ARK: Ultimate Mobile Edition review

ARK: Ultimate Mobile Edition ranks fifth because it brings ARK's dinosaur taming to iPhone and iPad for free. Studio Wildcard's App Store page says you tame and ride primeval creatures, team up with other players in tribal battles and take on every boss challenge from the franchise, starting on the original Island map. The page lists access to five expansion packs, but the in-app purchase list shows Scorched Earth, Aberration and Extinction at $5.99 each, and an ARK Pass costs $4.99 a month, so budget for those if you want the full game. It holds a 4.4 rating from 15K ratings on the US App Store. Setup takes longer than other mobile games: the app is 3.8 GB and asks for another 2 GB of data after launch. PC players get a fuller experience from ARK: Survival Evolved for $14.99.

Who it is for

players who want free dinosaur taming on a phone

Price

Free to play; in-app purchases from $0.99 (100 Keys); ARK Pass $4.99 per month; expansions $5.99 each.

100 Keys $0.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• Tame and ride primeval creatures on the original Island map
• Access to five expansion packs: Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction and Genesis Parts 1 and 2
• Team up with other players in tribal battles
• Every boss challenge from the franchise
• Supports Family Sharing for some purchases

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Free to download on the US App Store
• Strength: 4.4 rating from 15K ratings
• Strength: App Store editors featured it with an Editors' Notes write-up
• Weakness: Needs an extra 2 GB download after launch on top of the 3.8 GB app
• Weakness: Expansions such as Scorched Earth are sold as $5.99 in-app purchases
• Weakness: App Store lists advertising

Key facts

• Developer: Studio Wildcard (mobile by Grove Street Games)
• App Store rating: 4.4 from 15K ratings
• Age rating: 13+
• Size: 3.8 GB plus 2 GB of extra data
• ARK Pass: $4.99 per month

Where it ranks

ARK: Ultimate Mobile Edition is No. 5 in our Best Dinosaur Games verdict.