Which Are The Best ARK: Survival Evolved Maps for Beginners

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Just starting out with Ark: Survival Evolved? This guide will help you choose the best map to begin your adventure in this huge survival game filled with giant dinosaurs. We’ll cover options for an easy start, as well as maps that offer more exploration and a deeper experience, so you can find the perfect place to begin your journey.

#1 – The Island

For new players, the original map, The Island, is the best choice. It’s ideal because it doesn’t have extra difficulty settings like other maps do. It’s a good size – not too small to feel restrictive, but not so large that it’s overwhelming – and was specifically designed with beginners in mind, allowing for easy exploration.

Here is what you can expect:

  • Lower difficulty: There are not as many high-level dinos as you may find in later maps.
  • Easy-to-learn resource layout: The outer part of the island is typically safer. But the more you venture inland, the more dangerous things can become. The resources are spread out on The Island in an easy to learn way.
  • Good starter base areas: This map houses bases such as Herbivore Island and The Beach Bob Beach, all of which are known to be great starter bases.
  • Big enough to be explorative but not big enough to be overwhelming.

This map was designed with new players in mind, recognizing that they were still getting used to the game. Because of this, it’s the perfect place to begin your journey.

#2 — Fjordur

This map is set in Norse mythology and is the latest addition to the game. It’s a good choice for new players because it brings together resources and creatures from all the older maps into one place.

Here is what you can expect on Fjordur:

  • Tameable horses early in the game.
  • The Andrewsarchus (a new exclusive creature) tames with honey. And honey is easy to get on this map.
  • Metal tools spawn near shipwrecks, which gives you an early advantage.
  • Access to almost 90% of the best creatures.
  • Blends beginner accessibility and long-term potential.
  • Realm Teleportation: Easy to travel across realms.

This map is larger than The Island and really rewards players who take the time to explore every corner. With its incredible atmosphere, challenging boss battles, clear sense of progression, and abundance of dinosaurs, you’ll easily lose yourself in this immersive world.

#3 – Ragnarok

Players consistently love this map! Its Viking theme creates a really engaging experience, with a vast and interesting landscape to discover. While it features challenging bosses, the valuable rewards you earn make the effort worthwhile.

Here is what to expect on Ragnarok:

  • Diverse biomes: Grassy fields, frozen mountains, dry deserts, vast oceans.
  • Great bases: Zones like Viking Bay or Lighthouse Highlands.
  • The Griffin: Ragnarok introduced one of the best early flying Greek-inspired animals – the Griffin.
  • Growth of wild veggies: This allows for early horse taming, which is a HUGE asset in the early game.

While this content offers powerful features and lasting benefits, it’s not ideal for beginners. It’s best enjoyed by players who are already familiar with the fundamentals and are looking for a more challenging and detailed experience.

#4 – Genesis: Part 2

We recommend this map for players who enjoy exploring and discovering things, rather than focusing on repetitive tasks. If you’re interested in understanding how the map is built and works, this is a great choice.

Here is what to expect on Genesis: Part 2:

  • Early Gear: A spawn side that gives you a lesser Tek suit. This is perfect to fly around in and just farm anything you come across, especially early game.
  • The Strider: There is early access to the powerful creature.
  • Less Grind: This is more of the fun gear, flying everywhere, taming OP creatures. There is no slow-grind to be had.
  • Still access to a wide variety of creatures and places to explore.

If you’re looking for a more relaxed start to the game, this map is a great choice. It offers plenty of space to explore and lots to do, but it’s designed to be less challenging and faster-paced than other maps. It’s perfect if you want to skip some of the early-game difficulty and get right into the action.

Final Ratings

And those are my recommended starter maps for Ark: Survival Evolved.

If you’re just starting out, I highly recommend The Island – it’s a great choice because the difficulty adjusts smoothly as you progress. Once you’re comfortable with the game’s fundamentals, Ragnarok is a fantastic next step, offering a good mix of exploration, a rich environment, and a reasonable challenge.

If you’re not quite ready to jump into Ragnarok, consider trying Fjorur. It offers a similar experience, but with a Nordic atmosphere I personally enjoy more, and it’s a bit easier for new players. For something completely different and more modern, Genesis: Part 2 is a fast-paced and exciting option that offers a fresh take on the game.

ARK: Survival Evolved is all about learning the ropes, changing your strategies, and simply staying alive. It really comes down to the classic idea: adapt or perish.

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2025-10-28 12:07