Ark: Survival Ascended

Game images by RAWG

Ark: Survival Ascended

Studio Wildcard

PC; PlayStation 5; Xbox Series X|SPremium survival game with DLC and cosmetic packs

Health Score

DECENT

Official Website Watch Gameplay

About This Game

Super Review

Ark: Survival Ascended is a vast survival crafting game that can be a qualified fit for dinosaur-obsessed teens. It offers deep systems for planning, resource management, and creative building, especially on private servers. However, parents should be aware of intense combat, potential for griefing and toxic chat on public servers, and ongoing monetization for DLC and cosmetics.

Super Review

Parent verdict

Ark: Survival Ascended is a decent choice for older teens, particularly those fascinated by dinosaurs and willing to invest significant time in a complex survival crafting experience. Its creative base-building and creature-taming systems are standout features. However, the game requires clear family rules due to its mature content, potential for online toxicity, and a monetization model that extends beyond the initial purchase, making it best with clear limits.

What kids actually do

Players will gather various resources like wood, stone, and berries to survive, exercising planning and resource management skills.
Players craft tools, weapons, and structures, from simple huts to elaborate bases, encouraging creative problem-solving and systems thinking.
Players will encounter, tame, and breed a wide array of dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures, which involves strategic thinking and patience.
Players engage in combat against wild dinosaurs and potentially other players, requiring quick reflexes and tactical awareness.

Where it shines

The game excels in teaching long-term planning, resource management, and basic systems thinking as players build a self-sufficient ecosystem for survival and progression.
The building and creature-taming systems are highly creative, allowing players to design unique bases and develop bonds with their tamed dinosaurs, fostering imagination and strategic development.

Parent watch-outs

Combat and dinosaur attacks can be intense and include violence and blood, aligning with its Teen and PEGI 16 ratings.
Public servers often expose players to toxic chat and griefing from other users, which can be upsetting and inappropriate for younger players.
Players can lose significant progress, including their bases and tamed creatures, due to raids by other players or powerful wild creatures, potentially leading to frustration.
Beyond the initial premium purchase, the game includes further monetization through expansions and cosmetic packs, which can add up over time.

Family rules worth setting

Insist that children play exclusively on offline single-player maps or private, invite-only servers with trusted friends to avoid exposure to online toxicity and griefing.
Set clear time limits for play sessions, as the game's survival mechanics and progression loops can encourage extended gameplay to protect progress.
Discuss and agree on strict boundaries regarding in-game purchases for DLC or cosmetic items before any money is spent.

Talk about this

Discuss appropriate online behavior, how to report misconduct, and why it's important to be respectful and safe in shared online spaces.
Talk about coping with setbacks and loss, as progress can be lost in the game, and how to learn from those experiences rather than becoming overly frustrated.
Have a conversation about the value of money, the difference between essential gameplay and cosmetic purchases, and responsible spending in games.

Play style

Ark: Survival Ascended features a demanding session rhythm, as player progress, bases, and tamed creatures can be lost if left unattended or attacked. It presents a moderate to high difficulty curve, especially when learning its complex systems and dealing with aggressive creatures. The game supports both solo play and various forms of multiplayer, from cooperative survival with friends to competitive player-versus-player interactions on public servers. Younger players will likely need significant parental guidance for understanding mechanics, managing frustration from setbacks, and navigating social interactions.

Score Breakdown

Positive Aspects

Educational Value

3/5

Creativity

3/5

Pro-Social

3/5

Risk Factors

Addictive Monetization

3/5

Time Pressure / FOMO

2/5

Social Risk

3/5

Content Intensity

3/5

Why this rating

Educational Value

3/5

Ark: Survival Ascended scores a 3 for Educational Value because it inherently teaches players planning, resource management, and basic systems thinking as they strive to survive and thrive. Players must strategize how to gather materials, build shelter, and manage their inventory, fostering practical problem-solving skills.

Creativity

3/5

The game earns a 3 in Creativity due to its robust building and taming systems, which allow players significant freedom in designing their bases and interacting with prehistoric creatures. This encourages imaginative construction and strategic development as players craft their unique survival experience within the world.

Addictive Monetization

3/5

Addictive Monetization receives a score of 3 because Ark: Survival Ascended is a premium game that also features additional paid DLC and cosmetic packs. While not loot boxes, the ongoing availability of expansions and aesthetic items provides continuous opportunities for in-game purchases, potentially encouraging repeated spending.

Social Risk

3/5

Social Risk scores a 3, primarily due to the nature of public online servers where players can interact, which often includes toxic chat and griefing from other users. This environment can expose children to inappropriate language and frustrating experiences, making private servers or offline play essential for younger audiences.

Content Intensity

3/5

Content Intensity is rated 3 because the game features frequent combat with dinosaurs and other creatures, which includes violence and blood, aligning with its Teen and PEGI 16 ratings. These encounters can be intense and challenging, which may be upsetting for younger or more sensitive players.