I spent some time carefully researching and deciding in my opinion where I believe each Ark map should be ranked based on many important features. The unique experience the map offers along with the unique dinosaurs the map introduced, and with a few other important factors kept in mind; difficulty, ambiance, and exploration. Without further ado, here are the official 2023 ARK: Survival Evolved map rankings!

12. Genesis Part 1

Arguably everyone’s least favorite map is the first half of the Genesis duo.

In theory, this map was a unique and fresh concept that had a lot of anticipation surrounding it. Upon release, that anticipation swiftly turned into many people disliking the map for various reasons. The biggest reason for them all is that the map is split into 5 biomes that are entirely separate from each other, the only way to explore every part of the map is to teleport to each individual section. Genesis Part 1 is also considered high on the difficulty scale and was not very loved by fans in terms of the story and side missions you are forced to complete to finish the story behind this map.

What We Like About Genesis Part 1:

• Out of the many things this DLC lacked, the one thing Genesis Part 1 did correctly was it’s biomes. Oceans that could be seen as deep ponds on other maps are completely revamped to be its own beautiful biome, same could be said for the map’s other sections as well, such as the swamp. 
• Genesis Part 1 brought some amazing and original creature concepts that are still loved by many. From a destructive and fiery lava puppy; Magmasaur. Down to a cute and secretly viscous Ferox. 
• This is the first DLC to introduce a functional companion character that travels alongside your player. 
• Home to the first-ever aquatic boss.

11. The Island

The first map that introduced all of us to our beloved Ark. 

The Island holds a place for nostalgia in many fan’s hearts. It’s a simple map that feels its age, but many survivors still enjoy the experience The Island provides. There is a decent amount of secrets this map has to explore and it is still very beginner-friendly for any newcomers. The only reason this map is ranked so low is due to the fact that there are many maps that have come out since The Island that offer what this map has, but does it better.

What We Like About The Island:

• Explorer Notes are easily and quickly obtained allowing new players to earn levels fairly early on compared to other more difficult-to-travel maps.
• The map is rated at a Low to Medium difficulty allowing it to be a perfect boot camp for new survivors. 
• The Island is the only map on Ark Survival Evolved: Mobile, making it a loved map by those who have only ever known The Island. 
• Easy to come across biomes with a relatively easy experience traveling around the entire map.

10. Scorched Earth

Home to very mixed reactions from fans is a full desert experience! 

Scorched Earth is the first map that introduced a one-biome concept. The desert theme was done fairly well, this map is decorated with desert oasis and beautiful rocky canyons that a lot of fans have come to appreciate. The elements the map introduced that were meant to be seen as new survival challenges ended up being more annoying than challenging. At this point in time, almost everything Scorched Earth offers you can acquire on other maps with ease which is why I believe this map is often overlooked and ignored altogether.

What We Like About Scorched Earth:

• This map is introduced and is home to one of the most mythical creatures the game has to offer; The Phoenix. 
• For those who love a tough survival experience, Scorched Earth definitely provides a high difficulty rating. 
• A unique map paired with equally special creatures that are tailored specifically for surviving the harsh conditions of Scorched Earth. 
• Scorched Earth introduced many unique items upon release like the new building options called Adobe, and fun weapons and tools such as a boomerang, Whip, Oil Jar, and Flamethrower!

9. Crystal Isles

A beautiful tropical paradise littered with giant crystals!

Crystal Isles is arguably one of the prettiest maps Ark has to offer, but what the map offers in beauty leaves little to no depth. This map is a favorite amongst PVE builders and the terrain does offer some sneaky hiding places for PVP players, but the map itself offers little exploration and is really just a beautiful painting. The reason Crystal Isles is ranked higher than the other maps boils down to its ability that allows players to find more challenging dinos with ease.

What We Like About Crystal Isles:

• This map brought two more Wyvern variants to Ark; The Blood Wyvern and The Crystal Wyvern. Compared to other wyverns, these are the easiest Wyverns to acquire in the game, they are mainly passive until attacked and to tame them, all you have to do is feed it crystals. These wyverns come with unique abilities that allow beginner players to experience Wyverns without the risk of getting one.
• Crystal Isles offers an easy area that allows players to acquire the famous and loved Griffins everyone knows.
• Massive clusters of floating islands offer a secluded paradise feeling throughout it’s terrain. Endless options for those looking for a fun place to build.
• Home to an island constantly engulfed in darkness and thunder known as Eldritch Isle paired with floating water bubbles, an abundance of rare resources, and some hard-to-find Dinos such as the; Megalosaurus.

8. The Center

Everything The Island is while offering everything The Island didn’t.

The Center is a low to medium-difficulty map that is not shy about the beautiful terrain it has to offer. Fans of The Island often hold The Center closer in their hearts due to the similarity but unique aspects this map has. With much to explore and much to offer, I believe this map holds the 8th ranking beautifully.

What We Like About The Center:

• The Center originated as a completely custom map by modder Ben “EvilMrFrank” Bukart. It was later added to ARK as a free DLC that eventually stole the hearts of many. 
• Easy to find high-level wild dinos and better loot from supply drops. 
• Many maps provide a big ocean, but to a far lesser degree than The Center’s enormous ocean which gets much darker the deeper you go.
• 2 Underwater Domes that can be used as unique waterproof bases.
• A massive underground ecosystem that comes with its very own miniature sun and branching tunnels that lead further into different parts of the underground world.

7. Valguero

I promise you will never find a map that perfectly matches the beauty of Valguero. 

Valguero makes Crystal Isles look like a wet paper bag in comparison if we are talking about beauty. With a low to medium difficulty ranking this map offers breathtaking terrain that allows survivors a multitude of building potential. With a formidable dungeon boss and ruins filled with mystery, there is endless excitement and danger to find on  Valguero. 

What We Like About Valguero:

• Valguero offers a little bit of everything, lush jungles, environmental hazards, land chilled by snow or rocks scorched by lava, savannas, and hot springs. Let’s also remember an underground ocean called The Abyss!
• This map accompanies its impressive terrain with a small piece of Aberration hidden underground, allowing players who may not have the loved DLC, a free opportunity to experience its natural mystery and beauty. 
• Introduced upon release was the adorable and ferocious Deinonychus. A creature that is not only very strong but also very hard to kill in packs. 
• Valguero also introduced two variations of the Rock Elemental; The Chalk Golem ( found in the white cliffs ) and the Ice Golem. ( found in the snow desert ) 
• There is so much exploration that Valguero offers not only from caves and hidden gems of land but the map also is filled with easy-to-gather resources that are otherwise more challenging on other maps.

6. Extinction

Robots, Titans, Sunken Forests? Oh My!

Extinction introduced a futuristic meets apocalyptic approach which offered a wide range of special creatures and tools that ultimately provided a solid experience to many Ark survivors who may have been looking for something different. Gorgeous architecture provides many opportunities for creative building, as the land outside acts as a wasteland offering a lot of potential for exploration and thrill!

What We Like About Extinction: 

• In the center of the map lies an abandoned city usually referred to as the Great City or Sanctuary. This city acts as a fossil of lore the story offers which compliments the entire map beautifully. 
• A map filled with many secrets hinting at story lore, offering a more explorative way to delve into the universe.
• Extinction offers the rare ability to temporarily tame large and extremely aggressive Titans that are equally as awesome to look at as they are to fight with!
• Robotic and powerful creatures you are able to tame and explore the terrain in new and exciting ways!
• Unique environmental features such as; three large biomes housing: Desert, Snow, and Forest. Extinction also offers Eclipses that temporarily dim the light as well as meteor showers where meteors rain down on the land and not only destroy structures but also kill creatures.

5. Genesis Part 2

Compared to its failed predecessor, Genesis 2 accomplished everything the first one didn’t. 

I’m sure many fans were hesitant to delve into Genesis Part 2 after Genesis Part 1 did not seem to impress many, but the creators and developers took all criticism into consideration and released this gem of a map as a result. The story itself was a brilliant finale to the ARK journey, not to mention the variety of really awesome creatures that were introduced alongside it. Genesis 2 is ranked high in difficulty but the experience is far worth the struggles you will face. 

What We Like About Genesis Part 2: 

• Genesis 2 introduced Tek in a much more digestible way for survivors, you start your experience with a Tek Suit and through completing unique missions you are able to receive Tek items much easier than ever before, offering beginner survivors a taste of what more experienced survivors have had for a long time. 
• This map brought some of the coolest and most powerful dinos the game has to offer such as; Shadowmane, Maewing, and Astrodelphis.
• Brand new variants of creatures called R-Creatures can be found across the map, each possessing boosted stats from their original counterparts. 
• Hyperspace is an event that appears at night. This event makes the sky go purple and with millions of stars passing by the ship will eventually stop, arriving at another planet which causes asteroids in the space biome to change afterwards, offering many unique resources.

4. Ragnarok

The ultimate Viking map for mythology lovers!

Ragnarok is very popular and deeply loved by almost every fan. The building opportunities and exploration this map provides are practically endless. If you love PVP or PVE Ragnarok easily caters to everyone’s styles and does so effortlessly. With all of the new creatures Ragnarok introduced, the map also brought higher-than-average spawn rates of creatures that are harder to find on other maps such as the Ovis. 

What We Like About Ragnarok: 

• This map has the highest number of caves out of any other map on ARK with a whopping 34 caves of unique exploration. 
• Ragnarok introduced many loved creatures such as; Griffins and Ice Wyverns. Along with many other new and fun dinos to find. 
• The map is rather large, leaving a lot of space for busy servers while simultaneously remaining beautiful and interesting, never leaving survivors with the feeling of boredom. 
• Boxes are scattered around various beaches that can be broken as an easy way of obtaining equipment early on. 
• An active volcano watches over Ragnarok which will erupt and create lava flows that also cause meteors to rain down.

3. Lost Island

The Island’s perfected and more beautiful step-sister!

Lost Island is a beginner-friendly map with beautiful terrain to come with it. This map offers so much of what other maps also offer but Lost Island just does it better. A resource-rich and exploration hot spot, I believe this map was the way of developers granting the same nostalgia The Island has but in a much grander way. 

What We Like About Lost Island:

• With the second highest amount of caves ( 19 ) Lost Island allows a nostalgic exploration experience, leaving much land to uncover. 
• A huge ruined city, various ships scattered within the ocean, and lava pools/streams. The unique and environmental features this map grants leave many fans in awe. 
• A Wyvern Trench containing many more nesting places than Scorched Earth, Ragnarok, and Crystal Isles. As well as an Ice Wyvern Trench.
• Magmasaur caves contain few Magmasaurs and easily found eggs making this journey to get your giant lava puppy rather easy!
• A lake filled with nothing but Black Pearls becomes the best spot to find this resource in abundance.

2. Fjordur

Another beautifully crafted Norse Mythology map!

Fjordur is a special experience from the moment you set foot on this map. Similarly to Ragnarok, the map is inspired by Norse Mythology, but Fjordur takes a very different and almost more magical approach as the map is inspired by the Lord Of The Rings. This map combines the terrain most people love on Valguaro and pairs it with the theme survivors appreciated in Ragnarok to create a unique atmosphere throughout the entire map. 

What We Like About Fjordur:

• The map contains an area that includes 3 portals to 3 different realms, an Icy Realm, A luscious forest-based realm, and a realm of large bioluminescent fields and abandoned buildings. 
• Unique graphics and designs on various features such as; Obelisks, explorer notes, and supply drops.
• Various ruins around the map oozing with mythology lore and easter eggs from The Lord Of The Rings.
• Several secrets to find leaving so much time for exploration and discovery. 
• A radioactive Rockdrake trench letting players without the Aberration DLC have the opportunity to acquire the Rock Drake for free!

1. Aberration

In #1 we have arguably the hardest map to survive on!

With high risk comes high rewards and Aberration is a prime example of this. A completely underground map with bioluminescent variants of many creatures, Aberration is not for the faint of heart. It is a difficult map and there is a lot of terrain not easily accessible, there are also a lot of dinos unable to enter this map, but for all of this maps many challenges such as earthquakes, radiation exposure, gas leaks, and element chambers, comes with the most unique experience Ark has ever introduced. 

What We Like About Aberration:

• In a unique never-before-seen way, Aberration is beautiful and almost feels like an Alien universe while remaining completely underground. 
• Aberration has released the most unique creatures to come with a DLC in the history of Ark. Granting hours of taming, and exploring to find all of these wondrous beasts. 
• Unlike scorched earth where its challenges are annoying, Aberration offers challenges that leave you wanting to accomplish them all and feeling very satisfied when you do! 
• Many new tools were introduced with this map offering many unique ways to survive such as; Cave-climbing picks, Gliding wingsuits, Ziplines, and Cliff Platforms. 
• Along with the many bioluminescent creatures come beautiful glowing forests with an eerie atmosphere, providing a new challenge to building in pretty areas as well as exploring them!

You may also be interested in: 

• ARK: Survival Evolved: Best Dinos
• ARK: Survival Evolved Best Flying Mounts
• ARK: Survival Evolved Best Weapons