ARK: Survival Evolved Review — Still Relevant In 2024

Most survival-crafting games usually take place in a rural setting where the world around you is covered with either plain greenery or undiscovered potential. ARK: Survival Evolved is a fancy take on the genre, introducing a world where primitive beings and modern sci-fi technology co-exist. The game holds all the basic elements of a survival game with high depth given to every mechanic.

Gameplay

ARK: Survival Evolved centers around the familiar building block mechanics where you unlock new crafting recipes by leveling up your character. You will gain experience through whatever activity you do, initially including basic stuff like crafting and gathering resources. 

However, when you reach a high level, you will experience an actual sci-fi world by unleashing your frightful, tamed pets upon your foes, fighting with high-tech weapons, and crafting gear that allows you to reach high up in the sky.

At the beginning of the game, you will have limited access to crafting and gathering resources, as you can only craft primitive-style tools. However, when you reach a high level, you will experience an actual sci-fi world by unleashing your frightful, tamed pets upon your foes, fighting with high-tech weapons, and crafting gear that allows you to reach high up in the sky.

Now, being a survival game, gathering resources is a necessity you will do most of the time. However, I personally found it quite repulsive that there is no direction for finding the resources required for crafting essential gear. Most of the time, I would be looking for guides only to cover the fundamentals of actually exploring and surviving harsh environments. 

The crafting aspect is quite entertaining, as you’d expect, because of the many recipes that exist. Building a shelter is kept pretty basic to understand. Stacking blocks is not complicated, and you can even lay down the foundation or floor on an uneven surface through some tricks.

Following the structure building, one thing I found most convenient is the replacement method. If you have built a wall of wood and wish to upgrade it to a stonewall later on, simply hover it over the existing wood wall and build it. The wall will be replaced with a stone structure, which I find very convenient for survival games.

My only criticism about the gameplay is that it’s not beginner-friendly. There are no leads on where to head out or how to satisfy basic needs such as food and water effectively. 

Leveling Mechanics Might Not Be Ideal For A Survival Game

Most of the survival games I’ve played are based on the exploration factor, but this is not the case for ARK: Survival Evolved. Exploring is undoubtedly a vital part of the game, but some limitations in the early stages prevent you from venturing out in the wild for too long.

Moreover, being on a low level also does not reveal much of the crafting aspect, as recipes are unlocked and displayed only when you level up.

The map is divided into regions based on difficulty level. Initially, you start in the region with the easy difficulty level, where the creatures you face are of a similar level to yours, so you can easily overcome them in face-to-face combat. 

Hunting is also essential, as you can decide whether to tame the creature or kill it for the loot. But again, even in an easy region, you must be aware that you are not engaging a higher-level beast, as that will be a straight-up death call.

Moreover, being on a low level also does not reveal much of the crafting aspect, as recipes are unlocked and displayed only when you level up. As a beginner, you will have no idea what you are hustling for and what treasures await you on higher levels.

Regarding the treasures, supply boxes are spread across the map, containing items worth struggling for. However, opening them also requires a higher level, and being stuck on the low level with limited activities and areas to access makes the game really slow-paced. 

In my opinion, the gameplay only makes sense when you are prone to mistakes. ARK’s mechanics might feel tedious for beginners as they definitely don’t prioritize handholding, but if you’re willing to put in the effort, you’ll eventually discover a gameplay loop that’s way too addicting to leave. 

Visuals And Performance

If there is something impressive about ARK: Survival Evolved, then I would say it’s the visuals. The game’s ground-breaking visuals were really ahead of their time when it was released, and even now, they still appear much more compelling.

The lighting overhaul fits well with the motion blur, and the light sources glimmer with more intensity at night, which appears drastically engaging to witness.

The lighting overhaul fits well with the motion blur, and the light sources glimmer with more intensity at night, which appears drastically engaging to witness. Moreover, the ambient occlusion is highly detailed, making sense as resource gathering depends on it. 

The overall textures of the game seem flawless, both for the creatures and the vegetation. However, the particle effect might sometimes appear buggy, like when breaking a stone with a pickaxe sends its tiny pieces flying up. 

As for playing this game on a high-end PC, there were no performance issues, and the experience was much smoother on maximum graphics preset. 

However, regarding the controls, I highly disapprove of playing ARK’s with a keyboard if you are on a PC. The button mapping is exceedingly unorganized, with several keys to remember. Fortunately, playing the game with a controller will deliver a more convenient gameplay experience, and I believe that’s the most optimal way to play.

Overall, I believe the game is visually mesmerizing even to this day as there is no flaw in what it presents us graphically. The highly detailed mesh of the land and creatures is the most cherishable aspect of ARK, so don’t worry about any subpar scenery. 

Verdict

ARK: Survival Evolved has ideal mechanics for a survival game, but the absence of a tutorial makes it unwelcoming for new players. But once you know its mechanics, the game will draw your attention to its highly rewarding progress dynamics.

Based on the game’s highly enticing visuals and ideal survival mechanics, I feel it is still relevant, as many survival craft games follow the same design. Additionally, ARK: Survival Evolved still has active development support and a decent player base, which has helped it survive for a long time.

This is my review of ARK: Survival Evolved. While you’re here, consider checking out some of our other articles. 

• XDefiant Review
• No Man’s Sky Review
• V Rising Review
• Nioh Review