Ark: Survival Evolved – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Ark: Survival Evolved

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

game2017

54%

WISE Score

68%

IGDB

Tame dinosaurs and build bases in a brutal survival sandbox where other players might be scarier than the T-Rex.

Ark: Survival Evolved

game

2017

54%

WISE Score

68%

IGDB

Tame dinosaurs and build bases in a brutal survival sandbox where other players might be scarier than the T-Rex.

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Screenwise Verdict

Ark is a genuinely creative survival game that lets you ride a T-Rex, which is objectively cool. The crafting depth and dinosaur taming systems are engaging, and there's real educational value for kids who love paleontology.

But let's be real: public multiplayer is a nightmare. Parent reviews are unanimous—griefing, raiding, and toxic players are rampant. Your kid can spend 20 hours building a base only to have it destroyed overnight by a tribe of teenagers with too much time on their hands.

The solution? Single-player or a private server with friends. In that context, Ark becomes a much better experience—still grindy and difficult, but without the soul-crushing PvP chaos. It's a massive time commitment either way, and the gameplay loop can feel repetitive.

If your teen is into dinosaurs, survival games, and has the temperament to handle setbacks, Ark can be rewarding. Just keep them off public servers unless you enjoy hearing about digital dinosaur-based war crimes at dinner.

Age Fit

Best for ages 13+ who can handle competitive multiplayer toxicity and don't mind grinding. Younger dino-obsessed kids (10-12) might enjoy it in single-player mode with parental guidance, but the difficulty and time commitment are real.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The survival mechanics teach resource management and cooperation, but the multiplayer environment is notoriously toxic. Parent reviews consistently mention griefing, raiding, and hostile player interactions. The violence (dino-on-dino, player-on-dino) is present but not graphic. The game rewards tribe cooperation but also encourages domination of other players, creating a mixed emotional environment.

Imaginative

Taming and riding dinosaurs in a persistent open world is genuinely creative and engaging. The crafting system is deep, base-building is extensive, and the premise of surviving on a mysterious island with prehistoric creatures sparks curiosity. Players can experiment with different strategies, breed creatures, and explore diverse biomes. The RPG progression and tech tree offer meaningful choices.

Safe

ESRB rated T for Teen (Blood, Crude Humor, Use of Alcohol, Violence). The biggest safety concern is the multiplayer toxicity—unmoderated servers where players can grief, raid, and harass others. Parent reviews highlight this as a major issue. The game is intensely difficult and can be frustrating. PvP servers are particularly brutal, with players losing hours of progress to raids. Single-player or private servers mitigate some concerns, but the game is designed around competitive multiplayer.

Enriching

Parents note the educational value around dinosaurs and survival skills. The game teaches planning, resource management, strategic thinking, and persistence. The crafting and taming systems require patience and problem-solving. However, the grind-heavy gameplay and potential for hundreds of hours of repetitive tasks limit the enrichment factor. It's more about mastery through repetition than meaningful growth.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Dinosaurs! Kids obsessed with prehistoric creatures will love the taming, breeding, and riding mechanics
Deep crafting and base-building systems reward strategic thinking and planning
Can teach resource management, patience, and problem-solving through survival gameplay
Single-player or private server mode lets families avoid the toxic multiplayer chaos
Genuinely imaginative premise with exploration across diverse biomes and ecosystems

⚠

What to Watch For

Public multiplayer servers are brutal—expect griefing, raiding, and losing hours of progress to hostile players
The game is punishingly difficult and time-intensive; frustration is part of the package
Violence includes blood (though not graphic) and creatures killing each other and players
Can become an enormous time sink—hundreds of hours to progress, with grindy repetitive tasks
Best for older teens who can handle setbacks and won't take multiplayer toxicity personally

Conversation Starters

"What's your favorite dinosaur you've tamed so far, and what's your strategy for keeping it safe?"
"Have you run into any hostile players? How did you handle it?"
"What's the coolest base you've built, and what would you do differently next time?"
"If you could survive on an island with dinosaurs in real life, what would be your first priority?"

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