So, ARC Raiders is a fun time, isn’t it? I’ve been killed for no other reason than sport so many times, it reminded me of Ark: Survival Evolved in more than just the name. So I downloaded the ludicrously large 270-odd gig and tucked into an old classic.
Why Evolved and not Ascended? Well, because I just don’t see much of a point in upgrading, myself. But more on that later.
They are not the same
First off, it’s important to note that these two games are very different. Ark is, first and foremost, a survival crafting game. ARC is an extraction shooter game. You can shoot guns in Ark, but you can’t tame dinosaurs in ARC.
Still with me? Good, because I grew tired of ARC Raiders pretty quickly, even though it’s a great game, and went back to this old classic. Here’s how that went and whether I think it’s worth its very respectable price tag in 2025.
You can’t tame dinosaurs in just any old game
One of the most satisfying aspects of the Ark games is building an army of dinosaurs to do your bidding. At least, until an Alpha Rex decides your herd of Parasaur looks just a little too juicy and wipes out all your hard taming.
On top of that, he’ll probably wreck your base while you cower inside, too. Of course, all of this could have been avoided if you’d just had the time to build a proper trap and tame that Therizinosaur just down the beach.
It’s this ebb and flow of success and failure that made Ark so good when I first played it way back when. And now, returning to the game some five years after putting it down, I’m instantly hooked once more.
It’s not an easy game to get into, mind you. I still had some memories of what I was supposed to do, but even then, I had to almost re-learn the game. I built my tried-and-trusted Argy trap, ready to upgrade my flier, before things went horribly wrong. My Pteranodon ended with an inch of its life, and I had just a sliver, all while the Argy escaped my trap and almost killed me.
In case you don’t know, Argentavis are kind of like giant eagles, and they’re a huge upgrade on your first available flying dinosaur, the Pteranodon.
Anyway, I refused to give up, and after nursing myself and my flier back to health, I tried again. Nope, the trap turned out to be pretty useless. But I relented, and eventually, downed the Argy… right next to a pack of Carnotaurus.
They are these huge, horned beasts that are exceptionally angry. I’ve always felt they’re the angriest dinos that Ark can throw at you—if not the most dangerous. Still, my Pteranodon and I were outmatched.
Naturally, I played quite a lot of Ark back in the day, so I knew if I just baited them off a cliff, my Argy would be safe. I did just that, and successfully, if you can even believe it. Usually, in this game, what can go wrong will go wrong.
A while later, I had my very own Argentavis, and what a feeling to find success after such a struggle. And that’s why I’m hooked, and that’s why it’s so hard to put this game down once it’s got you.
Oh, and did I mention, it’s even better with friends.
Which Ark: Survival version should you get?
If building your own base and protecting it with an army of Raptors sounds like your thing, you may be wondering which version of Ark to get. Honestly, unless you want official multiplayer servers or all your friends have Ascended, I’d just go with Evolved. It’s just a fraction of the price, at $15 vs. $45, and it’s essentially the same game if you’re only in it for the single player.
That said, I still think that even the more expensive option is worth the money. This is a fun game, and if you like survival crafting titles and haven’t played an Ark game yet, it’s still totally worth it.
I’d love to hear about your Ark or ARC stories in the comments, so feel free to let loose.
