ARK: Survival Evolved review

ARK: Survival Evolved ranks second because it is the deepest dinosaur taming game you can buy for $14.99. Studio Wildcard's Steam page describes waking up stranded on an island where you must hunt, harvest, craft, grow crops and build shelters, then kill or tame and breed the creatures around you. It supports single-player, online multiplayer and co-op, and Steam lists Workshop support and a level editor for custom content. With 256,951 English Steam reviews, it has the largest player base of any game here, and 80% of those reviews are positive. It runs on Windows and macOS with 8 GB of RAM, though it needs 60 GB of storage. The trade-offs: story expansions such as the Genesis Season Pass cost extra, and the studio's newer remake, ARK: Survival Ascended, sells for $44.99 but has a weaker 60% positive English review score. Players who only have a phone can get the same taming loop free in ARK: Ultimate Mobile Edition.

Who it is for

players who want to tame, breed and ride dinosaurs

Price

$14.99 one-time on Steam.

encounter other players to survive, dominate... and escape! $14.99 Buy on Steam
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• Kill or tame and breed the primeval creatures roaming the island
• Hunt, harvest resources, craft items, grow crops and build shelters
• Single-player, multiplayer and co-op modes listed on Steam
• Steam Workshop support and an included level editor
• Genesis Season Pass adds two story expansions as paid DLC

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: 256,951 English Steam reviews, 80% positive, the largest player base here
• Strength: $14.99 is the second-lowest price among the Steam games here
• Strength: Runs on both Windows and macOS
• Weakness: Needs 60 GB of storage
• Weakness: Expansions such as the Genesis Season Pass cost extra
• Weakness: Studio Wildcard now promotes the remade ARK: Survival Ascended on the same Steam page

Key facts

• Developer: Studio Wildcard
• Released on Steam: August 27, 2017
• English Steam reviews: 80% positive of 256,951
• Minimum RAM: 8 GB
• Storage: 60 GB

Where it ranks

ARK: Survival Evolved is No. 2 in our Best Dinosaur Games verdict.