ARK: Survival of the Fittest

About

"ARK: Survival of the Fittest" is a multiplayer online survival arena game, where participants are stranded on an island and must fight to be the last person standing. The game features a range of dinosaurs and other creatures that can be tamed and used in battles. Players must gather resources, craft items, and form alliances to increase their chances of survival.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

65%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,659 reviews

gameplay84 positive mentions

optimization80 negative mentions

Extremely fun game with a unique twist on the battle royale genre, combining ARK's mechanics with fast-paced gameplay.
Great for practicing PvP skills and offers a thrilling experience when played with friends.
The graphics and sound design are impressive, creating an immersive environment.

The game has a very low player base, making it difficult to find matches, often resulting in long wait times.
Recent updates have stripped away many core mechanics, such as crafting and traditional taming, leading to a less engaging experience.
The game suffers from performance issues and bugs, which can hinder gameplay and reduce enjoyment.

gameplay
268 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
62%
7%
The gameplay of "Ark: Survival of the Fittest" is characterized by its intense, fast-paced battle royale mechanics that blend traditional survival elements with dinosaur taming and PvP combat. While many players appreciate the strategic depth and variety of playstyles, concerns about unbalanced gameplay, server issues, and a lack of updates have led to frustrations, particularly regarding the removal of core mechanics from the original game. Overall, the experience can be engaging and fun, especially for fans of the original Ark, but it suffers from repetitiveness and technical problems that detract from its potential.
- “This standalone battle royale takes everything that makes Ark unique—dinosaur taming, survival mechanics, and intense PvP—and condenses it into a high-stakes, adrenaline-pumping fight for dominance.”
- “✅ Strategic gameplay – it’s not just about shooting; survival, resource management, and team coordination play a huge role in securing victory.”
- “The gameplay in Ark: The Survival of the Fittest is intense and fast-paced, with players constantly fighting for survival against each other and the environment.”
- “The game's mechanics and design choices often lead to repetitive and monotonous gameplay, with little variation or meaningful objectives.”
- “The gameplay is extremely repetitive, and it's like after you've played three rounds, you've played them all.”
- “This new SOTF is another game completely which some might prefer, but personally it no longer serves as a free demo of Ark, and for that I don't like it. Additionally, the new UI and gameplay mechanics are clunky and don't work very well, so I can't recommend it.”
optimization
219 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
47%
37%
The optimization of "Survival of the Fittest" has been widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including frame rate drops, glitches, and lag, particularly in large matches. While some users note improvements over time, the game remains poorly optimized for lower-end hardware, leading to a frustrating experience for many. Overall, despite its fun gameplay, the optimization challenges detract from the overall enjoyment and accessibility of the game.
- “The game does suffer from occasional optimization issues, particularly on lower-end hardware, but when it shines, it truly shines.”
- “If they optimized this game, fixed the inventory management issue, and tweaked the map, it would take a big leap forward compared to PUBG and Fortnite.”
- “With a few optimization patches and tweaks, this game would be quite fun and intense.”
- “Technical issues: as with Ark: Survival Evolved, Survival of the Fittest suffers from performance issues, such as frame rate drops, glitches, and other bugs, especially in large-scale battles.”
- “This game is poorly optimized and lags out of control.”
- “The optimization is godawful and deserves to honorably disembowel itself.”
graphics
214 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
55%
9%
The graphics in "Survival of the Fittest" are generally described as impressive and detailed, reminiscent of its predecessor, "Ark: Survival Evolved," with a variety of creatures and environments that create an immersive experience. However, many players note that the graphics can feel dated compared to newer titles, and the game suffers from poor optimization, leading to performance issues and lag, especially on lower-end systems. While some praise the visuals when running on high-end hardware, others express frustration with the game's demanding requirements and inconsistent graphical quality.
- “The graphics in Ark: Survival of the Fittest are impressive and detailed, with a large variety of creatures and environments to explore.”
- “The game's graphics are smooth and immersive, creating a believable and dangerous world.”
- “With its intense gameplay, stunning visuals, and an ever-evolving ecosystem, it provides a refreshing alternative to the status quo.”
- “However, given that Survival of the Fittest is a spinoff of Ark: Survival Evolved, the graphics can feel somewhat dated compared to newer titles.”
- “The graphics and UI are a disgrace, and the game mechanics are completely broken.”
- “The graphics are beautiful in the video, but in-game the graphics are poor and laggy; I love the game but it needs improvement.”
stability
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with players reporting frequent frame rate drops, glitches, and visual pop-ins that significantly impact gameplay. Many describe it as a "buggy mess," with technical issues persisting despite the developers' efforts to release updates and patches. Overall, the game is seen as poorly optimized, leading to frustrating experiences, especially during large-scale battles.
- “Very fun game, runs great, and it is one of those games where you can't expect the same thing to happen every time.”
- “Players may experience frame rate drops, glitches, or visual pop-ins, which can detract from the overall experience.”
- “Technical issues: as with Ark: Survival Evolved, Survival of the Fittest suffers from performance issues, such as frame rate drops, glitches, and other bugs, especially in large-scale battles.”
- “The performance optimization is terrible though - tested on both mid-high end Intel and AMD CPUs combined with two different mid-high end AMD graphics cards and failed to maintain a stable 60fps on low graphics settings, combined with occasional freezes lasting about half a second each.”
music
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
66%
13%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players praising the engaging soundtrack that enhances immersion and adrenaline during gameplay. However, the menu music is frequently criticized as obnoxious and repetitive, leading to frustration for some users. Overall, while the in-game music is generally well-received, the menu theme detracts from the experience for a significant number of players.
- “The heartbeat-inducing music intensifies as the match progresses, fueling your adrenaline and keeping you engaged.”
- “The music is really good though it really entertains you and gets you hyped while you're waiting to play the game.”
- “They spent more time and money on the soundtrack than the bugs in the game.”
- “Ok funny story, I haven't actually played the game because I can't stand the godawful music in the start menu and I can't find a way to turn it off.”
- “To be honest, I stopped playing the day they introduced that horrid menu music that sounds like it came from a 90's pop band.”
- “The main menu pop music is really obnoxious, especially when you spend most of your time waiting in the menus.”
grinding
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
10%
85%
Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" highlight a mixed experience across different game modes. While some players appreciate the fast-paced nature of the new battle royale format that minimizes grinding and focuses on immediate action, others criticize the traditional grind-heavy mechanics of the base game, which can feel tedious and time-consuming. Overall, the shift towards less grinding in certain modes is seen as a positive change, but many still find elements of grinding unavoidable, particularly in resource management and progression systems.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Really fun game... it's a more fun version of Ark (no grinding and quick-paced), a worthy download.”
- “The progression system is deeply flawed, rewarding those who have the luxury of spending countless hours grinding for resources and taming powerful creatures.”
- “Did I spend all these hours grinding for nothing?”
- “It's still a really cool game, but I want the main focus of the game to be the PvP, but unfortunately to win you have to do mostly grinding.”
humor
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players enjoying the absurdity of interactions, character customization, and unexpected moments during gameplay. Many find the chaotic PvP elements and the antics of other players, including their reactions to in-game events, to be particularly entertaining. Overall, the game offers a blend of relatable and situational humor that enhances the experience, despite some criticisms regarding its overall quality.
- “Add in some players who think they’re the island’s top predator (spoiler: they’re not), and suddenly, your quest to survive turns into an all-out, hilarious game of 'who can mess with who first?' Trust me, it’s intense, but also surprisingly fun when you realize you’re a second away from being eaten by a T-Rex and you somehow make it out alive.”
- “The lobbies are hilariously obnoxious.”
- “Just let the audience listen to the tribe conversation for a while during the game for the great laugh (communication role and planning is so funny in this game).”
- “Not funny.”
story
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
76%
9%
The story in "Ark: Survival of the Fittest" is largely minimal, with players encouraged to create their own narratives as they navigate the survival-focused gameplay. While some players find the chaotic interactions and survival elements engaging, the lack of a structured storyline can be seen as a drawback. Overall, the game emphasizes player-driven experiences over a traditional narrative, leading to a mix of humorous and intense moments in a prehistoric setting.
- “Add in some players who think they’re the island’s top predator (spoiler: they’re not), and suddenly, your quest to survive turns into an all-out, hilarious game of 'who can mess with who first?' Trust me, it’s intense, but also surprisingly fun when you realize you’re a second away from being eaten by a T-Rex and you somehow make it out alive.”
- “The story of Ark: Survival Evolved actually bears some resemblance to the Godzilla anime trilogy in which an army of kaiju end up overrunning Earth, causing humanity to abandon the planet—only to return in an attempt to kill the rest of the kaiju. Similarly, the titans and element corruption wiped out Earth. The game is played from either a third-person or first-person perspective, and its open world is navigated on foot or by riding a prehistoric animal.”
- “It has a bit of a Hunger Games-like story: be the last survivor, and win!”
- “The story in Ark: The Survival of the Fittest is minimal, with players having to create their own story as they explore and survive on the island.”
- “The game's focus is on the survival aspect, rather than a narrative-driven story.”
- “However, the game's minimal story and repetitive nature can be a drawback.”
monetization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
42%
33%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its lack of microtransactions, labeling it as a fun and free experience. However, others criticize the game for feeling like a cash grab, especially with frequent changes and attempts to capitalize on popular trends, suggesting a focus on quality over monetization strategies. Overall, while some enjoy the absence of microtransactions, concerns about the game's direction and monetization tactics persist.
- “A good free-to-play game with no microtransactions.”
- “It's fun, free, and has no microtransactions.”
- “This game has no microtransactions!”
- “I wish they left this game alone. Every time they try to change something or make it new, it feels more like a cheap, heartless cash grab.”
- “Yeah, but also, everyone wants to have a battle royale game like MOBAs a couple of years back. It is a quick and cheap cash grab, but only a fraction of games can do that when the genre is so saturated. Why not focus on the main game instead and make it perfect?”
- “This game is good for a few laughs and can be fun, but if you have any interest in gaining ranks or reaching the top 10 for the cash grab, prepare to give up your life/job/etc. to do so.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive visual design, featuring dynamic weather effects and a day-night cycle that enhance the experience. Additionally, the well-executed sound design, including ambient sounds and engaging sound effects, further contributes to the overall atmosphere, making it a masterfully crafted environment. However, some players feel that while the atmosphere is captivating, it may limit enjoyment for certain users.
- “The visual design helps create an immersive experience, with dynamic weather effects and a day-night cycle contributing to the atmosphere.”
- “Gameplay, atmosphere... everything is masterfully crafted.”
- “The sound in Ark: The Survival of the Fittest is well done, with ambient sounds that add to the game's atmosphere and engaging sound effects for combat and exploration.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep sense of disappointment and heartbreak over the developers' inactivity, feeling that the game has been abandoned despite its potential. Many recommend avoiding the game until it is fully released, emphasizing the emotional toll of investing time and energy into a project that lacks support and updates.
- “The developers are completely inactive, and it is really heartbreaking to see the developers who actually cared about this at the start abandon it. This game, this idea deserves so much more justice than it was given. There is still potential to attract new players and to give the game a much-needed update, even an event to show the players that you still want this game to be played.”
- “And more heartbreaking.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
Players highlight the game's "insane replayability," noting the variety of creatures to tame and the ever-changing loot drops that encourage dynamic strategy adjustments. This diversity keeps gameplay fresh and engaging, prompting players to continually adapt their tactics.
- “Insane replayability! There are many different creatures to tame and build your strategy around, and the loot drops are always wildly different, causing you to change your tactics on the fly.”
- “Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to play it again. The lack of meaningful choices makes replayability almost non-existent.”
- “After completing the main story, I found no reason to revisit the game. The side quests felt repetitive and uninspired.”
- “The game offers no new content or different outcomes on subsequent playthroughs, making it feel like a one-and-done experience.”

Buy ARK: Survival of the Fittest

ARK: Survival of the Fittest
See offer on Steam

13h Median play time

164h Average play time

3-20h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 17 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

This game contains adult content

56%10.8kreviews

The Culling

2017

Survival Shooter

75%9.8kreviews

Darwin Project

2020

Open World Shooter

69%3.2kreviews

World Boss

2023

Shooter

68%7.7kreviews

PixARK

2018

Casual Role Playing

55%57.4kreviews

Z1 Battle Royale

2018

Survival Shooter

ARK: Survival of the Fittest

Platforms

About

Buy ARK: Survival of the Fittest