”
emotional
92 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a strong and often conflicting response from players, with many expressing feelings of heartbreak and frustration due to technical issues and gameplay mechanics that lead to emotional investment and loss. While some players find joy and nostalgia in the game's immersive world, others report feeling emotionally drained and tormented by its flaws, leading to a love-hate relationship that keeps them coming back despite the pain. Overall, the game is described as a source of both deep attachment and significant emotional turmoil.
- “I cried when I first saw gameplay of ASA... it is beautiful, my favorite game in the whole world getting a visual overhaul as well as amazing new features!”
- “It ruined me emotionally, and made me hate who I am and the world around me. Yet, there's a part of you still thinking wow, I kind of miss it.”
- “Yes they did... Ark does what Ark does best, abuses you mentally & emotionally, infuriates you, and yet, you will come back for more!”
character development
16 mentions
25 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed feedback, with many praising the new character design tools as a significant improvement and offering a fun, engaging experience. However, some users criticize the overall character progression, noting that alpha tribes hinder upper-tier development and expressing frustration with technical issues that detract from gameplay. Overall, while the character design is well-received, the implementation and performance issues have left some players disappointed.
- “The new character designer is a nice improvement as well.”
- “Character design is 10/10 in my opinion.”
- “The alpha tribes effectively have cut off upper tier character development.”
- “Terrible graphics, destroyed the official PvP community. They should have just copied normal Ark into this and it would have been better. I have a decent PC, paid my 40 bucks, and I played for 10 minutes in just character design (which is, by the way, just copied from mobile and switch to PC) at a stunning 6fps, and then when trying to spawn, it crashed twice!”
- “Character design is hilarious; I definitely got a laugh out of making my own character.”