ARK maps comparedWhich map suits your group?

Published on September 2, 2026 · last updated on November 8, 2026

The maps at a glance

All of these maps are available on our ARK servers. You can switch at any time, and each map keeps its own save - see Change the map.

For getting started

If someone in your group is playing ARK for the first time, there is hardly any way around The Island. The map is designed for exactly this case: the difficulty rises with the distance from the beach, and there are answers online to every question.

The second advantage is a practical one: The Island is one of the more compact maps and therefore needs fewer resources than the large community maps - see How much RAM does an ARK server need?

For established groups

As soon as a group knows the basics, the call for more space gets louder. Ragnarok is the obvious choice here: very varied, big enough for several tribes and proven over years.

If you like it even more sprawling, Fjordur is the most extensive official map. The price is accordingly higher: more area, more creatures, more load. For Fjordur, choose a plan one size larger than for The Island.

For variety

Scorched Earth, Aberration and Extinction play differently from the rest - they bring their own mechanics that break up routine. For a group that has seen everything on The Island, they are a more interesting continuation than yet another large standard map.

Because each map keeps its own save, the decision does not have to be final: trying a round of Scorched Earth and then returning to the old base works without any problems.

Mod maps

Beyond the official maps, there are numerous community maps in the Steam Workshop. They are added like any other mod, but also need the matching map setting - described in Install mods.

Two notes from practice: mod maps are updated by their authors, which can affect a running world - backups are especially important here. And they are often large, so the first start takes correspondingly longer.

How to make the decision

Three questions usually lead to the right map:

1. How experienced is the group? For beginners The Island, otherwise something bigger is fine.
2. How long should the round last? For a project lasting months, a large map is worth it; for a few weeks, a compact one is enough.
3. How many tribes should have room? Several independent groups need space - and then also the matching plan.

And because you can simply try it out if in doubt: changing the map takes minutes, and the old save is kept.

Frequently asked questions