Finding the ideal ARK: Survival Evolved server can significantly enhance your gameplay. With countless servers available, navigating the options can feel overwhelming. This guide helps you understand server lists and use filters effectively to locate the best server for your ARK adventure.
Server ranking is a primary indicator of popularity. Our ranking system objectively measures server popularity based on player activity over the last seven days. This daily recalculated rank, updated at 01:00 UTC, reflects actual player engagement, not votes or other subjective factors. A higher rank generally points to a more active and potentially more engaging ARK server community.
Be cautious of servers marked “NR.” This “Not Ranked” designation flags servers suspected of using bots or artificial methods to inflate player counts. While these servers might appear in specific searches, they are hidden from default server lists due to concerns about misrepresented activity. For a genuine ARK experience, it’s generally wise to avoid “NR” servers.
For more precise searches, utilize quotation marks around your terms. For example, searching for "Unofficial PC Session" will return servers with that exact name, useful if you’re looking for a specific ARK server community or modded experience. This is particularly helpful when seeking servers running specific ARK maps or mods.
Server status filters are valuable for quick checks. The green checkmark indicates online ARK servers, while the red “x” signifies offline servers. The gray asterisk displays both. This allows you to quickly filter for currently active ARK servers and avoid joining servers that are temporarily unavailable.
The “Players” filter helps you find ARK servers with your preferred player density. Whether you prefer crowded, bustling servers or quieter, more intimate communities, this filter allows you to set minimum or maximum player counts to match your desired ARK gameplay experience.
Distance filtering is crucial for minimizing lag in ARK. The “Max Distance” filter estimates server proximity based on GeoIP data, approximating your latency or “ping.” While not actual ping, it provides a reliable indication of server location relative to you. Use this to find regional ARK servers for smoother gameplay, especially beneficial for fast-paced ARK PvP or challenging boss fights.
Finally, the “Countries” filter lets you refine your search by server location. This whitelist filter allows you to select specific countries, ideal for finding ARK servers in your region or preferred language communities. This is particularly useful for players seeking servers with specific time zones or community demographics within the global ARK player base.
