As one of many premiere survival video games of yesteryear that retains coming again into relevance by sheer persistence and perseverance, Ark: Survival Developed is a little bit of a must-play. Factor is, although, that the bottom recreation is simply the beginning, and there’s a wealth of DLC to select from, too.

To be a tad extra particular, Ark: Survival Developed has two tiers of DLC to select from: the map DLCs are free, whereas the precise growth packs are feature-rich and content-heavy in most ways in which matter. As evaluating maps with precise growth packs is pretty difficult in most senses, that’s not what we’re thinking about. As a substitute, under you’ll discover a extra in-depth abstract of the paid growth packs’ respective function units and worth propositions, with a devoted map shortlist featured on the finish. Have enjoyable!

Rating the Ark: Survival Developed DLCs from worst to finest

#5: Genesis – Half 1

Ark: Survival Developed – Genesis is a standout DLC for the sport, in each of its respective components. Half 1, particularly, massively modified the sport by partially pivoting away from the unique expertise’s free-form survival sandbox to devoted missions. The shift in focus is seen primarily in the best way gamers attain gadgets: they full the aforementioned missions to earn forex which is, in flip, traded in for blueprints, gear, and different assorted goodies. You can’t grind for these things, and the shift from barebones survival to full-fledged sci-fi doesn’t assist both.

So, Genesis – Half 1 is the worst Ark DLC in our e-book, however that’s to not say it’s completely unredeemable. Certainly, this DLC is extraordinarily visually fascinating and comes with an immense roster of cool creatures to fiddle round with. So, there’s advantage in enjoying it for positive.

#4: Scorched Earth

Scorched Earth is notorious for 2 causes: the truth that it was a $20 DLC launched through the recreation’s Early Entry stint, and its introduction of full-blooded fantasy creatures into Ark: Survival Developed. Keep in mind: earlier than Scorched Earth got here out, Ark was much more rooted in “actuality,” with prehistoric animals that had been, broadly, parallel to what we had in the true world. Then, in comes Scorched Earth with dragons, manticores, phoenixes, and extra.

The factor about Scorched Earth, although, is that it’s completely in step with the baseline Survival Developed gameplay loop. In contrast to the 2 Genesis DLCs, it’s a stable providing that merely offers you extra of a problem – in order for you it. Loads of selection to talk of, too, contemplating the biome shift.

#3: Genesis: Half 2

Genesis: Half 2 is, in all of the ways in which rely, a direct follow-up to the unique Ark: Genesis launch, besides considerably higher. This DLC, too, leans extraordinarily closely in direction of Ark‘s deeper science-fiction lore, mutant creatures, and (arguably) overdesigned expertise, however the core gameplay loop is far, a lot better nevertheless you take a look at it.

As the primary Genesis DLC’s development, particularly, was a serious level of rivalry, Half 2 permits gamers to start missions from wherever on the map, use flying creatures to maneuver across the map, and luxuriate in all kinds of varied quality-of-life fixes. In follow, the tip result’s which you could safely skip Half 1 in lieu of Half 2, offered that you just don’t care a lot about Ark‘s lore, in fact.

#2: Extinction

Ark: Survival Developed – Extinction is one of the best story-heavy DLC the sport has. Its greatest draw is that Extinction takes place on Earth, moderately than the Ark itself, which is a phenomenally partaking sandbox to outlive in. All of the fan-favourite creatures get variants with bumped-up, endgame-tier stats (Corrupted variants), and you may even tame bosses if you happen to’re actually expert and/or fortunate. Wild stuff.

The Extinction DLC can be loaded with oodles of useful blueprints and different assorted goodies. Primarily an endgame-tier DLC, Extinction makes it very easy to gear up and refill on helpful gear and dinosaurs, and although it’s not too solo-friendly, it stays a high-point for Ark: Survival Developed‘s growth pack lineup.

#1: Aberration

Lastly, Ark: Survival Developed – Aberration is our favourite DLC for the sport. Visually gorgeous, surprisingly well-balanced, and completely loaded with PvE content material, Aberration encapsulates every thing that issues about Ark‘s endgame in a satisfying and significant method. From the terrifying Reapers to the pleasant Bulbdogs, Aberration‘s creature roster is a best-of choice for the sport, offered which you could embrace Ark‘s core sci-fi aesthetic, as a substitute of the extra grounded early-game survival vibes.

Aberration additionally empowers the participant in extraordinarily significant methods. You get to wield climbing picks, wingsuits, ziplines, hazard fits, and hundreds extra – all essential to survive the sport’s ultimate trudge. Aberration‘s map, too, is a far cry from most something that comes earlier than, because it’s largely set beneath a dying Ark – in its cave techniques and different damp locations. Issues do go bump in the dead of night right here, and if you happen to’re solely going to splurge on one DLC for Ark, Aberration finest encapsulates all of the high-points of the sport’s endgame-tier content material.

Rating the Ark: Survival Developed maps from worst to finest

As you may freely try any of the six Ark: Survival Developed maps at your personal tempo, we felt it was finest to not muddle the paid DLC rating with these bonus items of content material. In fact, there is a distinction in worth and high quality from the worst free Ark map to one of the best, and so, our checklist is as follows:

• #6: Misplaced Island
• #5: Crystal Isles
• #4: The Middle
• #3: Valguero
• #2: Ragnarok
• #1: Fjordur

The reasoning is straightforward, too. Whereas Fjordur efficiently melds the perfect options and content material of Ark with a meaningfully new and fascinating enjoying area, Misplaced Island is way too just like the objectively superior Valguero map to have the ability to eke out the next rank. Additional, Fjordur doesn’t lean too closely into the sport’s sci-fi elements (which you both love or hate, no two methods about it) which permits its core survivalist gameplay loop to be extra pronounced. At the least, within the early phases of your playthrough. Once more, although, we suggest you give these maps a shot if potential, simply to see what they’re all about. The chances are good that your shortlist of one of the best Ark: Survival Developed maps will differ from ours to some extent, so see the way you fare!