Ark: Survival Evolved has continued evolving ever since its first release. What was initially a survival game set on a single map has branched out with multiple expansion packs. These bring new areas to explore, new dinosaurs and other animals to tame, and even some new stories to the game.
While players continue to enjoy these other features added to the game, there’s no doubt some are favored more than others. If you’re looking to expand on your Ark survival world, there are plenty of options to make your experience even more enjoyable.
11 Primitive+ Ark Total Conversion
The Primitive Plus add-on is the expansion pack that adds the least amount of value to the game. One of the core game’s features that draws players in the most is its mix of prehistoric with advanced, and sometimes even futuristic technology.
This expansion pack changes many of these tools to reflect something more realistic, as if this game was happening in the real world with real primitive tech and resources. With new structures and new, sometimes more complicated ways to survive, it’s better to play this with friends to build up a proper society together.
10 The Center
The Center is an expansion map that is nearly double the size of the standard island. It boasts hand-drawn topography while complimenting the current game biomes. There are plenty of new places to explore or even build your base at, from floating islands to stationary underwater air bubbles, to even a large underground cave system with its own ecosystem and light source.
If you like to explore, there are scattered ancient ruins waiting for you to discover. And if you prefer the survival aspect of the game, there are some more powerful boss encounters you can work your way towards fighting too.
9 Ark: Extinction
Return to a decimated planet Earth in Ark: Extinction. This expansion pack brings a new story, map, and creatures to the game. Explore the ruins of Earth, including a dense and overgrown metropolis that tells the tale of what happened to the planet, as well as holds the key to saving it.
As you survive and fight your way through the corrupted and the elementals who have taken over the planet, you can meet new creatures that are unlike anything previously in the game, both organic and mechanical. There’s definitely enough to do here to keep you entertained for hours.
8 Ark: Scorched Earth
Ark: Scorched Earth brings all new biomes as you find yourself stranded in a large desert. There are many new creatures here that have evolved to survive the harsh conditions the desert brings, including tameable wyverns and dragons.
You’ll find a lot of new items available too, and while they might not be the best items you can find, they will help you beat the heat and survive the different weather patterns the desert will throw at you. There are several new bosses to keep an eye out for too, so be careful while you’re exploring.
7 Valguero
The map expansion Valguero adds in new biomes, boss battles, and even a new dinosaur to discover. Each biome has a new danger for you to discover, all the way from the top of the Twin Peaks to the bottom of the Skeleton Gorge.
Be careful if you stumble across the boss arena unprepared, however, as a true challenge awaits you in the form of a combat sequence with three hard-hitting bosses from previously added gameplay. There are also tons of caves to explore with different themes to enjoy, and scattered ruins of those who once tried to survive on Valguero before you.
6 Fjordur
If you like Norse mythology, Fjordur is the map expansion pack for you. Alongside four unique islands and many elaborate cave systems, you can also visit three of the mystical realms: Jotunheim, Vanaheim, and Asgard. You might also manage to discover the great world tree Yggdrasil on your travels.
That isn’t the only Norse thing this pack has to offer, however. Some of the new creatures and bosses added are inspired by other Norse myths such as the wolf Fenrir. And if you’re skilled enough, you might get the chance to wield the legendary Mjolnir and strike your enemies down with the power of the gods.
5 Ark: Genesis
For anyone invested in the story aspect of the game, Ark: Genesis is a must-have. The two expansions included, part one and part two, will take you through new worlds and new missions to bring hundreds of hours of story gameplay. Find out the real story behind Ark and what’s going on as you explore and survive.
With new and expansive biomes to explore that differ in both parts, it will be impossible to grow bored as you continue to progress. You’ll also have access to new gear, animals, and other equipment to evolve further than you ever have before you face the final boss and finish the story.
4 Ragnarok
Despite its name, Ragnarok doesn’t have anything to do with Norse mythology. Instead, this map expansion combines elements from The Island and Scorched Earth while including a couple of new biomes as well, bringing extreme weather of all kinds.
It also includes active hot springs and an active volcano that both provide valuable resources but could quickly become deadly if they decide to erupt while you’re nearby. There are also plenty of dungeons and bosses to conquer, and many more environmental traps to avoid. Don’t forget about the new mystical creature roaming around too, waiting to be tamed.
3 Crystal Isles
What first started as a mod was polished and turned into the official Crystal Isles expansion map. This beautiful map includes several different and varied regions that are all stunning in their own right. From vibrant foliage teeming with volcanic activity to a towering rainforest that lets you build a base up in the tree canopy, there’s a lot to do and explore here.
There are even three types of crystal wyverns you can tame that were made specifically to relate to the design of the map. If you want to continue to survive like normal but are getting tired of looking at the same terrain when playing games on The Island, this map can help spruce your game up nicely.
2 Ark: Aberration
In Ark: Aberration, experience the game in a new way as you wake up on a derelict and malfunctioning ark. Thanks to the nature of its damage the internal atmosphere leaked away and made the surface practically unlivable. Instead, lush biomes have begun to thrive underground.
Uncover the secret of the arks as you explore, discovering new items and new creatures, both tameable and not, along the way. Keep an eye out for the malfunctions, however, as this ark has developed many hazards you’ll need to be wary of as you survive.
1 Lost Island
The community map Lost Island came back bigger than ever when it was turned into an expansion map, and even added three new dinosaurs to the game. The large map has several new biomes and challenges waiting for you to discover, as well as scattered ruins to explore.
These biomes include a rainforest, flooded swamplands, and snow-capped mountains — but of course, that’s just breaking it down into the bare essentials. There’s plenty of space for you to build or repurpose old structures for a base, and the three new dinosaurs make your survival odds look a lot higher.