The best mods that will give players who have finished the game a new experience.
25. Gyrosphere
Inspired by the famous circular vehicles in Jurassic World!
This mod introduces a new and exciting way to experience maps on ARK by allowing players to explore their surroundings in a glass ball! If you are looking for an easier ARK adventure; the Gyrosphere is surely the best mod for an advantage against the many obstacles a player may face while playing.
Gyrosphere Key Features:
- The vehicle gives you information on the prehistoric creatures that you may come across.
- The glass on the Gyrosphere is strong enough to fend off any attacks.
- Body temperature is regulated allowing players to comfortably explore any biome without environmental risks.
Gyrosphere Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1379756928
24. Glass Metal
Do you wish to make your buildings more beautiful without affecting their durability? Then this mod is for you.
Glass Metal allows you to make block tiles with metal, but they will look like crystal clear glass, allowing you to add more creativity and beauty to your builds without the risk of weakening your defenses! Many players have complained about the lack of customization with building in ARK; with this mod, the possibilities included with building just got a whole lot better!
Glass Metal Key Features:
- The structures have the same durability as the metal version.
- Grants the greenhouse effect.
- Costs less metal ingots with the added cost of crystals.
Glass Metal Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=510590313
23. Awesome Teleporters
A fantastic mod used to shorten the traversal time.
Awesome Teleporters has been said to be one of the best mods that take transportation to a whole new level. This mod allows you to create a teleporter controller, paired with portals that help you travel anywhere you’d like quickly and in a shorter period of time than base game portals, making far journeys less of a hassle.
Awesome Teleporters Key Features:
- Grants portals that you can place around the map and quickly teleport between them.
- The portals can be picked up and do not require foundations.
- Players can choose to set certain portals as their favorite; placing the chosen portals first in the UI list.
- This mod comes with a dino tracker, allowing players to teleport lost dinos to their desired location.
Awesome Teleporters Details:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=889745138
22. Pimp My Dino
Pimp your dinos appearance by adding a bit more color and power!
Pimp My Dino transforms the creatures in the game by adding a new set of armor for a wide variety of dinos available in ARK. This mod takes showing off to a whole new level for those who want a flashier option for their dinos appearance!
Pimp My Dino Key Features:
- Provides stellar armor options for many of your favorite dinos!
- This mod adds some fun decoration options such as a leather chair and some armored head trophies.
- Comes with a dino smithy allowing another cool and useful piece to add to your base.
- Adds two new resources needed to create your creature’s armor; Carbon and Crystal Liquid.
Pimp My Dino Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?l=portuguese&id=655581765
21. Play As Dino!
Tired of playing ARK as a boring human? Look no further.
Play As Dino! Allows survivors to abandon their lives as a human adventurer to take on a whole new experience playing as their favorite creatures! Whether you desire to be as fast as a Raptor, fly as high as a Quetzal, or be as strong as a Giganotosaurus, this mod provides it all.
Play As Dino! Key Features:
- This mod grants players the ability to play over 80 different dinos, making exploration as a prehistoric creature seemingly endless!
- Learn how it is to be a dinosaur as you will have the option to mate with other dinos, raise your babies, and form your very own deadly pack.
- Multiplayer gives survivors the opportunity to eat and battle their friends, adding a unique concept to PVP.
Play As Dino! Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=520154171
20. Shopping Mod
A small but mighty mod!
The Shopping Mod adds a unique economy concept to the game; allowing players to possibly delve deeper into the RP aspect of ARK. This mod also grants admins the option to introduce an efficient and organized way of shopping to their servers, adding a lot more play time for survivors looking for a fresh and fun way to expand their ARK experience.
Shopping Mod Key Features:
- Allows players to buy and sell all base resources including all weapons, ammo, and paint.
- Admins can set the price of all items that can be sold.
- Admin Gift Shop is a feature that allows admins the option to set up care packages on their server such as a starter pack with beginner items included.
Shopping Mod Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=512633537
19. Dino Healing Brew
No need to fear, Dino Healing Brew is here.
Healing your dinos has never been the easiest or fastest process in ARK, but with this mod, the struggles of healing your tame just became a whole lot easier. Now you dont have to worry about hiding and waiting for your creatures to slowly heal before returning to battle!
Dino Healing Brew Key Features:
- Easy to craft only costing; 10 Cooked Prime Meat, 2 Medical Brews, and 5 rare flowers.
- Unlocked at level 20 granting you access to the perks of the healing brew early in your gameplay.
- Regenerates 20% of maximum health over 10 seconds and has a usage cooldown of 20 seconds.
- Dinos will automatically consume the healing brew if their health drops under 80%.
Dino Healing Brew Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2294327997
18. Eco Trees
For all the tree-hugging nature lovers!
This mod offers everything you need to add more beauty to the already beautiful maps on ARK. With many unique features and plants, Eco Trees is bound to enhance your experience in many ways from traveling to decorating your base.
Eco Trees Key Features:
- Plant trees, rocks, bushes, and more to help you create your own paradise wherever you’d like!
- Landscape crafting table that includes the ability to craft; 48 trees, 18 rocks, 34 plants and bushes, 5 flowers, and 7 coral formations.
- Other decoration options include tree logs and wooden and metal platforms.
Eco Trees Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=670764308
17. Additional Lighting
Another mod for all of your decor needs!
Additional Lighting adds beautiful variations of lighting that players are able to add to their base, introducing another layer to decor that ARK desperately needed. With many options to choose from, there is surely something for everyone with this mod.
Additional Lighting Key Features:
- Lighting options do not require fuel or electricity, allowing cheaper and fancier alternatives for survivors.
- All lighting is paintable paired with the ability that allows players to adjust light intensity, radius, and color strength.
- A neat feature of this mod is the Light Switch which allows players to control lighting while also providing two different Light Switch variants to give players more decorative options.
Additional Lighting Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1380777369
16. Auto Engrams
One of the most efficient and helpful mods to have.
This mod is pretty straightforward but it allows players to unlock everything without having to choose how to spend survivor points as players level up. Auto Engrams provides survivors the opportunity to save a lot of time earning survivor points for each item in the game which is perfect for returning players or survivors who dont have the time for the tedious grind.
Auto Engrams Key Features:
- This mod ignores the annoying screen spam that occurs when unlocking specific items, instead, players can freely unlock items without the spamming notifications.
- Items unlock regardless of DLC restrictions.
- Auto Engrams works with mods before and after installing.
Auto Engrams Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1428596566
15. Rp Visual Storage
Microwaves, Shelves, Weapon Racks and more!
Rp Visual Storage won the 2019 ARK modding contest and rightfully so! This mod adds functional storage that also acts as yet another awesome decoration option for survivors to play around with when designing their bases.
Rp Visual Storage Key Features:
- 47 resource-specific storage containers allowing endless options for players.
- Bar refrigerator for a fancier place to store all spoilable resources.
- This mod happens to provide customizable health and storage slots for all structures!
Rp Visual Storage Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1445181373
14. Platforms Plus
For all the kids who never had a treehouse.
Another popular mod favored by many! Platforms Plus introduces a very exciting option for survivors looking to spice up their base designs! With many cool features added, this mod also comes with a great variety of structures giving players the creative freedom they’ve been looking for.
Platforms Plus Key Features:
- Snap points all around the edge of platforms allowing perfect wall placement while also allowing snap points for ladders, ramps, catwalks, ceilings, and pillars!
- This mod introduces a variety of wedge pieces that grant survivors the chance to build multiple levels in their tree base in a variety of shapes.
- All glass pieces grant the greenhouse effect.
- With the added addition of Tek platforms, they also happen to have a built-in force field!
Platforms Plus Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=719928795
13. Upgrade Station
Is there really anything more helpful?
A very helpful mod that allows survivors the chance to upgrade the quality of weapons, armor, tools, and saddles from primitive all the way to ascendent without needing to search for blueprints!
Upgrade Station Key Features:
- Allows players to upgrade Tek armor.
- Weapons, tools, armor, and saddles from most mods can be upgraded!
- The mod creators have a suggestions thread where they are always looking to improve their mods including Upgrade Station.
Upgrade Station Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=821530042
12. Dino Tracker
Stop losing your favorite tames with this awesome mod.
Earlier in the article we discussed another mod that offers a similar feature, but this mod was purposely created just to find your lost creatures. Arguably the most popular mod in its category, Dino Tracker will make your ARK experience easier and stress-free.
Dino Tracker Key Features:
- The tracker itself is unlocked early on at level 25, allowing players to reap this mod’s benefits at the beginning of their playthrough.
- Crafting for the necessary equipment is extremely cheap, only costing 1 metal ingot and 1 hide.
- This mod grants players the chance to add the tracker skin to their gloves; making accessing the tracker incredibly easy.
Dino Tracker Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=924933745
11. Dome Of Death
A mod straight out of a sy-fy movie!
Dome Of Death provides quite a unique and difficult adventure for survivors looking for an exciting challenge. This added island provides a big challenge but with that also comes big rewards, hiding and waiting for you to find them! This mod adds the challenge of not being able to bring your tames, truly making the journey ahead stressful in the most exciting way possible!
Dome Of Death Key Features:
- This mod is a map extension for the island; acting as a fun addition to the OG map.
- The lore and story created for this mod is very unique and creative, allowing RP survivors an immersive experience.
- Each crate holds special and rewarding prizes that respawn over a certain period of time!
Dome Of Death Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=856564814&searchtext=dome+of+death
10. The Volcano
A fan-favorite map, sure to heat up your experience.
The Volcano is a beautifully designed map that will provide any survivor hours of exploration and epic base ideas! The map is 100% completed with few complaints from ARK fans, guaranteeing a smooth and fun play-through.
The Volcano Key Features:
- This map includes 5 different biomes; Snow, Desert, Redwood, Swamp, and Jungle.
- All resources and dinos are included.
- Large trees are included in the Snow and Jungle biomes around the volcano, allowing the use of tree platforms for exciting base ideas!
- Many beautiful and unique caves are included with this map, and each cave has 1 artifact.
The Volcano Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=715028562
9. Improved Dinos
Improve your dinos in every way!
This mod aims to improve the cosmetics of dinos paired with a few gameplay changes to add a new and fresh experience to your ARK adventures! With many additions added, Improved Dinos has found its way to the top of many mod lists, proving to hold its own in terms of quality.
Improved Dinos Key Features:
- This mod introduces a few rare spawning Dinos. These dinos offer a way to get better gear blueprints without the hassle of flying around by yourself and farming drops.
- Fun color combinations are included with Improved Dinos such as; Albino Raptors, Rex’s, Direwolves, and the rare all-black Argentavis. Other unique and rare colors that you can find are, teal, pink, and purple.
- Some of the rare dino spawn variations include; Raptor Elite, Alpha Dilo, and a mysterious Obsidian Carno.
Improved Dinos Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=479929837
8. All Dinos Allow Guns
Arguably one of the best mods on this list.
If you are a seasoned ARK survivor then you are painfully aware that very few dinos allow players to use weapons while riding. All Dinos Allow Guns change that rare feature and allow survivors to use guns on any dinosaur you can think of. No more trying to balance on the back of your Wyvern or having to pick up your friend by the claws of an Argentavis!
All Dinos Allow Guns Key Features:
- A simple mod that allows players to use any weapon while riding on any tame!
- Works with modded and non-modded dinosaurs and weapons.
- This mod is stackable with a very small footprint allowing for smooth and unique gaming sessions.
All Dinos Allow Guns Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1440414363
7. Primal Fear
Unique and terrifying tamable creatures are waiting patiently for you.
This is a very special and popular mod with a 5-star rating on Steam and over 20,000 reviews! Primal Fear is PVE-specific and introduces many beautiful variations of your favorite dinos as well as many new and interesting creatures. Many items have also been added to enhance the game play ensuring a unique experience for players who have grown tired of the same old game and are looking for something different.
Primal Fear Key Features:
- Special boss dinosaurs are included within this mod to add another layer of pure adrenaline when seeking adventure.
- Primal Fear introduces varying tameable tiers of dinos such as; Toxics, Alphas, Apex, Fabled, Buffoon, Celestial, Demonic, Elder, and Elemental.
- Almost every creature has an Alpha variant.
- On top of all the new creatures, this mod also adds varying items designed to enhance the survivor’s gameplay. These items include a tranq system, healing items, dino blood, multiple sets of armor, tranq pike, taming helpers, wake-up stimulate, and much more!
Primal Fear Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=839162288
6. Structures Plus
The mod that truly has it all!
The endless building features, decoration options, and quality-of-life changes this mod offers are truly magnificent! This is the ultimate building mod for players who are looking for more creative freedom when building their base. With all of the amazing features, players will be left wondering how this mod has yet to be implemented into the base game of ARK.
Structures Plus Key Features:
- There are many helpful and unique building features this mod offers such as; stackable foundations, crop plots that snap to foundations and ceilings, storage boxes that can snap together, and wires and pipes that are able to be hidden.
- Grants the ability to change the height, width, and material of many building items.
- Glass building materials have been included and have many neat features that allow players to change the transparency of the glass as well as paintable glass, and 16 model variations for most pieces.
- As if this mod didn’t already offer everything players have been wanting, another helpful feature from Structures Plus includes an Advanced Transfer Tool that allows survivors to easily transfer items around such as moving all bullets from non-turrets to distribute them evenly to all turrets.
- Another helpful feature included is the Inventory Assistant which allows players to automatically clean out their inventory of items that match the customizable filters.
Structures Plus Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=731604991
5. Thieves Island
Another unique fan-favorite map!
A medium-sized but densely packed island home to pirates, thieves, and criminals! The lore and creatively crafted story behind this island adds a new layer to RP for survivors seeking the ultimate adventure! Floating islands, caves, beautiful sceneries and so much more waits to be explored on Thieves Island.
Thieves Island Key Features:
- What this map lacks in size, it definitely surpasses in depth. A rather small map that includes many floating islands and an underground system that spans half the island.
- There are 5 different biomes included in Thieves Island, Redwoods, Beach biomes, Jungles, Grasslands, and Mountain biomes.
- This map offers unique never-before-seen pirate content that players have been craving from ARK, and tho the map has its glitches, the exploration is well worth the minor problems.
Thieves Island Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=651147582
4. Olympus
A beautiful and well-designed map with much to explore.
As players travel around the terrain of Olympus, it’s very obvious how special this map truly is. Unique plant life, caves, and much more, gives survivors a refreshing map experience that almost feels like a new game entirely. I can guarantee any seasoned ARK player will appreciate adventuring around this mystical island.
Olympus Key Features:
- Massive caves that provide beautiful sceneries and fun base ideas!
- Difficult dungeons with rare resources, give survivors something to strive for while exploring the dungeon’s depths.
- A unique and varied underwater experience paired with large underwater tunnels with some connecting inland bodies of water.
- Breath-taking ruins and temples that allow players even more base ideas as well as a fun place to explore.
Olympus Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=970855993
3. Ultra Stacks
The ultimate ARK backpack!
Ultra Stacks is one of the best stacking mods you can find on ARK. This mod makes some of the more frustrating parts of survival on ARK as easy as possible allowing players to freely collect without needing to worry about risks such as weight or spoil times. If you are looking for the easiest possible experience on ARK, this mod is a must-have!
Ultra Stacks Key Features:
- This stacking mod changes the quantity and weight of items allowing players to carry much more than previously possible.
- Spoil times have been significantly increased with most items spoil time being doubled.
- Ultra Stacks is a stackable mod and also works with both multiplayer and single-player.
- For survivors who wish for items to spoil quicker; the mod offers a Meat Spoiler that you are able to craft inside your player inventory.
Ultra Stacks Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=761535755
2. Death Recovery
A mod straight from every survivor’s dreams!
Death Recovery provides a personal gravestone to each player that will allow the survivors a chance to recover their lost items upon dying. I couldn’t imagine a mod more helpful to any kind of ARK player than Death Recovery. This mod eliminates some of the pressure and fear that comes with dying for survivors who would prefer having that option.
Death Recovery Key Features:
- Craft and place your personal gravestone to use after you have died, it is recommended to place the gravestone near a bed.
- Each gravestone can only be used by the player who has placed it.
- Once activated any objects found on all of your corpses or death caches will be returned to your inventory.
- When recovering lost items, if you fill up before retrieving everything the overflow will be placed in a cache at your feet. If for any reason the item cannot be added to the cache, the item will be returned to the object it was found in.
Death Recovery Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=751991809
1. Immersive Taming
A whole new experience taming your favorite dinos.
For players who enjoy roleplay, this mod is a must-have! Immersive taming offers a more realistic approach to taming creatures rather than the traditional inventory and timer system put in place. Immersive Taming is almost always included on ARK mod lists and rightfully so, this mod adds a fun and unique level of depth to the game that does not exist in its original form.
Immersive Taming Key Features:
- As taming increases, so does the creature’s trust in you. Even the most hostile creatures will eventually start to consider you as a friend.
- During the taming process, creatures may start to follow you around, wanting care or to be fed a fresh corpse and they may even protect you in battle!
- Many immersive features are included within this mod such as being able to pet different creatures, hand feed them, and caring for the dinos in various ways.
Immersive Taming Details: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1251632107
