Contrary to popular belief, Studio Wildcard's Ark: Survival Evolved is not entirely about running away from dinosaurs that are trying to eat you and everything you own. That's only about 50 percent of it. Released in 2015, the entertaining game combines the art of not dying with taming prehistoric creatures and building expansive bases.
The map that most people are likely to begin on is also the easiest; The Island. Though you'll probably first spawn at South Zone 1 or 2 which is very tropical (something you'll be grateful for when you find yourself half-naked and alone on a beach) there is a wide range of scenic biomes in which to make your home. Here are ten picturesque spots that you might choose to make your base of operations on The Island.
Updated July 12, 2022 by Jacqueline Zalace: Building your base in a beautiful location is important, so we've updated this guide with the exact location of each of these destinations. Additionally, we've added a few extra locations to give you more options.
12 Weathertop
Your first base is probably going to be close to where you begin until you’ve got some good armor and weapons. Luckily the ‘easy’ spawn spots near South Zone 1 have some really picturesque spots.
If you go up the big hill that leads to the plateau overlooking the swamp, you can build a really nice based on the cliff looking east. There’s a chance of raptors and therizinosaurs spawning, but so long as your barn has stone walls, it’s a small price to pay for a nice view and some good, flat building terrain.
11 The Hidden Lake
Given the name, you might have figured out that the Hidden Lake is, well, hidden. Very well hidden, in fact, which makes this an excellent location to build your base (if you can get there first!) on a multiplayer map. But it's also one of the prettiest combat locations on The Island.
While there are predators in the Hidden Lake, so long as you're careful, it can be a pretty safe place to call home. Just make sure you have good walls. Surrounded on most sides by steep cliffs — with bottle-necked entry points — this is a very unique place to settle down, with a lot of potential for an open-plan barn system.
10 The Western Coast
The Western Coast is often slept on as a location for a base because there's not exactly a shortage of alphas along the beach, and when you get to the snow... well. Let's just say, if you're not well armed, don't expect to keep your gear when you get to the mountain. Daeodon. Daeodon everywhere.
But the views are astounding. Play your cards right, and you could build a cozy place with a view of the falls, the ocean, the snow, and the volcano all at once. A small price to pay for braving the hell pigs. (And yes — their nickname is well-earned.) Head for one of the clifftops if you'd like flatter land to work with.
9 The Deep Island
Build too close to the trees, and you might leave your front door just in time to be pounced by a Thylacoleo. But the Redwood Forest is a beautiful location for those who have some good fighters to defend them. Setting up camp on the beach by the river will give you some beautiful views.
The benefit to the beach is that you have a quick take-off for your flyers, and flatter terrain to work with. Not to mention a good source of meat. But if you dip into the forest just a little, you can have some nice viewing stations if you build a couple of tree platforms.
8 Herbivore Island
If you make it out to the North East ocean without a Leedsichthys taking offense to your raft, Herbivore Island is one of the safest places on The Island. Just try not to antagonize some of the stabby herbivores, and you’re in luck; the only predator you’re likely to see is the odd megalodon in the depths.
There are a couple of picturesque places to build on this isolated island. You could back your base against the cliff face near the lagoon, or build on the backs of it. You can also make creative use of bridges to make a nice sea pen for your aquatic tames.
7 The Southern Jungle
Although not an especially flat area to work with, there are a lot of little spots in the Southern Jungle for a fresh explorer. Follow the beach along until you find the waterfall with the deep plunge pool, watch out for Sarcosuchus, and head up over the rocks. The winding river leads to a couple more waterfalls and pools, all of which are beautiful and well-placed locations to make your home.
One way to get around the uneven terrain is to build your house on stilts and platforms. You can also use them as bridges to get over the water without attracting Piranhas and you're not too far from the Red Obelisk, either.
6 The Eastern Plains
Follow the river North of the Green Obelisk inland, and you will come to a sheltered lake with cliffs on both sides and some pleasant views. There aren't too many predators to deal with except the occasional Dire Bear, and as an added bonus, it's one of the better places to find equus and some other rare herbivores.
The staggered cliffs aren't the easiest to work with, but pillars will be your friend working here. It also isn't very resource-heavy, but with the Maw and the neighboring Eastern Forest, you don't need to travel far to find what you need for most tasks.
5 The Southern Islets
While giant, indestructible rock features don't make for easy architecture, they're wonderful decorations for a nice island. The Southern Islets have a lot of flat spots along the coastline with some unique structures that you won't find elsewhere on The Island. There are some gorgeous little sheltered lagoons, too, that can be easily defended.
But the scenery isn't the only good thing about the Islets — you're also pretty central to a lot of resources. There is a good source of metal on a nearby mountain, beaver dams on most of the little rivers heading inland, and plenty of foliage to keep your herbivores well fed.
4 The Redwood Forest
A braver architect has a font of nice locations in the Redwood Forest. If you’re the sort of person to get easily lost, you can’t go wrong with sticking to the small lagoon or the banks of the streams.
If you’ve unlocked the engram for tree platforms, this is an excellent place to begin. You want to stay off the ground and make treehouses and bridges for your keep. This one is likely to be more of a holiday home than a place to build an expansive barn, but there’s room for lots of creativity.
3 North East Cave
Building in a cave takes a bit of skill, but the payoff is definitely worth it. The North East Cave can be found on the northeast side of The Dead Island. The cave itself is basically one giant room that doesn’t contain too many creatures.
When you build in a cave, you can rely on the environment to help you create defenses. Additionally, you will have protection from the elements. Besides these practical aspects, the North East Cave is large to build your base, and has tons of unique natural ‘wall-decor’.
2 Whitesky Peak
If you prefer a colder climate, then Whitesky Peak is just right for you. This beautiful snowy landscape can be dangerous, but the views are amazing. Building here can be difficult as well, due to the rough terrain; if you like to challenge your building skills, then this is great practice.
From the eastern side of Whitesky Peak, you will be able to get a view of Winter’s Mouth. This is a perfect background for your base. Here, you will feel like the island is a winter wonderland.
1 On A Raft
It takes a little bit of practice to build something substantial on a raft (and without using the admin console, you have a limit to how much can be on it) but it can be done! And if you just can’t decide where you want to live, why not make your home portable?
A portable home with some metal walls can be a good base for taming dangerous aquatic creatures. It’s also a great way to take your bed with you and make your spawn point a little more convenient. Just make sure not to park it somewhere it’ll get trod on. With a raft, you will always have a beautiful view of the island as your backdrop.