ARK: Survival Ascended is a survival action-adventure RPG that represents a ground-up remake of the original ARK: Survival Evolved, built with Unreal Engine 5. Players awaken on a mysterious island and must survive by taming dinosaurs, building bases, and managing hunger, thirst, and temperature. The game includes access to all previously released ARK worlds, with The Island, Scorched Earth, Aberration, and The Center available at launch, and additional expansions planned.

The remake leverages Unreal Engine 5's Lumen global illumination for realistic lighting and Nanite for high-detail geometry. New physics systems govern dynamic water, creating realistic fluid interactions, and interactive foliage that reacts to player actions and environmental events. ARK: Survival Ascended also supports cross-platform modding and cross-platform multiplayer for up to 70 players online.