ARK: Survival Evolved

 Switch
ARK: Survival Evolved Image
Metascore
29

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
2.8

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 75 Ratings

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  • Summary: As a man or woman stranded naked, freezing and starving on the shores of a mysterious island called ARK, you must hunt, harvest resources, craft items, grow crops, research technologies and build shelters to withstand the harsh elements. Use your cunning and resources to kill or tame & breedAs a man or woman stranded naked, freezing and starving on the shores of a mysterious island called ARK, you must hunt, harvest resources, craft items, grow crops, research technologies and build shelters to withstand the harsh elements. Use your cunning and resources to kill or tame & breed the leviathan dinosaurs and other primeval creatures roaming the land, and team up with or prey on hundreds of other players to survive, dominateand escape!

    FEATURES:

    * Use cunning strategy and tactics to tame, train, ride and breed the 100+ dinosaurs and other primeval creatures roaming the dynamic, persistent ecosystems across land, sea, air, and even underground.

    * Build your character's strengths and gain items, skills, and pet creatures using in-depth role-playing systems.

    * Start a tribe with hundreds of other players to survive and dominate competing tribes...and ultimately discover ARK's true purpose.

    * Build a fire or shelter, then craft customizable clothing & armors to help protect against damage and extreme temperatures on your way to unlocking advanced technologies and equipment.

    * Chop down trees and mine metal and other precious resources to build massive multi-leveled structures composed of complex snap-linked parts.    … Expand
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ARK: Extinction - Official Announcement Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 12
  3. Negative: 11 out of 12
  1. Multiplayer.it
    Dec 5, 2018
    50
    Ark: Survival Evolved is a valid title, ambitious and full of content: but the conversion for Nintendo Switch has too many optimization problems.
  2. TheSixthAxis
    Dec 18, 2018
    40
    Even as an Ark aficionado, it’s difficult not to slump in disappointment as you play the Switch rendition of what can be a fantastic title. The touch screen may allow for better control functionality as far as the other consoles go, but it doesn’t make up for the ugly visuals and general instability. Ark: Survival Evolved is and will remain one of those titles that shines brightest on PC and only there can it gain the appreciation it truly deserves.
  3. Vooks
    Jan 2, 2019
    40
    ARK: Survival Evolved is hard to recommend on two fronts. The Switch Version is an ugly technical mess, and if it does run well the game happens to be unwelcoming and an unfun grind to obtain the actual draw cards to the game. As a big Dinosaur fan, both issues disappoint me so much. True it would be awesome to ride Dinosaurs around and taming them, but not on this console. If this warning isn’t enough at the very least check out the mobile version (which looks better and has a better interface) and see if the game is for you. At the end of the day, ARK is playable, parts of it are even fun, but all the game and technical issues drag this behemoth-sized game back down into the tar pits.
  4. FNintendo
    Dec 11, 2018
    30
    ARK: Survival Evolved is an experience that has the right idea and concept to do well. Unfortunately this gets throw away by a very poor visual execution, which botches the game's quality and renders it nearly unplayable. It's a pity, as there are several ideas in this game which could flourish in a different environment.
  5. NintendoWorldReport
    Dec 17, 2018
    25
    Is a Switch game that can realistically only be played in docked mode actually playable? The entire point of this system is to be able to take your games with you, but ARK can’t really offer that. It draws into question the sanctity of the Nintendo seal of quality. The fact that it is not only available to the public, but costs money is an insult. Don’t buy ARK on Switch.
  6. Switch Player
    Feb 11, 2019
    20
    Set in a Utopian island inhabited by dinosaurs, ARK: Survival Evolved engages the player on a survival gameplay loop that could have been as engaging as it is punitive – if it wasn’t plagued by so many technical issues.
  7. Gaming Age
    Feb 21, 2019
    0
    Even if this were the most balanced game ever, even if it made picking it up and playing a breeze — ARK: Survival Evolved would still be a strong contender for the worst game on the Switch. It looks like garbage and it plays even worse, and no matter how great the intentions behind it or what crazy ambition it shows, there’s no reason why anyone should willingly seek it out and play it.

See all 12 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 17
  3. Negative: 9 out of 17
  1. jcice773
    Dec 13, 2018
    10
    Its a good game on a bad system for this kind of game. Still fun . Graphics might be bad, but its the same game as the other versions.
  2. BiggestFurret
    Jun 9, 2022
    9
    Despite crashing once when I tried to start the Dragon Boss, the lone fact ARK can run on such faulty hardware is a miracle.
  4. youthcats
    Dec 17, 2018
    9
    The game is ugly, but far from "unplayable." I have played 70+ hours between single player and online in both handheld and docked mode. RunsThe game is ugly, but far from "unplayable." I have played 70+ hours between single player and online in both handheld and docked mode. Runs about as smoothly as the XB1 and PS4 ports, but with the necessary visual downgrades. The draw distance is low, textures are blurry, and lighting/shadows are pretty bad. It is pretty jarring at first, but I got used to it pretty quickly. The map takes about 3 minutes to load and it sometimes takes a few tries to log-on to the server. Aside from some minor gripes, there is a great time to be had here. Ark is an incredibly-deep open-world crafting survival adventure game with a virtually-endless amount of content and more DLC to come. If you've been waiting for a proper survival game to come to the Switch, don't let the bad reviews dissuade you. You'll likely have a smoother experience on other platforms, but the portability is worth the graphical compromises.… Expand
  5. AlexandrePursui
    Jan 28, 2020
    1
    **** garbage company, thieves, scam, if people at wildcard are designers I'm an astronaut! Guys don't buy this game, any dlc or anything. You**** garbage company, thieves, scam, if people at wildcard are designers I'm an astronaut! Guys don't buy this game, any dlc or anything. You will have a better time flushing your money down the toilet. It's a smoking pile of bugs, disappearing items and dinos, framerate drops, lag, disconnections and any kind of issues. I've been playing it for months but I'm friggin done! I'm done swallowing their poor design and constant problems. And the customarecare is useless! DON'T BUY THIS GAME OR ANYTHING FROM WILDCARD… Expand
  6. TGious
    Oct 17, 2021
    0
    A truly terrible game. The graphics are terribly adapted for the switch, and the game fails to have a good story or gameplay. You will beA truly terrible game. The graphics are terribly adapted for the switch, and the game fails to have a good story or gameplay. You will be wandering around bored out of your mind in this game. There really is not much more to say other than do NOT buy this game.… Expand
  7. abvilla
    Dec 17, 2018
    0
    Que puedo decir de semejante porquería... caídas de fps y popping brutales . El juego en si es una verdadera desgracia, es injugable y seQue puedo decir de semejante porquería... caídas de fps y popping brutales . El juego en si es una verdadera desgracia, es injugable y se recomienda jugarlo en cualquier otro sistema.… Expand
  8. Alex-Rainx
    Nov 30, 2018
    0
    Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization,Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, ?.....?...?...?..?...........? Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, WTF?? WTF?? hello?? Bad bad bad company....... Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, Optimization, ........LoL??… Expand

See all 17 User Reviews

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Awards & Rankings

88
#88 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2018

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