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“Chronological” can mean two different things for ARK maps. If you mean the order the maps were released for ARK: Survival Evolved, the sequence runs The Island, The Center, Scorched Earth, Ragnarok, Aberration, Extinction, Valguero, Genesis: Part 1, Crystal Isles, Genesis: Part 2, Lost Island, Fjordur. If you mean the order of the story, play The Island, Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, Genesis: Part 1, Genesis: Part 2. The two lists overlap but are not the same, because several maps were added as community-created content and sit outside the canonical storyline.
Map release order for ARK: Survival Evolved
This is the order in which the original game’s maps and expansions became available. The Island is the base map that shipped with the game, so it comes first. The release dates below come from SteamDB’s dated list of ARK: Survival Evolved DLC and map entries. SteamDB is a third-party database rather than a developer source, and it records the dates it lists for those entries only. Genesis: Part 1 and Genesis: Part 2 do not appear with dates in that list, so their dates are not stated here.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
ARK: Survival Evolved (PS4) | $18.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
ARK: Survival Evolved - Xbox One | $23.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
ARK: Survival Evolved (Nintendo Switch) | $35.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
ARK: Survival Evolved - Xbox One (Renewed) | $21.26 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
ARK Survival Evolved Definitive Complete Guide & Walkthrough (Latest Update 2025) All Strategies,... | $15.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| Order | Map | Type | Release date (per SteamDB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Island | Base map (canonical) | Not stated in the SteamDB DLC list; it is the base game map |
| 2 | The Center | Community-created | 17 May 2016 |
| 3 | Scorched Earth | Canonical story expansion | 1 September 2016 |
| 4 | Ragnarok | Community-created | 12 June 2017 |
| 5 | Aberration | Canonical story expansion | 12 December 2017 |
| 6 | Extinction | Canonical story expansion | 7 November 2018 |
| 7 | Valguero | Community-created | 18 June 2019 |
| 8 | Genesis: Part 1 | Canonical story expansion | Not stated in the SteamDB list |
| 9 | Crystal Isles | Community-created | 11 June 2020 |
| 10 | Genesis: Part 2 | Canonical story expansion | Not stated in the SteamDB list |
| 11 | Lost Island | Community-created | 14 December 2021 |
| 12 | Fjordur | Community-created | 12 June 2022 |
Canonical story order
If you want to follow the narrative, Studio Wildcard’s official roadmap separates the canonical expansion maps from community-created maps. Play the story maps in this sequence:
- The Island
- Scorched Earth
- Aberration
- Extinction
- Genesis: Part 1
- Genesis: Part 2
The community maps are not skipped in this order because they are unimportant. They are simply not part of the main storyline, so you can play them whenever you like without breaking the narrative.
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- Use cunning strategy and tactics to tame, train, ride and breed the 100+ dinosaurs and other primeval creatures roaming the dynamic, persistent ecosystems across land, sea, air, and even underground Build your character's strengths and gain items, skills, and pet creatures using in-depth role-playing systems
- Start a tribe with hundreds of other players to survive and dominate competing tribes...and ultimately discover ARK's true purpose
- Build a fire or shelter, then craft customizable clothing & armors to help protect against damage and extreme temperatures on your way to unlocking advanced technologies and equipment
- Chop down trees and mine metal and other precious resources to build massive multi-leveled structures composed of complex snap-linked parts
Why the two orders differ
- Community-created maps are in the release list only. The Center, Ragnarok, Valguero, Crystal Isles, Lost Island, and Fjordur were added to the game as community-created content. They appear between the story expansions in release order but do not advance the canonical story.
- Story order is not release order. Scorched Earth was released before Aberration and Extinction, which matches the story order, but Ragnarok and Valguero were released between the canonical expansions. Following the release list therefore means jumping between story and non-story maps.
- Genesis dates are missing from the cited list. Both Genesis parts are canonical, and they sit at positions 8 and 10 in the release list, but the SteamDB entries used here do not give their dates.
ARK: Survival Ascended is a separate rollout
ARK: Survival Ascended is a remaster with its own map schedule. Its releases do not change the original game’s order above, so treat it as a separate list. Three official Studio Wildcard updates matter here:
- January 2025 (Community Crunch 440): the content roadmap planned Genesis Ascended remasters and later map remasters. This schedule is historical and is no longer a current promise.
- June 2026 (Community Crunch 512): Genesis Ascended Part 1 was moved to July 2, 2026.
- A later 2026 update (Community Crunch 520): this post refers to Genesis Ascended Part 1’s official servers, which indicates the release had gone live by that point.
The current status of every Ascended map is not established by the sources behind this article. Check Studio Wildcard’s most recent roadmap post before relying on any Ascended date.
Rank #2
- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dino herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety, and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes, and styles
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout
How reliable the dates are
The release dates in the table come from one third-party database, SteamDB, and reflect the entries it lists for ARK: Survival Evolved DLC and maps. They are useful for ordering, but they are not a single official, complete chronology from the developer. Where the table says a date is not stated, that means the SteamDB list used here does not provide one.
The canonical versus community classification comes from Studio Wildcard’s 2023 announcement, Community Crunch 356, which describes the ARK roadmap update and the community maps it included.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dino herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety, and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes, and styles
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout
Rank #3
- Capture and Tame Dinosaurs: Discover over 100 different dinosaurs and prehistoric creatures on the island, finding ways to tame them into useful additions for your tribe's dino herd
- Survive Above All: Hunger, thirst, basic safety and protecting yourself from the weather are all part of the game. Run too far and not only will you be exhausted, but you will also quickly get hungry and thirsty. Weather effects are based on real-world climates, and so you'll need to hide out from rain and snow, while making the most of sunny days
- Harvest, Hunt and Build: Cut down trees and turn them into a basic home, which you can quickly expand into a Jurassic estate. Hunt for meat, scavenge for plants (or start your own garden!)
- Gather Resources, Customize Everything: An extensive crafting system invites you to mix and match materials scavenged from the island, while also modifying the colors, textures, shapes and style of everything from the walls of your home, to your character's armor, weapons and more
- Explore the Island: Solve the mystery of The ARK as you explore this massive island, discovering Explorer's Notebooks (filled with clues!) throughout. Make your way to the final boss and figure out why you've been dropped into this Jurassic-era experience
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
