In 2017,ARK: Survival Evolvedlit up the gaming world with its immersive approach to survivalist gaming. Providing an action-adventure flair to the pressures and pitfalls of survivalist gameplay, it didn’t take long for the game to rack up a sizable fan base. Six year later, a remake for the ninth generation of consoles has entered early access in the form ofARK: Survival Ascended. Bringing the thrills and spills of the original to a more advanced era of gaming,Ascendedboasts the many maps and thrilling gameplay of the original. With a litany of colorful, often difficult, boss fights to get through, an emphasis on resource management, and all manner of extreme weather to overcome, the game’s remarkable environments make it an addictive treat.
Of the exotic, dangerous locations on offer, a select few stand out from the rest. From remarkable design and intricate detail, to all-action areas brimming with enemies and destruction,Ascendedprovides something for almost every taste. An exciting and engaging game that subverta and challengea traditional survival boundaries,this thrilling update is a must-play for fans of the original.
5Extinction: An Eerie World With Great Storytelling
Boss: King Titan
Considering its place as the final chapter of ARK’s main story line, this environment’s ominous name is a perfect fit. Extinction sees players move into a dystopian, decaying setting with danger around every corner.
Players must beware of numerous Element-infested threats. The environment is fullof beasts both naturaland synthetic, ready to attack at a moment’s notice. The degenerating setting provides an ample array of unique challenges and mechanics for gamers to master, making it one of the most expansive, immersive maps in the game. At a narrative level, the lore and secrets to discover here are fascinating. The story to be found here does a lot to build and developtheARKworld as a whole, making it one of the most rewarding chapters.
4Aberration: A Freaky, Irradiated World
Boss: Rockwell
If there’s one thing that’s sure to up the ante and intensity of a map, it’s a lethal dose of radiation. That’s exactly what players can expect when they explore the world of Aberration. The deterioration of this setting’s atmosphere has led to an irradiated, mutated setup unlike anything else in the game.
Unsurprisingly, players must brace themselves to face some extreme conditions upon arrival. These conditions include brutal, unprotected sunlight, unsettling earthquakes, anda frustrating lack of resources. As if that wasn’t enough to contend with, players must alsotackle unique creaturessuch as the Karkinos and the Rock Drake along the way. Leading villain Rockwell pops up again here as the map’s boss, causing nothing but trouble. Enormously overgrown and hideously mutated, Rockwell is a neat fit for this body horror-themed setting.
3Scorched Earth: A Bleak, Fiery Terrain
Boss: Manticore
This ominously named DLC more than lives up to its title, providing playerswith a desolate, fiery environment to traverse. A desert chock-full of harsh conditions, the Scorched Earth setting is among the most intense in the game.
Scorched Earth delivers on the weather front, battering players with fearsome phenomena such as heatwaves and sandstorms. When it comes to the Manticore, players have one of the game’s more aesthetically bizarre bosses to deal with. Sporting the body of a powerful lion, the Manticore also boasts a scorpion’s tail, bat wings, and multiple rows of teeth. The mythical beast pops up on a few other maps, serving as a boss inRagnarokandValgueroas well. Overall, Scorched Earth’s apocalyptic atmosphere and design makes it one of the most visually distinctive, unsettlingARKmaps to explore.
2Genesis: An Epic, Two-Part DLC
Boss: Corrupted Master Controller/Rockwell Prime
This well-regarded DLC provides players with a litany of curious biomes housed within the intriguing Genesis simulation. Providing even more creatures and missions for players to enjoy, Genesis is a must-have for fans of the core game.
Showcasing a high-tech, spaceship-focused environmentin Part 2, Genesis succeeds in providing some diversity on the map’s front. This gives players a more advanced, zany survivalist setting to power through. Across the two parts, players have two major bosses to contend with. First, there is the Corrupted Master Controller, a digital form of recurring antagonist Rockwell. As if that wasn’t enough of the former Explorer Notes writer, he returns in Part 2 as Rockwell Prime, his final form. Overall, Genesis is atreat forARKfans.
1The Island: A Perfect Introduction To The Game
Boss: The Overseer
The Island serves as the basic, overall environmentof the game at large. As the original map, it’s the ideal location for players to begin their survival adventure.
Sporting diverse landscapes and ever-changing weather, the Island has no shortage of challenges and creatures to help players develop their skills. The area’s final boss, the Overseer, serves as a fitting challenge for rookie players, relying on both Defense Units and Attack Drones to keep the player character at bay. A powerful AI monitoringthe evolution of the human species, the Overseer ensures the Island portion of the game provides some narrative food for thought for gamers as they get accustomed to the survivalist mayhem.
