Why I’m Obsessed with My Latest Survival Game
I’ve always been a fan of survival games and dinosaurs, so finding a game that combines both is basically a sweet spot. I’m talking about ARK: Survival Ascended, a game that’s completely taken over my free time and that I can’t stop thinking about. It’s a world where you can truly do anything and make the experience your own. And while the ultimate goal might be to survive, collect artifacts, and face off against terrifying bosses, what keeps me hooked is the freedom to choose my own path and live out so many different types of adventures.
A Survival Game, But So Much More
At its core, ARK is about survival. You wake up on a mysterious island filled with dinosaurs, armed with nothing but your bare hands and in need of some basic tools, and you’re left to fend for yourself. You have to gather resources, build shelter, hunt for food, and stay alive in a world that’s constantly trying to kill you.
One of my favourite things to do is just build. Sometimes I get so absorbed in construction that it feels like I’m in The Sims build mode, crafting the perfect little (or not-so-little) home base. From simple thatched huts to sprawling, multi-level fortresses, that I can just run around in pointlessly, the building items in ARK let you get as creative as you want. I’ll find myself spending hours gathering materials, carefully laying out walls and floors, and decorating my space. It’s oddly satisfying to transform a rugged patch of land into a cosy, complex structure in the middle of a dinosaur-infested wilderness... Until a heard of Ceratosaurus's decide that they destroying everything!
Catching Dinosaurs… With a Twist
Then, of course, there’s the thrill of catching dinosaurs. If you’ve ever played Pokémon, you’ll know the excitement of trying to “catch ‘em all.” In ARK, that feeling is taken to a whole new level. The game is filled with all kinds of dinosaurs and creatures, each one with its own unique abilities, and I find myself constantly on the hunt to tame them all. Every time I see a new dinosaur, there’s this urge to capture it and add it to my collection, like I’m filling out a prehistoric Pokédex and find out what it does.
But what makes ARK different is the way it handles these creatures once you’ve tamed them. Instead of storing them in Poké Balls, you use cryopods, futuristic devices that let you “freeze” your dinosaurs and carry them around in a compact form. However, unlike Pokémon, the cryopods in ARK require a cryofridge to keep your dinosaurs “alive” over time. Without a cryofridge and a generator to power it, you can’t just throw out your dinosaur at any location. It’s a clever system that has a similar feel to Pokémon, but with a sci-fi twist and an added layer of strategy that makes managing my collection even more exciting, in my opinion.
Playing Zoo Keeper (or Dinosaur Trainer!)
Beyond just catching them, ARK lets you truly care for these creatures. Each dinosaur has its own personality, quirks, and traits, and figuring out how to tame and look after each one is a whole adventure in itself. Some days, I feel like a prehistoric zoo keeper, making sure my tamed dinos are fed, building enclosures, and keeping them safe from predators or setting them to wander in their habitats, hoping they don’t escape.
It’s rewarding to watch over them, to build little habitats, and to see my collection of dinosaurs grow. There’s a sense of attachment that builds up over time, these aren’t just game assets; they’re my companions, my protectors, and sometimes even my transportation. Nothing beats hopping on the back of a T-Rex you’ve tamed yourself, flanked by a loyal pack of dimorphodons, or gliding over the landscape on an Argentavis, knowing these creatures are here because you took the time to bond with them, raise them, and level them up to make them stronger.
An Adventurer’s Playground
When I feel like exploring, ARK becomes this huge adventure game. The map is vast, with jungles, mountains, deserts, red forests, and oceans to explore, even though the oceans terrify me! I can grab a raft fortified with stone or metal to protect against underwater predators, like the dreaded Plesiosaur, and set off down a river. Or I’ll hop on the back of a flying dinosaur and soar over the landscape, discovering hidden caves, ancient ruins, and all sorts of secrets along the way. There’s always something new to find, whether it’s an artifact, a challenging enemy, or just a breathtaking view from the top of a cliff.
Some days, I’ll load up the game with nothing more in mind than seeing where the journey takes me. Sometimes it’s a peaceful boat ride, and other times it feels like I’m in Raft, dodging dangers on the open water and battling the elements. The sense of freedom in ARK is incredible, you can explore at your own pace, go off the beaten path, and carve out your own adventure.
Combat, Weapons, and Boss Battles
And when I’m in the mood for action, ARK doesn’t disappoint. The game has a surprisingly deep combat system, with a wide range of weapons to craft and upgrade. Whether it’s a simple bow and arrow, a spear, or more advanced guns, there’s always a new way to take on the world’s challenges. Crafting weapons and preparing for battle makes it feel like a shooting game, especially when I’m up against the larger and more dangerous creatures. (It even reminds me of Tomb Raider when Lara Croft fought a dinosaur with nothing but her pistols!)
But the real thrill comes when I’m gearing up to face one of the game’s bosses. Scattered across the map are powerful creatures guarding artifacts that you can collect. These bosses are tough and require careful planning, the right gear, and often the help of tamed dinos to take them down. It’s intense and rewarding, and each victory feels like a huge accomplishment. It’s one thing to survive in ARK, but it’s another thing entirely to conquer it.
Making the Game My Own
What I love most about ARK is that it gives me the freedom to play however I want. Some days, I’m a builder, carefully crafting my dream home. Other days, I’m a dinosaur trainer, running my own prehistoric zoo. I can be an explorer, uncovering the map’s mysteries, or a warrior, battling fierce enemies with my carefully-crafted arsenal. The game lets me switch between these roles whenever I feel like it, so it never gets old or repetitive.
And that’s what keeps me coming back. ARK isn’t just a game; it’s a world where I can be whoever I want to be and do whatever I want to do. I can set my own goals, create my own challenges, and live out all these different fantasies within a single game. It’s the ultimate sandbox experience, where survival is just the beginning, and the adventure is what you make of it.
Counting Down to ARK 2
With everything ARK: Survival Ascended has to offer, I can’t help but feel excited for the next chapter. ARK 2 is on the horizon, and I can only imagine what new adventures, creatures, and challenges it will bring. If it’s anything like the first games but bigger, more polished, and with even more possibilities, I know I’ll be hooked from day one.
For now, though, there’s still so much left to do in ARK. There are dinosaurs I haven’t tamed, bosses I haven’t beaten, and corners of the map I haven’t explored. And that’s what I love about this game: even after all the hours I’ve put in, there’s always something new waiting for me.
If you’re someone who loves survival games, dinosaurs, or just having the freedom to play the way you want, ARK might just be your perfect escape too. And if you’re already a fan, are you more of a builder, a dino trainer, or an adventurer, or you try complete the maps with those caves and artifacts? Or, like me, do you enjoy mixing it up and exploring all the different ways to make the game your own?
